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Birth clubs

Connect with mums-to-be with similar due dates to share experiences and support.

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Original poster

Triple Test

12 replies

EllieK · 01/09/2006 18:54

I had my booking in appointment with mw today, got talking about the triple test which is offered at 14 weeks.
DP and I have both said we'd love our baby whatever is wrong with it and wouldn't want an amnio if the triple test showed a high risk so it seems a bit pointless to have it.
What do others think?
me: 24
dp: 26
ds1: 3

thank you x

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USAUKMum · 01/09/2006 19:53

I found the triple test usful. It does show up if something is going drastically wrong. I had it with all my three. DD was "normal" DS was about a 1 in 250 (combined with a nucal scan) which is high risk (he is perfect by the way) but I was high risk with his pg anyway due to DS1 who was a 1 in 60 from the triple test. We didn't have amnio, but got an early anomaly scan with a consultant (offered by the hospital) and he turned out to have problems incompatible with life, and was stillborn at 20 wks.

I don't mean to scare you, but I did end up getting extra support earlier than if I didn't have it.

Of course you are young so should be nothing be reassurance.

tessasmum · 01/09/2006 20:15

I was 40 and 17 weeks pg with DD when I had 'dating scan' (was 15 weeks before I realised I was pg but that's another story). Registrar and midwife were trying to book me in for amnio there and then, but I'd heard about triple test and asked for that first. They were very off, just kept saying that it would come back as high risk because of my age. Told me my risk of having Downs baby was 1:110 but risk of amnio causing miscarriage was only 10%!!!!!!!!!!! (that's 1:100 in my book) Stood my ground, had triple test and it came back as very LOW risk - yah boo sucks to 'professionals.

Next time, at 43 and at a different hospital, consultant was fantastic. Risk of Downs much higher (1:55/65) and did offer Nuchal test on NHS but more importantly he was very clear that if you wouldn't do anything then its not worth the stress of testing. We didn't have any further tests and DS is now 10 months old and the only problem is that he wants to walk NOW and I'm not ready

If you are clear that you would love the baby whatever I'd say don't bother testing.
Good luck with your decision and your pregnancy

hana · 01/09/2006 20:19

sounds like you've made up your mind
dont' canvass opinions cause you'll have too much to think about!

fatfox · 01/09/2006 20:47

I agree; unless you are planning to take any action as a result of the tests outcome; there is no reason to have the tests.

Original poster

EllieK · 03/09/2006 00:30

thank you all
didn't appreciate your comments thanks hana, i have not already made up my mind and was not 'canvassing opinion'.
like all mums-to-be i am somewhat bewildered by all the choices available to us and value the opinion of other mums
we all need a little reassurance sometimes x

OP posts:

Alibaldi · 03/09/2006 02:00

EllieK Hi. I had triple test both times with my ds's. Both times had a false positive. First time high risk downs 1:125. Second time spina bifida 1:25. Both times children proved healthy without any problems. However, we refused an amnio both times as we had already decided after seeing our baby on the anomaly scan that we would keep it whatever. However, one thing the triple (AFP) can highlight a problem with the placenta which is something that you do need to keep an eye on. This is why I was scanned every month with ds2 to monitor that he was getting sufficient nutrients. So it might be scary, but as USAUKMum says it is there to be useful too. Whatever you decide I hope you have a happy and healthy pregnancy. Congratulations.

hana · 03/09/2006 20:35

ohhh
well

these threads come up a lot and it's just that so many opinions are then shared with regards to testing/not testing and what to do with results etc and then it's easy to get bogged down with what's been posted. I know I have in the past.

and I just said it in a different way to the poster before and after me where we essentially said the same thing

and I said it sounded like you had already made your mind up

wasn't being sarcastic or curt

will leave it alone then

WestCountryLass · 03/09/2006 21:09

A similar story to USAUKMum here except I did not have the triple test and abnormalities were detected at the anomaly scan that were 'incompatible with life' and I terminated my pregnancy at 23 weeks.

I chose not to have the test done in that pregnancy or in subsequent ones purely because whatever odds I get will be higher than the 1:100,000 chance my baby had of having the abnormality he had and after having "such bad luck" the first time I could never feel reassurred that I would not be that 1 in however many.

Also, I do understand there are parents who really would not do anything if they found out their child had an abnormality but it is difficult to say unless you have been in that position and sometimes it is not the condition, but the severity of the condition that is a deciding factor.

Original poster

EllieK · 03/09/2006 22:30

sorry hana, just felt a bit got at!
am struggling with a dp who has never done this before when it's 2nd time round for me
last time i was 21 and on my own so i kinda just did whatever they told me to and i'm getting a bit lost with actually having to think about stuff!
everyone's views help tho, gives me lots of stuff to think about to help me make the right decision for me
so thank you all x

OP posts:

Jimjams2 · 03/09/2006 22:36

I wouldn't have terminated for most conditions, however I had the triple test because it would have probably picked up anencephaly which is completely incompatible with life- earlier than a 20 week scan.

Good luck in whatever you decide!

Jimjams2 · 03/09/2006 22:37

BTW before taking the test we had decided that we woouldn't have an amnio if the risk of DS was high (although we would have had further scans). I think having an idea beforehand of what you might do with certain results can be helpful.

hana · 04/09/2006 15:02

I had no testing done with my first pregnancy.
Second again I had nothing done but at 13 week scan abnormalities were picked up and I had to have a second scan done at different hospital - turned out that the fetus had abnormalities 'incompatible with life' - we had CVS done to determine what, if anything, it could really tell us and I had a termination a few days later.

Had a m/c inbetween this and becoming pregnant with dd2 - and we had additional testing done and things were fine.

With current pregnancy again I had additional testing done and I am 5 weeks away from my due date.

DH and I would not have terminated dd2 or current pregnancy unless the outcomes were as with my second pregnancy. Really wanted to know to prepare ourselves for what could have been sort of thing.
It is a wrenching decision and such a personal one.
good luck with yours

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