Downs Syndrome Tests for Twins - Advice

[30somethingyorkie]

Hi all,

I'd love some advice/thoughts/feelings on the predicament we are in.

We are 8.5 weeks and found out last Thur we are having identical twins!!! A shock to say the least as we've been trying for our first for 12 months!

I had a call yesterday from a nurse asking if I still didn't want the tests for downs etc because there is a very slight increased risk.

We said no but I really don't know what to do. I physically and mentally could not make the decision to terminate if my babies were positive. If we knew at least we could then prepare ourselves.

I'm 32 so not high risk but my DM is saying how seriously we should consider it!

Help!!!

I would have the test, I have with all pregnancies where it has been offered. You can give verbal consent on the day if you have your dating scan before the cut off.

I'm 36 now and got 1 in over 17k chance with current singleton. 6 years ago one of our twins had a larger NT measurement on scan but the blood test came back with a low risk and both of them are fine.

I didn’t have the blood test.

It was some time ago so can’t quite remember the reason, but the gist was that raised hormone levels from twins can give you a false positive. He also said that he wouldn’t have carried out the invasive test as I was not in high risk group. I was 31.

This was quite a few years ago, so no doubt testing has improved.

If I had a singleton I would definitely have had the test, as I would have liked to be forewarned.

My friend had the test and it gave her a very low percentage for having a child with ds, however one of them was born with ds which was a big shock as she isn’t that old. She was told because they were twins and one was ok the test didn’t work. 🙈. Sorry I can’t help.
I have never had the ds test, however I’m now 35 and want a home birth so just want to make sure all ok.

Congratulations!

I’m currently pregnant with twins and we had the usual nuchal translucency measurement at the 12 week scan. The measurements were well within safe parameters, so perhaps you can decide after you’ve had that, if you would want to do the other blood work? If the NT measurements are fine, you probably wouldn’t need to worry.

I also had CVS (for a different reason) and we were told that there is no increased risk of miscarriage with the procedure just because they are twins. It is actually more to do with the person performing the procedure.

Anyway, we had thought we would terminate for medical reasons depending on the results of the CVS, but didn’t in the end. I’ve definitely found it helpful knowing what is to come as we can be as prepared as possible and get the support we need.

Hopefully you won’t need to do amniocentesis or CVS but just thought I would share.