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Original poster

Amniocentesis fears- can anyone reassure me?

123 replies

mexico · 11/05/2004 13:16

Apologies if there are already threads on this, I am not good at searches! My triple test results have shown a higher than normal DS risk for my baby. I am 16 weeks pregnant. I am reaching the conclusion that to be able to relax at all for the rest of my pregnancy I am going to have to have an amnio, but I am frightened of the miscarriage risks. The risks seem high but no-one I know seems to be aware of anyone that has miscarried. How common really is it? What are others experiences of amnios? Any help is so much appreciated

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Soapbox · 12/05/2004 14:44

Bunny - just seen this. You must be so reassured by Thomcats and Jimjams posts which are in themselves very moving. They contain many good points but what struck me most of all is that in parenthood there are no certainties as to what lies round the corner all we can all hope for is the strength to deal with whatever that might be!

If you do decide not to have any further testing done then you can spend the rest of your pregnancy focusing on teh statistic that you have between a 97 and 98 % chance of having a baby without DS. Sounds better already doesn;t it

bunny2 · 12/05/2004 14:45

jimjams, thanks again. I shall take a look at the website, I dont think I have any tears left so now's a good time.

bunny2 · 12/05/2004 14:46

Soapbox, you're right. 98% is pretty good, I must keep things in perspective.

Jimjams · 12/05/2004 14:53

yes- imagine if you were dxed with a disease but were told that there was a 98% chance that you would make a full recovery. And I think with further more detailed scans you could get further reassurance.

Twinkie · 12/05/2004 14:58

With DD I also had CVS and the heart scan.

bunny2 · 12/05/2004 15:01

Jimjams, that site is heartbreaking. What a gorgeous little boy. It has made me cry again. How on earht do parents cope wiht losing a child?

bunny2 · 12/05/2004 15:02

Twinkie, sorry to keep asking you questions, were you orrered a heart scan on the basis of the nuchal fold? When did you have the heart scan with dd?

Jimjams · 12/05/2004 15:08

bunny2- hope it hasn't upset you too much. It makes me cry every timeI visit it. He is a dream isn't he. The thing that gets me about the site though is how his whole life is some sort of celebration. Absolutely incredible.

Twinkie · 12/05/2004 15:10

Well the nuchal fold measurement can mean DS or other syndromes and it is also a pointer for Heart Defects (which are common for Down's babies) - they give you the CVS and then do a heart check at 20 weeks to make sure that once the tests are through they have ruled out everything that the nuchal scan result could cover.

Why not ask if you can have the heart scan - that may reassure you a bit??

As with you DS does not concern me its the other stuff that worries me!!

Twinkie · 12/05/2004 15:12

Bunny am going to email you with my details just in case you fell you want to talk as I am going home very soon. XXX

dinosaur · 12/05/2004 15:18

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This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Marina · 12/05/2004 16:06

It's had me in floods of tears too. And it would make me think again about Patau's if we ever had another child.
That wonderful website and family...Bunny2, I don't know what to say that can help you. I feel so angry that you of all people should be coping with this additional burden of anxiety. Very best of luck to you and to Twinkie with her CVS results.

Original poster
mexico · 12/05/2004 16:14

Well I have decided to go ahead with the amnio, as much as anything because the scientist in me will not let me carry on without knowing all I can about this baby. I have done more research into the consultant who is carrying out my amnio and he is very experienced, his miscarriage rate is less than 0.5%. I am trying to be really positive about it. I think that once I know, one way or the other, I can enjoy the rest of my pregnancy and prepare for the baby.
bunny2 - sorry to hear your news, I know what you mean about the shock. If it is any consolation, I feel so much better about this today than I did yesterday.
Something very positive has come out of this for me. The postings by Thomcat and eidsvold I have found very powerful. I was surprised to know what a parallel life they were living to me, I have a wonderful two year old and work a four day week. They too are working mums with gorgeous children who make them proud every minute. I realise that I was a very ignorant person when it came to DS, because I have never been close to anyone with it. This has opened my eyes and I am so pleased about that. Whatever the outcome their comments will stay with me now.
My appointment is next Thursday so I will be back to tell you how it goes. I am paying £80 to get my results back in a few days.

OP posts:
bunny2 · 12/05/2004 16:20

Thanks Twinkie, I'd like to talk.

Mexico, good luck with your amnio, with such low odds of mc, you must have a very experienced doctor.

bunny2 · 12/05/2004 16:21

Marina, thank you for your message. I remember your angst during your pregnancy. It is not an easy time for some of us is it?

suedonim · 12/05/2004 16:31

Bunny2 and Mexico, I'm sorry you're having such awful worries atm. I've been down the amnio route, too. I wasn't aware of it at the time but there's a charity dedicated to helping parents through the testing aspect of pg. It's called ARC - Antenatal Results and Choices. They have a helpline that's open from 10-5.30 Mon to Fri. Very best wishes to you both.

Thomcat · 12/05/2004 16:39

Mexico, so pleased you feel better and very pleased that myself and Edisvold have given you an insight into the wonderful world of having a child with DS. I wish you the very best of luck and look forward to hearing more about your hopefully very happy and healthy preganncy. Please make sure you do come back and share your results with us won't you.

Once again I just want you to know that I would always be happy to talk to you about any fears you may have in the furture to do with DS, i just hope i don't have to That goes for anyone who is worried about DS and thinks I might be able to reassure them in some way.

Lots of love and luck to you and all the other pregnant mummies out there and especially to the ones on this thread who are going through a bit of a tough time. xx

Original poster
mexico · 12/05/2004 20:56

Thomcat- you are a real star! You and many others have really given me a lot of help and confort. Wish I had known you were all here earlier on
Love Mexico

OP posts:
bunny2 · 12/05/2004 21:16

suedonim, yes I called ARC for a chat. Unfortunately they could only tell me what I already know, ie I'll need more invasive tests to get a clearer picture.

Thomcat, I am not having an amnio, if my 20 wk scan shows more markers for DS, I'd love to talk to you. But, as I've already said it is the other syndromes that really scare me.

eidsvold · 12/05/2004 21:52

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bunny2 · 13/05/2004 10:20

eidsvold, can I clarify the sickness bit are you saying less sicknes IS a sign of something wrong? You sound so positive about having a child with a heart condition, it makes it a much less frightening prospect for me.

Jimjams · 13/05/2004 11:07

bunny she's saying it isn't a sign- as she had bad morning sickness.

bunny2 · 13/05/2004 11:09

Thanks Jimjams, cant think straight!

clary · 13/05/2004 13:59

Haven't read all this but read your last long post Thomcat and just wanted to say how moving it was. I was all choked up. Thank you for writing that. My sister's DD has Down's and I remember how shocked I was when I heard...it is hard to take in. But now (she's 4.5) you really wouldn't have her any other way as she wouldn't be the same girl - and how we love that girl. Mexico, Bunny and others, you must do what is right for you to give you a stress-free pregnancy if poss. But please be assured that Down's and other special needs do not, as far as my limited exp goes, mean the end of anything - just a beginning. By the way my niece has a younger brother who clearly thrives alongside her - he's a lively, confident 2 with the speech of a lot of 4 y-olds I know.

Thomcat · 17/05/2004 15:07

Thanks for you post Clary

How's it going Mexico?