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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Harmony Test

16 replies

Tobebythesea · 29/01/2019 08:40

I’m 11 weeks pregnant with number 2, 35 and I’ve been offered the Harmony Test for £350. I know that if I have it and it comes back positive I would terminate. My DH doesn’t want me to have the test as he knows my views about termination and he disagrees.

I know the risk is small so why bother with the test but being offered the it just got me thinking and worried.

Would you have the test? Have you had it?

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HayleyHaystack · 29/01/2019 09:46

Hi, yes I had this done 2 weeks ago. I was actually low risk and wasn't offered it, but my DH and I made the decision to do it. It's the first successful pregnancy, I'm over 35, and it has not been without worry and stress!
I had it on a Saturday and the results were returned the following Friday - fortunately a 0.01% chance of any of the 3 chromosome abnormalities they they test for. I would absolutely do it again for my next pregnancy. It's a painless blood test and a scan was included too which was great to see.
I can't comment on you or your husband's views was it's entirely personal but if you are looking for peace of mind, absolutely go ahead.

Megan2018 · 29/01/2019 10:19

I am having it at 10 weeks, we both agree on termination though.

I am almost 41, DH is 45 and this is our first pregnancy. Much as we want a child we aren't prepared to go ahead if the results are positive for trisomy 13,18 or 21 .

Glitterandunicorns · 29/01/2019 10:25

Hi OP. I had the harmony test in my first pregnancy. Our screening tests came back high risk, so for our peace of mind, we decided to do it.

We decided prior to this that we wouldn't terminate regardless, but that we would prefer to know so we could make any necessary preparations depending on the results.

I don't wish to upset you, but there's a difference between learning you might have a child with Downs Syndrome and one of the conditions which means your child may not survive the pregnancy.

It's a difficult choice to make, and it must be really hard if you and your husband have opposing views about TFMR. Hopefully it's not a decision you'll have to make, but again, there's sometimes a difference between hypothetical decisions you might make if ever in that position and what you decide to do in real life.

I've just found out I'm pregnant again (albeit very early) and I'll definitely have the harmony test again, just so I can prepare myself and not worry.

Best of luck for a happy and healthy pregnancy.

Sandrine1982 · 29/01/2019 10:25

I've also got the Harmony scheduled for the 11th of Feb and we're paying £550. I'm 36 years old and this is my first pregnancy (9 weeks). My husband and I haven't discussed what we would do if it comes back positive but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
I just want to have the most accurate info in hand to base my decisions on. I've heard that the NHS combined test is not as precise, and the woman's age alone can inflate the risk and make people worry unnecessarily. So, if I were you, I would have it ... but it's up to you. Good luck :)

hipstercat · 29/01/2019 10:28

I did it privately as well. NHS nuchal/blood results were low risk, but (at age 32) the detection rate is only about 86% so I wanted more certainty. Piece of mind is worth a lot, as well as (if you choose not the terminate) the opportunity to prepare for a baby with problems should they be detected.

Willow1992 · 29/01/2019 10:33

If you are having the NHS screening done then you would probably get a high risk result if the baby had downs/edwards/patau plus there is far more chance of a false alarm, so even if your DH gets you to back out of the Harmony test he wouldn't be out of the woods yet.

If you can afford it and feel so strongly then get it, it should be your decision since it's your body carrying the baby.

I am also biased because I had one after an NHS downs scare and think of all if the stress and upset I could have avoided if I had been able to go straight for the Harmony test!

Karigan195 · 29/01/2019 11:57

Mines booked for next Tuesday. We both agree on termination if there is a problem.

I’m on tenterhooks until we get past that. I’m 41 so higher risk but even so the risk is 1.47%

pandechocolate · 29/01/2019 12:00

We had it at 13 weeks, agreed we would keep baby no matter what but I was very stressed after coming back as high risk during the combined screening (1 in 85).

Had the test done on the 17th Dec and bad results on the 21st. Low risk (1 in 10,000) for everything and found out we will be having a little girl.
An expensive test but worth every penny to me.

pandechocolate · 29/01/2019 12:03

I am also biased because I had one after an NHS downs scare and think of all if the stress and upset I could have avoided if I had been able to go straight for the Harmony test!

^ this. I didn't sleep while I was waiting to have the harmony test done after I got my NHS results.

Karigan195 · 29/01/2019 12:05

Yeah I haven’t even had the nhs test yet and they’ve already started with telling me I’m high risk etc etc. They stress you out. Harmony gives you actual facts and personal stats not just generic guesswork

Whatsnewpussyhat · 29/01/2019 12:12

I did because I wanted to know before 12 week scan as I too would've ended the pregnancy if tests had been positive.

Worth every penny to me.

Cookit · 29/01/2019 12:16

Yep, with both. This one I had even before NHS screening as that one is pretty inaccurate and I’d rather know as close to everything as I can. I wouldn’t have terminated for Downs but for Pateaus, Edwards or Triploidy I would have.

Karigan195 · 29/01/2019 12:26

You could point out to your DH that if you’re prepared then you can research choices and decisions better.

BowBeau · 29/01/2019 12:37

if I have it and it comes back positive I would terminate

So your solution is to not have the test and just keep the disabled baby you would have terminated if you’d known in advance? I don’t understand this logic.

Sunshinegirl82 · 29/01/2019 22:31

Had the harmony in both pregnancies with (fortunately) low risk results. I had the test at 10 weeks as if it had been necessary to terminate I wanted the option to do that as early as possible.

I declined the NHS screening (it's less accurate so seemed pointless) but had my 12 week scans as normal.

I think if you're going to screen at all you might as well get the most accurate result possible and I was very unconvinced by the NHS screening in terms of levels of accuracy. It was definitely a worthwhile exercise for me personally.

PBobs · 30/01/2019 00:34

I'm 38 and had the Harmony (or equivalent) test. I found it to be hugely reassuring. I had my NT measured as part of my regular monthly scan at 11-12 weeks and it was tiny but I didn't bother to have the blood tests. My obgyn suggested I just go straight to the genetic testing so that I wouldn't have to wait for two sets of test results - and possibly still have to go overseas for a CVS/amnio as they are not available where I live.

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