I just dont know what to do - 12 week scan

[lozzy1982]

Ladies i am so torn,

I have my 12 week scan on friday, and after a chat with the hubby, we decided to opt out of the chromasomal downs testing. Really because, i always said, if anything came back, i would never hve an abortion, so what was the point of testing?
Now though, a close friend of mine who has had the test, her results have come back and turns out her baby has a really bad heart condition. As bad as it gets she said. And shes now got the awful decision of what to do.

I really only thought this test was for downs, and now i just dont know what to do for the best. Im so confused.
Any advice ladies would be so appreciated.

Just checked my notes. It says:

"You have decided not to have your baby screened for Down's Syndrome. A very thickened neck measurement (more than 3.5mm) is also linked to physical problems, such as a heart defect:

Although I do not wish to have the Combined Test, I would like to be informed if the neck measurement is greater than 3.5mm, so that a detailed cardiac scan can be arranged.

Signed..."

That's really interesting, decaff. I wonder if this is a new thing to make things more explicit nationwide then because my notes with DC1/2/3 were much more basic & this time they are much fuller.

With DC2 I decided against having the combined test, because for me, it seemed pointless. I wouldn't have got the results until I was at least 16 weeks pregnant. A high risk result would mean having to decide whether to have amnio and with a small risk of losing the baby, and get a result at around 18 weeks. Or I could just wait an extra fortnight for the 20 week scan which would pick up on a wider range of possible problems. For me, the combined test would increase stress without really giving me any more useful options in the event of something going wrong.

I have had this discussion with a very religious friend who didn't understand why anyone would have screening if they wouldn't terminate (and in her case she never, ever would because of her religious beliefs). I explained that:

• it would affect my decisions about mode and place of delivery. If I knew my baby would be very sick, for example, I might push for an elective section so that appropriate paeds teams could be on standby;

• it would enable me to research and understand as much as possible. Also , when not my first, to prepare my other children.

In my case, I was also quite clear that I would terminate for Edwards or Patau.

I would say give your midwife a call and check exactly what is tested for by your hospital - I fretted about it for ages because of all the other things which may be picked up, but when I asked (as they were doing the scan etc) my area only tests for downs syndrome. In reterospect I was glad I had it as I'm hoping for a MLU delivery but if I knew the baby had a high chance of having downs syndrome I'd prefer to be in a hospital where the staff knew there could be issues on birth. Bear in mind though that the NT test only gives you a 1:x chance of having issues, you'd have to have amnio to be sure either way.

Sorry not read all thread. OP, I assumed they picked up the heart confition on anomally scan as chromosome testing wouldn't show a specific heart condition only syndromes associated with heart problems.
The tests at 12 weeks + nuchal fold don't test for chromosomes-they give you a number for how high risk you are for having a baby with e.g. downs syndrome, you would then be offered further tests (cvs/amniocentesis) to grow the chromosomes and confirm any genetic conditions. Speak to your mw for full information.

I didn't have the tests as I wouldn't go on to have the amniocentesis and would just worry all pregnancy! I did have the anomally scan (20 weeks) as if anything there that required surgery/special delivery or anything incompatible with life was picked ip then I would want to make some decisions/ensure baby received appropriate care in utero/when born x

I would have the test although I agree with your argument.
I would have it because if the baby did have a problem then at least you could prepare and do necessary things to get yourself sorted for baby arrival.
Also it would put your mind at rest that your baby is ok because in reality the odds are that your baby will be fine