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Maternal age (38) - higher risk?

21 replies

Gilo2024 · 31/05/2024 10:17

Hoping someone can offer any advice. Maternal age 38 (conceived at 37). Terrified that my age alone will mean a high risk of the tested for syndromes. Does anyone know if age alone will automatically put me in higher risk?

I'm aware a blood test is taken into account but, due to being 38 - will it automatically put me at higher risk regardless of blood test results?

Also, if results do come back high, on NHS (England) does anyone know if you can go straight to Amino/CVS or do you have to have NIPT before this?

Early scan at 6 weeks (heartbeat seen). NHS 'dating' scan is two weeks' time.

Thank you.

OP posts:
Sapphire387 · 31/05/2024 10:23

I don't think it will... my last child was born just before I turned 38. I think the odds of Down's were something like 1/2500 following the scan and blood tests. Chances of the other more severe chromosomal issues were around 1/10000. The chances do go up as you age, but at this age they're not automatically 'high'.

My youngest DD was born healthy, btw.

Wishing you all the very best with your pregnancy.

BC2603 · 31/05/2024 11:03

I’m exactly the same age as you - my tests all came back as low risk (in the thousands). I don’t think it automatically indicates high risk just because of age

MrsScotland · 31/05/2024 12:08

Hi there

My first pregnancy at 38, unfortunately something was wrong so my results came back at 1 in 8 for T21 and 1 in 5 for T13/18 based on bloods and a very high NT. Baby had T18 and we had to TFMR.

I am pregnant again, baby due on my 40th birthday, and I was shocked my results have come back at 1 in 5000 for all this time. I thought it would be my age related risk at best.

Lynsey5 · 31/05/2024 12:26

I had babies at ages 38 and 43. I was not high risk on any of my pregnancies. I was mid risk i think and consultant led though . I had ultrasound scans every 4 weeks starting from 32 weeks. I had harmony test on both pregnancies at week 10. I highly recommend it if you can afford. Both times i was very nervous about abnormalities until i got low risk result on harmony test. I wish you best of luck with your pregnancy.

Marghogeth · 31/05/2024 12:33

My tests came back as high risk when I was 43. The midwife said my age alone would've pushed me into that category. So it was quite a surprise when my next pregnancy came back as low risk - I was 46! Both babies were fine 🙂

Hedgehog23 · 31/05/2024 12:36

I had a baby at 37 and a baby at 40 and I don’t remember my risks being high - I certainly wasn’t offered any extra testing.

GreenFairies · 31/05/2024 12:37

I was 33 when I conceived and had my first.

35 when I conceived my second.

My risk for the main chromosomal syndromes increased quite a bit in my second pregnancy solely due to my age. The doctor doing the scan told me it’s only because of my age. I was offered the NIPT test which ruled it out so there was no need for an amino. I had already done the NIPT privately so knew it was fine so fortunately didn’t need to worry.

Wheeeeee · 31/05/2024 12:42

I was 38 when I conceived my second. Although my risks came back higher than for my first pregnancy, I was still low risk overall so I don't think your age alone would push you into the high risk category. Am due in a couple of weeks and have been under midwife led care throughout.

GreenFairies · 31/05/2024 12:51

GreenFairies · 31/05/2024 12:37

I was 33 when I conceived and had my first.

35 when I conceived my second.

My risk for the main chromosomal syndromes increased quite a bit in my second pregnancy solely due to my age. The doctor doing the scan told me it’s only because of my age. I was offered the NIPT test which ruled it out so there was no need for an amino. I had already done the NIPT privately so knew it was fine so fortunately didn’t need to worry.

I just remembered - my hospital was a research centre so they did say that if I was anywhere else, my risk would still be considered low but under their system, I went up to medium risk, hence why I was offered the NIPT.

SerenityNowInsanityLater · 31/05/2024 13:03

I would love to say, 'you're overreacting' but yeah, it comes with a small risk, conceiving later. I delivered DC2 on my 38th birthday. My blood results were great. No risk at all.
A year later, at 39, I was pregnant with my third child and the pendulum totally swung the other way. I had like a 1 in 150 or 160 (can't recall now, it's 13 years ago) chance of having a baby with Downs. At the time, the consultant felt I didn't need CVS (the diagnostic test that can be done earlier than amnio, between 11 and 14 weeks) because I was on the cusp of high risk, not actually, firmly in high risk territory, but straddling the line. I was very concerned. The change in numbers between the two pregnancies was shocking. I didn't feel confident at all, going from 1 in 11,000 to 1 in 150 between two pregnancies.
My 20 week scan (done at 24 weeks because of hospital delays) showed all sorts of soft markers which led to a second consultant-led scan a few days later. The consultant performed an amnio on the day which confirmed Downs.

I had my last baby at the age of 42 and, because of my history, had a voluntary CVS somewhere between 11 and 13 weeks. I didn't even do the bloods to see what risk of Downs/trisomies there were. Just went straight to CVS, which was totally normal. He just turned 10 years old this week!

I just want to add that my friend, at 39, had a 1 in 60 risk. That baby had no trisomies and has just finished law school. So, it can be that the risk is very high. But that doesn't mean you'll be dealt that blow. It's 'risk' not 'fact'. In my case, the 1 in 150 risk became a matter of fact and I had to face that sadness. It happens and it's as sad and worrying as you can imagine. But life is risky and difficult... but overwhelmingly, it is hopeful.

So it's hard not to feel that fear because it's an unfortunate reality that once we hit our late 30s, the risk increases. But still, it's very rare and mostly, everything works out great. Hang onto that. Try to keep the worry at bay. That's all you can do.

