Triple test - high risk result - question

[spinach]

Was told this week that my chances of getting a high risk result from the tiple test were higher because i have had a bleed at 14-15 weeks... which they think is caused by low lying placenta.

Does anyone know why this is... and if i do get a high risk result what do i do next? ignore it because it could be falsely high because of the bleed?

urgh, ignore the last double-post. Computer playing up.

mell01 - general risk of miscarriage from amnio is 1 in 100 and sadly of those 3/4 are babies with no SN.

I really think you need to decide what you would do with a positive result - if you would terminate or you would need to know before hand for sure then you would need to seriously consider the amnio. If you would not terminate or would be fine not knowing in advance then - personally I would not put myself through the procedure. But it has to be your decision - that goes without saying.

my earlier post 19 May

my dd1 had a hard marker for down syndrome picked up at the 20 week scan and my dd2 had a soft marker picked up. That is something to consider and then you could decide if you wanted the amnio or not. I did not have an amnio in either situation as it would not have changed the outcome. My eldest has down syndrome, my youngest does not.

If you would not do anything with a positive amnio result and you don't mind not knowing then - in my humble opinion - no point in putting yourself through an amnio - risk you don't need to take. IF you need to know or would terminate the pregnancy then I guess an amnio is the way to go.

thank you all for your messages, after a sleepless night I am off to the hospital this morning and have decided to have the amnio done just for piece of mind, I don't know what i will do if the test comes back positive but at least I will have all of the information and will only have to wait another 48 hours for the results. I can't tell you how much better I feel reading your messages thank you all once again. xx

Thinking of you hun.

((xx))

HumphreysCorner,

had the tests done yesterday and paid for the 48 hour results, got them back today and everything is fine! I was expecting the worse and can't say how happy I feel.

To anyone else with the same dilema I would say that if you need to know the outcome as I did then pay to have the extra test as waiting up to three weeks would have been impossible.

can now look forward to our new arrival in November only 22 weeks to go - hopefully with a little less stress!

I had a high risk result with my second pregnancy and totally panicked. I was 15 weeks pregnant and I ended up going to the Leeds screening centre where they did another triple test plus 1 other hormone and a nuchal fold scan. They also checked for the presence of a nasal bone. All turned out to be normal and made the rest of the pregnancy a little easier to manage!

Fantastic news hun-time to relax and enjoy the rest of your pregancy!

(((xxx)))

Sorry if I am being daft, but what is the significance of blood group a - never heard this before.

I have just found out my triple test shows a 1 in 126 chance of downs syndrome. I am really shocked and scared. I am only 30 have no family history of downs and already have a healthy 4 1/2 year old. Anyone got any advice. I am due to see midwife on Mondayt to discuss options.

How old are you? If you are over 40, then this is actually quite a good result as it shows the extra information from the test to have reduceed the expectation of getting downs compared to all women of your age

Honey
You are going to love your baby no matter what. So don't spend so much time worring about something like this, besides I have better odds of winning in Vegas.

Hi, I had a 1:30 result from my triple test and yesterday had an anomaly scan that showed everything normal. But the doctor said that in 50% of Downs cases a scan will show normal. So am deciding whether or not to have an amnio. I'm pretty sure we're not going to have one because of the small risk of miscarriage. Difficult decision but to me your risk sounds very low. I'm 37 though so have a higher general risk anyway. What the doc explained to me is that the triple test is just a screening test and can't be seen as diagnostic in any way, so maybe the blood results are just normal for me even though they may be high or whatever compared to other women. My advice if you're worried is to really grill your midwife, unfortunately my experience of this testing stuff is that no one ever really knows the full story - you just find out more about how accurate/inaccurate everthing is as you go along through the different stages. And at times I've wished we'd never started with the tests - caused more worry than anything else in a way...

Witch and chips - I am only 30 that is why I am suprised at the odds given to me. I am not sure whether it would be worth asking for another blood test as I am concerned about the false positives that can be reported.

Leati - Not sure that advice has helped me in any way, I am worried about the results and will probably have an amino test done. Its not the case of whether I would love the baby no matter what - of course I would but everyone in the same boat as me has to consider whether or not they 1st of all have an amnio, which in itself can be risky and secondly whether or not they could cope with a child with downs and whether they would wish to terminate the pregnancy. At the moment I am extremely distressed and each person is different and will be affected in different ways when told about the odds. I hope you never have to worry about this.

carysandbumpsmum at 1:126 the odds are higher for you to miscarry following the amnio than the baby have Downs Syndrome. Can you have a detailed scan?

