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Original poster

Can I ask people's opinions on antenatal testing without it getting too sensitive / heated?

90 replies

FrannyandZooey · 02/12/2007 20:48

You know when you need to decide if / what tests you are going to have at the scans and so on. Would people feel comfortable telling me about how they made a decision on this? I need to stew it over.

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VeniVidiVickiQV · 02/12/2007 20:50

Well, the tests they do arent conclusive by any means, and I always considered 2 things:

Would I want to risk an amnio based on the kind of things that a scan at 12-14 weeks and bloods could tell me?

Even if bloods or nuchal translucency did indicate something (namely Downs Syndrome) - would I do something about it?

The answer to both was no

Although I had the tests anyway just so I could be prepared. I hate not knowing.

Tutter · 02/12/2007 20:51

i decided to have a private scan and the leeds triple test
(i think that's what it's called)

it gave me as much information as possible without endangering my baby (that's what i understand to be the case at any rate)

i am 36, if it helps (in terms of my decisions vis-a-vis assessing risk)

my results came back very reassuring so - thanks goodness - i was 'let off' any upsetting decisions

i think i would have had an amnio should the results have been worse

hopw are you, franny? how many weeks now?

MegBusset · 02/12/2007 20:54

The only test I was offered was the triple test (to be followed by amnio if need be). I decided not to have it because I knew that I wouldn't risk an amnio and that I wouldn't terminate in case of Downs/spina bifida anyway. So I didn't see much point in having a test that could just cause me unnecessary worry.

Original poster
FrannyandZooey · 02/12/2007 20:55

I am 9 weeks

I am also 36 Tutter. Can anyone point me at stats for increased risks for over 35s? I know the risks go up, but I don't know whether this is meaningful.

VVV did you ever consider that the worry during pg (of knowing tests had showed xyz) might be worse than just finding out at birth and having to get on with it? Or were you very clear that you just wanted to know, either way?

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berolina · 02/12/2007 20:55

We had no testing for either ds. I would not have terminated for anything compatible with life, couldn't face the thought of an amnio and assumed the regular and very detailed scans I had (in Germany, not UK) would have provided at least an indication of most serious problems that were diagnosable antenatally.

ClaphamLauren · 02/12/2007 20:55

I had the triple blood and nuchal test as standard under my hospital, I made the decision to go along with it as I wanted to know what my risk factor was. Thankfully it was very low so I've not had anything else, dp and I agreed a level at which we would have further testing before the scan and bloods.

I think it really depends on your situation too, for me, it would be very hard to deal with a baby with Downs Syndrome and if I was considered high risk I would NEED to know from a planning perspective more than anything else.

I was really glad to have had a swab and find out that I have GBS... definitely something I would suggest to friends to have done, so easy and worth knowing!

Original poster
FrannyandZooey · 02/12/2007 20:56

We have something called chorionic villus or something here now

I don't think they had it before. Oh and a nuchal fold thing - that's for Downs Syndrome.

OP posts:
Original poster
FrannyandZooey · 02/12/2007 20:56

what is GBS please?

OP posts:
KristinaM · 02/12/2007 20:58

i am very old so had cvs on last 2 pg

berolina · 02/12/2007 20:58

Group B Strep. Now that I did have a test (swab in late pg) for.

themulledsnowmanneredjanitor · 02/12/2007 20:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
FrannyandZooey · 02/12/2007 20:59

How old are you please Kristina?

what are the implications of GBS then?

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expatinscotland · 02/12/2007 20:59

i'm also 36 and pregnant.

the past two times i've refused the triple test because i feel statistically it's not very good.

also, i'd refuse an amnio.

i have had PND with a lot of anxiety related issues and i suffer from panic attacks and hypertension.

so for me, any test is going to cause me just too much stress and anxiety in the pregnancy.

i also know i wouldn't terminate for anything that was compatible with life, so don't really see the point in having any of these tests.

to each their own, i suppose.

i don't see where there would be a very significant increase in the risk for Down's between the ages of 35 and 36, but perhaps some geneticist or actuary would know more.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 02/12/2007 21:00

No, not at all Franny. But thats just my nature. I HATE not being prepared or not knowing. I could have found out as much as I needed to beforehand and then when the baby was born, I could have just got on with the business of being a mother.