SerenityNowInsanityLater · 31/05/2024 13:08

Oh and yes, your age alone will increase the risk numbers. Having had babies in my 20s, 30s, and 40s, I can definitely say that age alone will influence those numbers before any blood's drawn. It's just factored into the whole assessment.

MizzMarple · 31/05/2024 13:10

It will be factored in, but I’m 38 and pregnant and my risks were incredibly low. Pretty sure lower than in my second pregnancy when I was 32.

Grinchinlaws · 31/05/2024 13:11

Yes of course your age is relevant, because the risks of various conditions increase with age (see the graph here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fetal-anomaly-screening-programme-handbook/screening-for-downs-syndrome-edwards-syndrome-and-pataus-syndrome--3)

But the screening involves scan+blood tests+age so you won’t necessarily be high risk.

Id recommend NIPT for peace of mind.

Awhe2xo · 31/05/2024 21:34

Hi there. I would absolutely love some advice I have never had to do this but I’m pretty desperate 😢
I started my maternity leave on the 3rd of may this year. I am currently 38+1 weeks pregnant.

My maternity pay was all set up,MATB1 form sent off - all systems go. I worked my full notice and all of my hours (22.5 a week)

pay day is today…no pay? I rung my manger who has now explained there was a mistake with the accountant and unfortunately I won’t be entitled to pay by them so will have to sort out other means of pay. I feel betrayed! After 2.5 years of employment by them…

what are my rights and how do I go about this?

thank you xxx

GreenFairies · 31/05/2024 22:08

Awhe2xo · 31/05/2024 21:34

Hi there. I would absolutely love some advice I have never had to do this but I’m pretty desperate 😢
I started my maternity leave on the 3rd of may this year. I am currently 38+1 weeks pregnant.

My maternity pay was all set up,MATB1 form sent off - all systems go. I worked my full notice and all of my hours (22.5 a week)

pay day is today…no pay? I rung my manger who has now explained there was a mistake with the accountant and unfortunately I won’t be entitled to pay by them so will have to sort out other means of pay. I feel betrayed! After 2.5 years of employment by them…

what are my rights and how do I go about this?

thank you xxx

I’m sorry to hear that you’re dealing with this stress.

You’ll get better advice if you start your own thread rather than commenting on someone else’s.

Awhe2xo · 31/05/2024 22:12

Thank you so much. How do I do this sorry I’m new to this?🥲

JunglePrint · 31/05/2024 22:16

You have your age based risk, which you can google and does go up with age.

You then have the risk that takes into account age, BMI, ethnicity, baby’s NT measurement and blood test results - this is then calculated by the NHS and you are given an ‘adjusted’ risk.

I was terribly anxious so paid for a private NIPT two weeks before my 12 week scan. Best money I have ever spent.

Gilo2024 · 06/06/2024 09:34

JunglePrint · 31/05/2024 22:16

You have your age based risk, which you can google and does go up with age.

You then have the risk that takes into account age, BMI, ethnicity, baby’s NT measurement and blood test results - this is then calculated by the NHS and you are given an ‘adjusted’ risk.

I was terribly anxious so paid for a private NIPT two weeks before my 12 week scan. Best money I have ever spent.

I'm thinking of doing this but was told I had to have a dating scan first by the private company (scan is next week). I think even if the results are low, I will still go for the private NIPT test. Can I ask how long you waiting for you results privately after the NIPT test please?

OP posts:
GreenFairies · 06/06/2024 09:36

Gilo2024 · 06/06/2024 09:34

I'm thinking of doing this but was told I had to have a dating scan first by the private company (scan is next week). I think even if the results are low, I will still go for the private NIPT test. Can I ask how long you waiting for you results privately after the NIPT test please?

First pregnancy I did the Harmony. The second I did the Panorama. About a week both times.

JunglePrint · 06/06/2024 09:41

Gilo2024 · 06/06/2024 09:34

I'm thinking of doing this but was told I had to have a dating scan first by the private company (scan is next week). I think even if the results are low, I will still go for the private NIPT test. Can I ask how long you waiting for you results privately after the NIPT test please?

Yes, they did the scan first to check that the baby’s growth is in line with expected measurements and to check there is a heartbeat, then I had my blood taken. I did it on a Sunday and got the results Friday morning.

(From what I read on here, that’s actually quite slow for a private test and it turned out the clinic didn’t despatch the blood to the lab until the Monday, even though they assured me it’d be despatched on the Sunday.)

Thankfully it was good news and the relief on my mental health and anxiety at that time was indescribable. It also meant I went into the NHS 12 week check feeling far less anxious than I would have done otherwise. I would 100% do the private NIPT again.

MummatoJack · 30/07/2024 18:23

I had a 1 in 14,500 of DS and 1 in 8,900 for Edwards and Pataus exactly a year ago at 37

at 38 2 weeks ago, I had 1 in 50 for DS and 1 in 64 for E&P resulted

Age is a factor but there are at least 7 other tests/measurements that are taken into account when opting for the combined testing

  • NT measurement
  • dates of pregnancy
  • Age
  • if you're diabetic
  • if you're a smoker
  • your BMI
  • Free Beta HCG
  • PAPP-A
  • if you conceived spontaneously or via IVF

our NT measurement was high this time so expected a high risk result, but Age isn't that significant on the weighting. So that alone wouldn't push the risk up. After 42 it does increase the risk significantly is what I have been told.

every pregnancy is so individual there is just no way of knowing and remember this is only screening based on an algorithm and not a diagnostic test 🩵🩷

sending all the love and hugs to you for your pregnancy xxx

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