anyone had an amnio and can give advice?

[wendyredhead]

I've decided, because of my age, to skip the tests and just go for an amnio and hope for the best. Just wondered about any personal experiences you might have had.

Just for the record, I'm not sure I would have terminated if tests had revealed a problem, but I don't see what's wrong with taking advantage of modern technology to find out as much as you can before your baby is born - I'm also the sort of person who wanted to know the sex of the baby, just because I could. If there had been any problems I think it would have helped me to know about them and come to terms with them a bit before the birth. Wendy sems to have disappeared from the thread, but if you are listening Wendy I would say having an amnio did put my mind at rest as an older mother -that's not to say some other terrible thing can't befall you (as people are queueing up here to point out) however, you can't find out about that in advance so no point in worrying til it happens.

I chose to have an amnio due to my age, family history and because I would have worried all the way to the end of the pregnancy otherwise. I don't know if I would have terminated with a bad result, but I wanted to be prepared for any problems. I know it doesn't detect everything but I believe it picks up the most common problems and it did put my mind at rest.

I was initially going to have CVS - because it's supposed to be lower risk of mc and also if one did decide to terminate it's much earlier - but was advised that CVS only tests the cells of the placenta which are not necesarily the same as the babys cells. My doctor said that the placenta can have anomalies but the baby be totally fine - or vice versa - so recommended an amnio for better results. I don't know if anyone else has heard the same thing?

I had amnios with both of mine because of my age - late 30s and because i'm a naturally paraniod person! With my second one, we got a phone call from the consultant about a week later which really surprised us as we were expecting to wait 3 weeks. What he said surprised us even more, he'd been doing them for 15 yrs and for the first time ever there were no cells from the baby in the fluid so I had to go and have another one! All ok in the end and they are now 5 & 8.

gess what shocks me is said child was sitting in front of her eating her afternoon tea

i did not complain but did hand on info that identified me as a new/antenatal support person for our down syndrome association.

Wendy - for me through each pregnancy - I found knowing exactly what the test was for, what the results would mean, the accuracy of the test, exactly what it involved and what the next step would be helped me to decide what testing I wanted as part of my antenatal care. I also found in refusing some tests that the better researched I was, the more seriously i was taken.

oh people do that though don't they. Neighbour telling us her dd had had a termination recently (didn't even know she was pregnant - had no need to know) for DS 'because it would mess up her career and not be fair on the other child' - fair enough, whatever, each to their own etc, but this was in front of ds1!!!!!! FFS.

I agree that a professional should be just that though. Medics often have odd views regarding learning disabilities though ime.

WOW! I'm a bit blown away reading this little lot! And it's just taken me quite some time to get through all your posts as I was out all day Thursday and got back late, hence my apparent "disappearance" from the thread.

There's a lot to digest and a lot of acronyms I don't fully understand (being a beginner to M/N).

I want to thank you ALL for your invaluable input and personal views and experiences. This has been an eye-opener to say the least and I must say that I was NOT a worrier on Wednesday and, today, I am!

welcome to motherhood! I remember when ds1 was born my Mum said "and now the worries begin' & I thought she was mad! (having been focussed on the pregnacy iyswim). Didn;t know quite how accurate a prediction that would end up being (although I worry about ds2 and ds3 as well- just part of being parent).

Yes indeed! Although you'd think I was a first timer but actually this is my second pregnancy, although it feels like a first one since my DS is now 11.

Liliangish: thanks so much for your support and I had to laugh at your posting re people queueing up to tell me all the other things that may be wrong at 8 wks! Gosh, ignorance really WAS bliss! Too late for that now, I feel I've already stepped onto the "Screening Rollercoaster" ride and am slowly crawling up that first, steep climb! HELP...

Oh well they've changed all the guidelines since then! Everything changed between ds1 and ds3, and that was only 5 or 6 years.

There's a thread about testing for CF in SN if you're interested.

Liliangish: yes, I'm on same thinking as you in that I like to be as fully armed as is possible so I can be prepared mentally for whatever outcome, although I totally understand this isn't really about wanting to know if I have a "perfect" baby, more to know what the most common problems are and what can be tested for.

Sorry haven't read the entire thread and if I am repeating what others have said I am sorry. I had a nuchal scan at twelve weeks with my daughter (privately as not avail in our area) then a blood test afterwards. I was 31. Scan showed low risk result, blood test was high. Doctor reccomended amnio.

We went ahead with it at 14wks also privately.Turned out chromosomes 12 and 19 had switched bottom halfs?!? Dh and I were tested this was not present in either one of us.

We were sent for genetic counselling at our local hospital. Where they asked us to fill vials from her cord when she was born for further testing. We had scans every 4 weeks in case anything changed.

SCBU on standby and a paed at the birth. All tests performed and she is now 2 and a half. We have no idea what it was all I can say is that it hasn't manifested itself yet.

We didn't go back for any further tests, but they have given us a letter to give to her so that she can go back if she wants to know more.

I did worry what it would be from 14wks onwards and second time around 32years old I did things differently. (I just had the blood test at 16wks).

I think it is up to you what you do, all I wanted to say was that there are sometimes anomalies that show up in the result that even the doctors can't explain what they could be.

Thanks gess.

I'm also sorry there seems to have been a bit of friction in this post (albeit sorted out). But I guess it's an emotive subject and all too often ones thoughts are not always conveyed as they are intended through the medium of text.

Fiofio: I'm sure no supposition was ever intended and that Escondida was just trying to help me by answering your Q in case you didn't. I hope she's OK.

Sorry for all these little posts but I'd rather that than one long one!

oh arbs I used to work on mice with something smiliar (slightly different but same idea), and the only effect it sometimes had was on fertility (because its slightly harder to make eggs if chromosomes are in funny places- especially if only one of each chromsome is affected). The effect was mild though. Glad she's fine, but what a worrying time it must have been.

I was also confused by my m/w who told me that the reason a N/T scan isn't available on the NHS in Lincolnshire is because it isn't as conclusive as the 16 wk blood test. However, I've read that the N/T scan+blood tests at 11/12 weeks is about 95% accurate. I doubt the manufacturers of the tests could make such a claim if it were unfounded? Otherwise I would pay the £220 (yikes!) to get it done privately but am reluctant to if it's not as accurate as they claim it is. FYI, the blood test is ADMARK in Leeds (throgh a postal service).

Mumie: that's interesting about the CVS. I was wondering about this instead, but I've changed my mind now.

It's difficult to get an accurate figure on the reliability on the nuchal fold scan as it varies between sonogrpahers- their skill is the most important factor. Having the 2 tests does increase reliability providing dates are accurate. Quite a few areas don't offer the scan though. I moved areas for ds 3 into one which didn't offer the nuchal, having had nucals with both ds1 and ds2.

Mumie, I read the same thing regarding cells in the CVS testing. IIRC they can sometimes pick up the mother's cells instead of the baby's. That was a factor in my decision for amnio. I wanted any information I had to be conclusive.

I was told (by FMC) if you have termination following CVS it's relatively easier than termination following amnio... because terminating before 14 weeks is easier.

I think terminiating 16 wks+ you have to effectively give birth, have a death certificate and a funeral. Anecdotally, I've heard that people who previous terminated following amnio will usually opt for CVS the next time, because they find out sooner and it's less of an ordeal to terminate.

I would still prefer amnio myself, probably, but I would want to be prepared for all that (death certificate, etc.) ahead of time.

How interesting gess, I had fertility treatment to conceive her.... I guess we will have to wait and see if she is affected by this too. Thanks.