Triple test --Yes or no

[twoplusone]

I am thinking of saying no to the Triple Test... as I am fairly positive that even if something was wrong I couldnt terminate... However have been thinking is it better to be prepared....

I already have to healthy children DD 10years old, and DS 2.6 years old. I am 31 (well will be on sunday)

The other thing I have wondered about is would it really be fair on the two children I have to have a disabled child who will need lots of my time and attention..all what ifs I know, just wondered on other peoples views really on the Triple test..

I had this and was 'low risk' in my pg#3 but the baby actually had a chromosome disorder that was fatal. I had a TOP at over 20 weeks. It was horrid and the guilt etc was awful. I felt I wasn't entitled to grieve and the situation was far from over as I thought it would end the awful situation but it was just the beginning. You have to give birth etc and often the baby has to have an injection to stop the heart. I am not sure I could cope with all that for a baby that could live albeit with disability.

This pg I had the test again and am 'high risk' for Downs ten times my age risk. I had a scan and that was OK and am sticking with that as an amnio can cause a m/c and I don't want to be faced with choices again-often even people that said they would never abort end up on a conveyer belt to TOP when it becomes real that their baby has something-fear of the unknown etc-thinking they can end it. I am very scared of coping with a severeley disabled child and the 4 I have already but if I had a TOP I would still have the child, they would just not be alive; what I mean is visits to cemetry, memories etc, guilt.

As regards to accuracy, the test is supposed to detect 60-70% Downs pregnancies (which means 30-40% undetected and given low risk) and 1 in 20 of all women (majority not carrying a baby with Downs) will get an 'abnormal' result. Most of them are not having a baby with Downs. If the test is high risk you will be offered an amnio (1 in 100 chance m/c usually of a healthy baby) The test can also pick up neural tube defects and Trisomy 18. Apparantly 50% of babies with chromosomal defects can be picked up on a scan. If your results come back high it really is a nightmare of stress.

Thank you for sharing that with me jellybean.. so sorry for you past loss..

I really dont think I can have the tests done. I had an AMnio with first pg (at 28weeks) due to probs in pg everything was fine, but they kept telling me your baby could have cf or cp or both.. quite a high chance... I was 20yeaRS OLD.. shE WAS FINE LUCKILY...