Mind you, with all of DD's stuff I've never felt overwhelmed by not knowing, I just got on with it. But there was no way of forseeing all her allergies and stuff. I suppose if I can know, I need to know.

I hope that makes sense.

berolina · 02/12/2007 21:00

GBS can be passed to baby during labour, if you are positive for it, and cause serious infection. IV antibiotics during labour prevent this (IIRC - I was not affected).

Original poster
FrannyandZooey · 02/12/2007 21:01

No I see what you mean expat

I have just read that the risk increases after age 35 - actually maybe it DOES significantly increase - I know fertility for instance trails away nicely until about age 35 and then it just does a nosedive, so these things can happen

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VeniVidiVickiQV · 02/12/2007 21:02

Although I do know more now than I did with both pgs.

expatinscotland · 02/12/2007 21:02

it would be pretty cool, though, if someone like tamum could read this thread, because she/he might actually have some serious stats as to how much the risk increases between the ages of 35 and 36.

but then again, Down's, or any genetic or structural abnormality can happen at any age.

Original poster
FrannyandZooey · 02/12/2007 21:03

VV yes it does make sense - I don't think it is the same for me, but I can see where you are coming from. My gp when I was pg with ds said in her opinion having foreknowledge of a problem could hinder your bonding with the baby as a newborn - whereas if you were not prepared it could go easier for you in a way. I see what she meant as well.

Thanks for the info on GBS, I didn't know that.

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janeite · 02/12/2007 21:04

I chose to have no tests at all, beyond the routine scans. I wouldn't have contemplated termination anyway, so didn't really see the point in having tests.

However, I know somebody who did test and chose to terminate based on the result of the test. Somebody else was told all sorts of horror stories on testing, chose to ignore it all and settle for no further hospital involvement and a private midwife for a home birth and has the most gorgeous little girl - SEN but beautiful and full of life - if she'd have taken account of the test results, her little girl wouldn't be here.

However, we are lucky enough to live in a society which offers the choice to test or nor and to make our own decisions on any results if we do choose to test - so it really is up to the individual's feelings.

berolina · 02/12/2007 21:04

Shepherding to tests is a touchy subject with me. My (otherwise excellent) gyn with ds1 kept asking me whether I had thought about the amnio (this with no previous testing of any kind, just for the sake of it. And I was 27, FFS).

Tutter · 02/12/2007 21:05

ooh yes, forgot about gbs

i found out i was +ive

didn't actually have time for the abs in labour (luckily all was well) but was glad i found out

shocking that it's not standard antenatal testing imho

Original poster
FrannyandZooey · 02/12/2007 21:05

Did anyone make a different choice for their first and subsequent pregnancies? For example, when pg with ds we decided to have no tests as we felt we would not terminate for whatever reason. However we said "it would be different if we already had children as then our decision would affect them as well."

Now we have ds as well, we are still feeling the same way that we did during the 1st pg. We are wondering if we are being rather idealistic / naive.

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Misdee · 02/12/2007 21:05

i had the triple test with dd1 (first time mum, didnt really know what they were testing for), and that was it.

with dd2 again i hadnt really thought about testing, but my appointment was apparently the right time to have a blood test for DS(not triple test), but cant remember what it was called. i think the blood vial had some sort of crystals in it.

with dd3, i refused all of those tests. I did however have foetal cardiac scans due to dh heart problems, just to be prepared in case anything showed up.

i pretty much decided that if we could face all of dh health problems and try and get through that, then really i didnt want tests on the baby as well.

emkana · 02/12/2007 21:06

Well, I could write a novel on this, and don't really know where to start. You might recall my very troubled pregnancy with ds. What I learnt from it: There are soooooooooooo many things that the tests cannot find out. So many, it's quite scary, and it annoys me a bit when antenatal testing is presented as something that will give you all the answers (not aimed at anybody on this thread). The worrying about the unknown during pregnancy was absolutely terrifying and soul-destroying. With hindsight I wish I had never even had a scan.

But that's all just my personal feelings. I would just say, remember that the tests don't even cover half of all the things that might be, but also remember that you are far more likely to have a healthy baby than anything else.

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