20 week scan, 2 soft markers - help!

[Zeldagirl]

I had my 20 weeks scan on monday and they found 2 soft markers. A white spot on his heart and enlarged kidneys. They said this increased my risk of Downs Syndrome and offered me an amnio.

After discusssing it with DH we decided we couldn't terminate at this late stage and we didn't feel there was enough justification for risking a miscarriage by doing the amnio. My main concern was that a miscarriage at this late stage would not be a pleasant experience.

The Dr was really nice and I'm sure she hesitated over telling us as the kidneys changed shape 3 times whilst we were in there but they have to mention 2 soft markers.

Structually, the baby is fine. Everything measures fine. Nuchal fold is normal. She looked at the heart in great detail and listened to it and said there was absolutely nothing wrong with the heart apart form the spot. Plus my triple test came back at 1 in 650 and I am only 29.

I just want some advice. I keep thinking I will have the amnio just to clear my mind because I haven't slept for about 4 days. Not because my child may have DS but the fact that I just don't know!!

Everytime I tell someone about the scan they give me this sympathetic look and I just want to scream back at them that it may not have DS it's just s statistic.

I can't go on like this. It's on my mind 24/7 and I feel as if I can't decorate the nursery or anything. I can't even walk near the baby section in asda anymore. It's a horrible situation to be in and no matter how positive my DH is I can thinking how can I enjoy the rest of my pregnancy? Even when the baby is being born I will be thinking does it or doesn't it?

Are you near London?

The real experts in fetal medicine who can re-scan with very advanced clear machines and evaluate all the tests (of which there are 5 in my time: nuchal fold, blood test, heart, nose, length of leg bone/head circumference?) and crunch out a risk statistic taking all of these into account the results of those tests is:

(1) Harris Birthright, Kings College Hospital, South London - NHS. See if you can get your hospital to refer.

(2) Fetal Medicine Centre, Harley Street, West London - Private. You will have to pay.

Professor Nicolaides, who is the pioneer in fetal medicine, heads these clinics - is pre-eminent in this field. I don't work for him. But when my dd's scan showed soft markers for lots and lots of potentially serious problems at 13 weeks, I was lucky that the doctor scanning was on loan from Harris Birthright and referred me there doublequick. For ds, I got an automatic referral because of dd's history.

Kings College is a teaching hospital. They see this sort of thing every day and are very sensitive in dealing with it. Doctors from around the world train there. My scans were performed in front of a cast of thousands - not that you notice at the time.

Hello -help, trying to find any advice out there from real people, rather than medical sites! I'm 33 wks, they've discovered 3 soft markers for DS and i've been booked for late amnio (34 weeks) in a few days. Had good 12 weeks scan/bloods at 1/4000 - AM 38 years old (ancient)and very mixed up about having this amnio or not. I'm obviously having my lovely baby but would it be better to know in advance of a problem or is it too risky to have such a test so late. Do these markers mean anything anyway (Echogenic focus, dilated kidneys, dilated artery in heart). Can you help me!!!

Dear all. I must say that your messages are helping me a lot to go true this horrible day. I had my 20 weeks scan this morning and they have found three soft markers on my baby'head, heart and kidney. Dr said that having one is nothing and he wouldn't alarm me but having three is very rare and it is a big possibility that baby has a DS. I am refusing an amnio as I had miscarriage before and I wouldn't like to go true that again. I am just hopping that it was just a bad luck that all three of these markers has shown at once. when I red about them it is saying that most often are nothing to worry about and that as baby grows they go away (usually after 24 weeks)...but three at once??

has anyone had same experience and can you tell me how did you cope with it and what was the outcome. I am so upset that I am really worried how much I am stressing my baby.

Please give me some info...