Combined testing BMI and age worries

[Dinosaurdrip]

Please someone come and talk some sense into me. I am 41 and 9.5 weeks with DC4. DH really wasn't 100% about this pregnancy and has said he wants me to have all the tests available and if there are any major problems I think he will want to opt for termination although he would never force this on me.

Anyway my question is surely if I am 41 and have a BMI of 42 my results will automatically be high risk? Is that right, I know they obviously take other factors into consideration but really what are the chances of the result being within normal limits?

Please can someone with much more knowledge tell me that yes I will more than likely get a high risk result and then have to go for the amnio, as pretty sure I can't stretch to the nipt test, or that in actual fact there are so many more factors involved and just having those 2 things won't definitely make the result high.

To be honest I'm just so stressed with it all, we were literally on the verge or terminating, I had the tablets sent out bit couldn't do it in the end and now every little thing is just causing me more stress and anxiety. So sorry for the ramble!!

Yes, before NT and bloods you will automatically have a high chance. Probably somewhere near 1/100 but probably a bit higher.

When they take into consideration your babies NT and your bloods there is a strong likelihood that your chances will reduce. If it doesn't and it stays below 1/150 you will be offered a NIPT for free on the NHS.

This will give you a more precise chance figure and there is a very high likelihood that this will be low. At this stage if the chance was still high then you'd be into discussions on amniocentesis.

I don’t mean to be rude but if you can’t stretch to a NIPT test can you afford another baby?

Just because your BMI is high and weight is I assume slightly over doesn't make you or put you at higher risk for the syndromes etc.

Your age might pay a factor but you could be young, fit and healthy and your baby still may have a syndrome. I think it's just one of them things. I wouldn't say because your BMI it puts you at more of a risk.

Of course a higher BMI is classed as high risk. For stuff like GD, PE, etc.

Thanks for your replies, I guess it is just a case of waiting and seeing what happens and dealing with it when it does!

I didnt realise, if the results were high the nipt would be offered in the nhs so that's good to know.

With all due respect Shirley your response was unnecessary and really not helpful, this pregnancy wasn't planned so right now I would rather be putting money away to buy baby essentials but yes, luckily, we can afford to have another baby

I was in the same boat. Got offered the quadruple test as sonographer couldn't get NT as baby wouldn't lie properly. Came back high risk 1 in 150. Absolutely borderline. My blood results were normal so it was purely down to my age (38) and high BMI. I was offered NIPT test free as high risk. It came back today as low risk for all 3 trisomies. If it haf came back high risk the next step would be amnio.

The natural risk for a 38 year old for downs is 1 in 150 so age plays heavily in the algorithm obviously. Depending on where you are in the UK the NIPT will be free on the NHS if your result is high risk. Good luck with it all.

I’m 39 with a high BMI but the combined test still cane back low risk. I paid for a NIPT test anyway for extra reassurance.