(my risk was 1:24. I was 43 but it was still very high for my age. My DD is fine)

carysandbumps mum - sorry that you are so worried. have no advice to share; but I have read that having someone very experienced at performing amnio makes the process ever so less risky. The link below is to a place in London that is very well respected

www.fetalmedicine.com/f-fmc.htm

Good luck with whatever you decide and sorry I cant be anymore help.

Had the amniocentesis done on Tuesday this week, was terrified but felt it had to be done. Luckily my hospital undertake the PCR test which I had not heard of before and whilst they said the results would be back in 3 days I actually received them the following day. PCR shows no downs syndrome which is such a relief. I know that the PCR test isn't usually available on the NHS but luckily it was for me, for anyone having to go through this I would suggest they see if they can have this done as at least the waiting time is short. The full tests for other chromosomal problems will still take 14 days but as my risk related to Downs I am relieved. My other concern now is whether there will be any complications as a result of the amnnio being done. Following advice from my midwife I have taken the rest of the week off and I have definintely needed to. I have felt really tired, a bit sore and quite fragile only starting to get back to normal today.

Thanks to everyone for their advice. Just hope everything else goes ok from now on.

Ive just been told today that my risk is 1:110 which I am bit upset about, I have to go and see consultant tomorrow. I was told that my risk could be high as I am pretty overweight, have bled several times during this pregancy and i have Getational Diabetes. I am struggling to find information that tells me how much these factors are taken into account, and what do they actually look for in the blood samples?

I am only 30, and already have one son who was born with a cleft lip I was also wondering if that could affect the test too? Its so confusing. just want to give my best wishes to everyone that decided to have an amnio too.

carysandbumpsmum - what a relief to hear the results from your test.

angel - fingers crossed for your consultants appt tomorrow. let us know how you get on.

Angelcake: The triple test looks at certain hormones I think that are present in your blood but they also take into account your age, weight and due date and then come up with a figure. My result was 1 in 126, I am only 30 so I was really shocked. I had an amniocentesis last week. My results for Downs syndrome were clear and came back the next day luckily for me. If you are considering an amnio ask whether the PCR or FISH test is available as these give you a quick result, if they are not available on the NHS in your area consider paying privately if you can afford to as knowing as soon as possible is better than having to wait and prolong the agony.

All the best with whatever you decide. Make a list of questions to ask and take them with you as it can be hard to remember everything when you are trying to take in what is being said.

Any advise please I am so worried I have just been told that I am high risk and that I will need an amnio .I am 17 weeks pregnant does anybody now of any other test that I could take rather then the amino. I feel that there's not that much help offered, please can anybody advise me I am due to have the amino this Monday 3.09.07.
Thanks
Sophie

Hi Sophie, might be an idea to start a new thread

I ahd a high risk result for ds3 and DID NOT have amnio, the risk of miscarriage was greater than the chance I'd have had a temrinbation, so it wasn't worth it. At my 20 weeks scan, the hospital used a special high resolution scanner and gave me extra time so they could aprticualrly check for markers- doesn't give you any definites but does mean things that might be a concern from Downs (eg heart problems) could be picked up, and can give you some indication- eg markers AND a high risk means more likely than no markers, if you see what I mean?

AS it was ds3 didn't ahve Downs, he DOES have autism which cannot be tested for, and we adore him.

We found the hardest aprt was the rpessure put on us by midwife, hospital etc to get an Amnio- actually we capitulated, attended than ran away LOL!

You don't say what your actual risk was, sometimes high risk can be quite low, especially if you're young. If thats the case. my MW said to imagine a ward with as many beds as your isk facotr- and then envisage only one with a child with downs syndrome. That helps gets the risk in perspective.

Have a look as well at things like the downs syndrome asscoaition- or post here for one of the Mums who have a child with downs syndrome. Information is often what you need to reach the answer that si right for you, not the medical professions, whatever that would be.

Good luck X

Hi peachy,
Thank you so much for your response. I did not have the aminio just spoke to them today and asked them for an other scan.
I am also going to arrange for 3D scan as advised by my GP. Feeling better today as they said that every thing looked normal from the further scan that I had.
I have also been given a charity tel number that can give some advice for people in the same situation hope it helps tel 02076310280 or 08088083555.
Thanks
Sophie