Pregnant at 35... Will I be offered extra tests???

[Tamashii]

Sorry if this has been done before but I have been reading posts about being PG over 35 and having to have CVS etc so I am just wondering. I just turned 35 and found out I am PG so will I be given more tests/have more bloods taken etc?

TIA for any advice on this

I was 35 when I had DD1, 36 for DD2. There weren't any 'extra' tests afaik over and above the ones that are offered to everyone. I said no to Downs screening etc so CVS was never even an option - there would certainly not be any obligation to have CVS if you didn't want it....

I'm on pregnancy no1 and I'm 41 - now 23 weeks. Was told I'm low risk and all is normal and going according to plan so far.

Congrats and good luck with everything!

Well I was first pregnant at 40 and I don't think I had any extra tests at all.I had the triple test (blood test +nuchal fold results to give stats for chromasomal abnormality)but so did everyone else I think (?)I did ask my consultant if,because of my age,I should be considering amnio etc,but he said a)that he ahd loads of women in his care older than me,(london hospital) and b)that as I was clear I wouldn't terminate for downs that the amnio was too big a risk to take.35 isn't older at all these days.Congratulations on your pregnancy!

I'm pg with my first and I'm 39. No extra tests whatsoever.

I don't think you get extra tests as a matter of course. I'm 36, expecting my 3rd and have had 12, 20 week scan as usual.

I am 35, 1st time pregnant. NHS does not offer any extra tests... I opted for the private option and the care has been fantastic; got the additional tests I paid out of pocket, but they were totally worth it as discovered some conditions that require special care...

I'm 35 and 40wks pregnant with 2nd. No extra tests done routinely in my area either.

Had CVS first pg due to fluid level detected during dating scan. This time dating scan was fine so opted for private NT scan (NHS do not offer it in my area) which turned out to be low risk.

no

I was 38 with my first, am 40 with my second now. The triple blood test is offered routinely to everyone, the nuchal translucency test is usually done at the 12 week scan and whether it is offered depends on area. Some areas offer it to older women, some to all, some to none. You can refuse both if you want.

Some people don't want even the blood test because they wouldn't have the CVS/amnio anyway because of the risk of miscarriage.

The CVS/amniocentesis is entirely optional, if you have a high risk blood test or combined blood/NT, they will usually offer it, but you don't have to have it (I didn't with my first).

I would suggest that whether you take the tests depends what you would do with the results and how much you need to know for your own sake.

I'm 37 and pg with 1st - apart from taking my age at my booking appointment nobody has mentioned it since.

Am considered low risk though, perhaps if you were 35+ and considered at risk you may have the option of more tests, not sure if NHS offer this though. Congrats on your pregnancy.

I think it varies from area to area and you need to find out what happens in your area. It should be explained to you at your booking-in or scan. My local hospital, a big teaching hosp in London, was the one that pioneered the nuchal scan at 12 weeks which looks at loads of factors in order to do a risk assessment on things like Downs and other chromosomal abnormalities, the point being that everyone has it, they look thoroughly at lots of measurements and readings etc rather than just your age which causes unnecessary worry for some while missing others who are at risk.

So... I think there is a general move towards this approach and you probably won't be offered anything like amnio or CVS purely on the basis of age. Of course you don't have to have any of it, not even the initial scan if you don't want!

i'm 40 with my first. no extra tests - had nuchal scan which came out low-risk, so no CVS issue.

Thanks everyone.