Screening Tests - First Time Mum

[5rosebud]

Hi,

I've recently found out i'm pregnant. The midwife has emailed through loads of info and forms I need to fill out but i'm really confused about the screening tests. I obviously want to check everything is ok but I don't want anything to harm the baby which I know some of them can. Can anyone help decipher what tests I should be agreeing to?

Thanks

I had the screening test for down/Edwards/patau which was done with a scan and a blood test. If the results came back high risk you can have further tests which would be more invasive and carry risks of miscarriage. If my results had been high risk I wouldn’t have had further tests as I wouldn’t have wanted the risk, luckily mine were low.

The routine screening tests carry no risk for baby. It is only if these are high risk that they then may carry out more invasive tests such as amnio or cvs which carry a small risk of miscarriage. However, you do not have to have these tests

Also, if you have high risk there are now safe tests available in some nhs trusts and privately- nipt

I’ve opted for the combined screening test (today). I think if that comes back as high risk, I will pay privately for the NIPT before considering the invasive NHS tests if I still think it’s necessary.