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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Did you test for Downs?

126 replies

Ladypug · 09/03/2015 18:32

I had my first mw appointment today and she explained at the first scan we have the option to test for Downs. If it comes back high risk then testing becomes quite invasive. She said if we would have the baby with Downs then that would be a potential reason not to test. She also said some people just "feel" low risk or don't want the invasive analysis.

What did everyone here do? Did you test for it or not? X

OP posts:
scarednoob · 09/03/2015 19:35

interesting gooorooo - i did wonder if she was just trying to flog me the test! that's why if i do have it i'll go to the fetal medicine centre and not back to the same private place. but i'll see what the NHS say first; no point having more tests and stress than you need to x

cherryade8 · 09/03/2015 19:46

Yes I've always had the tests. If I got a confirmed negative result then I would terminate as I would struggle to cope with a very disabled child.

TheKitchenWitch · 09/03/2015 19:47

I went straight for amnio both times as was considered higher risk because of age.
Both times clear, though would have terminated if it hadn't been.

misssmilla1 · 09/03/2015 19:51

I had the harmony test done as it tests for downs but also Edward and Patau syndrome. It's offered standard here from 10 weeks (I'm not in the UK) and offered as a good non invasive way to know early, which was important for us in case we had to make any hard choices.

DilysDerwent · 09/03/2015 19:58

I didn't test because we agreed we wouldn't have the amnio so it seemed pointless.

hazeyjane · 09/03/2015 20:04

This is why there should be more general awareness about being the parent of a disabled child and being a person with a disability.

Disability and health problems are a part of life, and not everything can be predicted. I think as a society and as parents, everyone needs to think about disability and not see it as some huge storm that we can avoid because it will destroy all in it's path.

Often testing, even if positive for a condition, doesn't show the level of disability a child will have or what health issues are going to present themselves.

There are such a huge range of issues that can be arise, and tbh people can't be prepared for everything that happens, but people can and do get on with it.

MrsDeVere · 09/03/2015 20:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HedgehogsDontBite · 09/03/2015 20:22

I had the test because of the other conditions they screen for at the same time. Downs wouldn't have bothered us but some of the other stuff is horrendous and I just couldn't have put a baby or myself through that. Thankfully everything came back as low risk which given my age (42) was a massive relief.

Slongette · 09/03/2015 20:40

I'm older - was 35 with DS and I'm 37 and 25 weeks with DD.

I've had the screening with both pregnancies DS came back at 1:5000 so no problem. DD came back as 1:25.

We had the screening because we wanted to know and also were not prepared to subject our family to a child with high needs (have experience as DSis has twins with high needs and I've seen what stresses and issues this can have on a family).

Had a amnio which I found very straight forward at 16 weeks - no issues and had the results back within 48 hrs. All clear.

If there had been any issues - we would have terminated.

ThatBloodyWoman · 09/03/2015 20:45

I refused testing of any sort.

Idefix · 09/03/2015 21:00

I didn't have the test as I knew I would go ahead with pregnancy regardless, ds was the result of 2yrs fertility treatment.
At 20 week scan an abnormality was detected, we were ushered into a "counselling" room where we were immediately offered a termination. We opted to proceed and now have a healthy 16yr old.

Would say it is only worth going for if you would actively consider termination or as others have said you want to know to be prepared.

SisterMoonshine · 09/03/2015 21:04

I didn't. I was just over 40, so knew it would come out high risk anyway.
I wouldn't want the further testing and wouldn't terminate for Downs Syndrome.

MissTwister · 09/03/2015 21:08

I had the harmony test so as to avoid danger of having to have invasive testing as I am 37. I don't think I would have continued with the pregnancy if the baby had Downs, but it would obviously have been a tough decision to make.

KeturahLee · 09/03/2015 21:11

I didn't have the tests as I wouldn't have gone for invasive testing and I didn't feel being given a "risk" would do anything but cause stress.

morethanpotatoprints · 09/03/2015 21:17

I didn't because I was 38 and they told me it would likely come back as high risk, so I declined.
I wouldn't have had an amnio anyway, that's just me though.
Before this with the older two it either wasn't available back then or they didn't offer it to me.

Original poster
Ladypug · 09/03/2015 21:18

Thank you so much for all of these responses, I don't know very much about it all so this is really helping inform me. I have never heard of Edwards and Patau so will look that up, thank you guys x

OP posts:
MsAnndrist · 09/03/2015 21:21

I'm curious about those who didn't or wouldn't test - I understand that you wouldn't terminate for Down's but wouldn't you want to know if your baby had an incompatible with life condition like Edwards or Patau's?

KeturahLee · 09/03/2015 21:23

I wouldn't have had invasive testing so it wouldn't have arisen.

assessment · 09/03/2015 21:24

No I didn't.

Wouldn't have made any difference to me any way so I'd rather not have the worry.

rosedavo · 09/03/2015 21:27

I did, first was a combo of blood test and nuchal measurements and i came back low risk and that was no more tests. I think if i had comeback high risk i dont think i would have done the invasive tests.

Hurr1cane · 09/03/2015 21:28

No I wouldn't want to know.

BossWitch · 09/03/2015 21:31

Yes, we tested. DH and I agreed we would have terminated if positive for downs. Not an easy decision and luckily we were v v low risk (1 in 25000 or something like) but our decision to make.

assessment · 09/03/2015 21:33

MsAndrist for anything serious I would take the view of deal with it when it happens.

It's what would happen naturally anyway. Women have coped with that sort of thing since the dawn of time.

Edwards and Patau are horrible but they are part of life. I think creating life brings with it a flip side that can't be denied or nicely brushed under the carpet, and shouldn't be. Sometimes the worst happens but that is also part of life.

youlemming · 09/03/2015 21:35

I did with my first and with my current pregnancy, not that I would have terminated but I like to have as much info as possible to prepare.
There are so many conditions that you can't test for so why not get as much info on those that they can.

DramaAlpaca · 09/03/2015 21:36

I had the tests in my first pregnancy but found it so stressful that I opted out of them for my second and third pregnancies.