Having a baby at nearly 40

[AimeeLou84]

Hi All. I’m going out of my mind waiting on my NIPT results which I expect I won’t receive until halfway through next week. This is my first baby and I’m 17+1. I’ll be a month from 40 when I give birth. My chances of having a baby with Down syndrome are 1 in 137. The waiting is tearing me apart as I’m showing now and the thought of not having my baby is killing me. Has anyone else had these chances and at my age? I’m honestly not coping well with the wait and I’m scared it’s effecting the baby now as I keep breaking down. Thank you

Aw buddy! 1 in 137 is very small - less than 1%. I'm 39 and I think that's our general prediction due to age alone. Do you know how long you have to wait?

When I had one of mine the results came back high. I was a wreck and told DH that I couldn’t have a baby with problems, so went for an amino. While waiting for results I felt my baby move and knew then that I couldn’t end it. My baby was fine, and you’ll go through lots of emotions, just stay strong and hang on.

Yeah so due to age alone it was 1 in 133 but my previous bloods pushed it a bit to 137, cut off is 150 anything after that is low risk but I’m still going out of my mind as someone has to be the 1% 😔
They told me it can be anything up to a 2 week wait and I had them taken Tuesday and they wouldn’t have got to the lab in London until yesterday. But majority of reading I’ve done online says a week. I think it’s awful to have to wait this long

Did the amino come back ok? That’s another thing that scares me due to the risk of miscarriage. I don’t even know what to do at this point. I’m showing, everyone knows I’m pregnant and I’m in love with my baby. What were your original numbers out of the 150 please? Glad you’re baby is fine xx

Can’t remember my numbers, sorry.

I had my NIPT the Weds or Thurs and got the results on the Mon. They tell you up to 2 weeks to be on the safe side. Although I feared the worst when I got the call from the hospital at 5.30pm! Thankfully it came back low risk.

I’m having to stay off work as I can’t cope with them ringing me while there! Do you mind if I ask what your original numbers were and was it due to your age? Glad yours come back all good x

I've had the amino - actually the risk of miscarriage is lower than reported now, and it was quick, painless and no problem (they had to do two jabs though as baby moved around).

Honestly, I'll do amino for any subsequent pregnancies I have without a worry. Hope this puts your mind at ease

The risk you're given isn't due to age. Thats just a generic category but not individual. It's based on the measurements they take at your 12 week scan. I'm 38, will be 39 when baby arrives. My risk is 1 in 5000. At 36 with my last baby he was 1 in 3500 (I still remember).

I'm sorry if that's not what you want to hear but it also doesn't mean your baby has any issues. You still have a less than 1% risk, so a 99.5% chance of everything being fine :) try to focus on that 99% number.

My friend has a baby with downs and her risk was 1 in 3 so it was much clearer and she was prepared for the baby to have special needs at birth.

I had a blood dna test to confirm my baby was fine (I was over 40). No issue at all and I have a gorgeous, sweet and healthy young girl with me now.

I'm 42 and my background risk was 1 in 62 for Down syndrome but I did the NIPT at the same time as I know that would be the case down to my age. Did they give you your adjusted risk following your scan? Mine was 1 in 1257 once adjusted. NIPT came back very low risk. I'm now 34 weeks.

Hi. They haven’t been able to do any measures on my baby due to her position. I had quads test and it says 1 in 133 increased chance due to age. Then it says 1 in 137 chance based on bloods taken. I know my risk is low but the waiting around is agonising.

I had odds of 1 in seven at 34. Had NIPT and amnio done, I know how stressful it is. My NIPT came back as 1 in 7 billion but they still wanted an Amnio for the full array... which came back completely clear! It's a tough time, you're doing the right thing staying away from work, I did the same. My NIPT results came back in about five days. Initial amnio results were three days but the full array was about two weeks. I cried for days and worried for weeks. He's now two and a half and no harm came to him. It's a tough time but try not to worry about the results or any effect on baby. Good luck

Thank you so much. You’ve just explained everything I wanted to know. I’m glad all went ok for you and you completely understand how I’m feeling right now it’s a nightmare I want to end x

I was the same age as you, my odds were 1:75. Also went for amnio and that gave the all clear. Its really tough, until you have the news that you're after its hard to focus on much else. I'd highly recommend contacting this charity:
Antenatal Results & Choices

Helpline: 020 7631 0285
Office line: 020 7631 0280

They were fab in calming down my over-active imagination and providing support.

My risk factor was based on my age 1 in 133 then my bloods from quad test moved it to 1 in 137. They haven’t been able to get any measures of the baby. 12 week scan they couldn’t check NT as awkward position so no measures were taken of anything really. I haven’t had any other scans since that. Well I had a private but they don’t measure.

Hi I had this about 3 weeks ago I'm 43 and my odds were 1 in 123 my nipt took just under a week to come back and was fine low risk it really was just my age so I always was positive it would be ok

I was much much younger and much higher risk. It took about 10 days as used to have to go off to America to be processed. Hardest time of my life because I couldn’t work out how I’d proceed.

My DH and I had different views, and I was aware of the caring responsibilities falling to siblings as we aged. I also have several friends with children who have Down’s syndrome so aware of the realities of the condition as well as seeing the complete joy too.

I hope you get news soon. The wait certainly makes me explore who you are as a person.

Thank you both. I’m trying to stay positive but I’m scared as it seems like it’s been a week already. It’s heartbreaking how women have to go through this x

I feel for you as i know the wait is stressful. When I had my babies, the nuchal fold scan was not available in NHS, so I went private. The odds for risk of a downs baby were extremely different from NHS. My advice would be to remember that upset won't change the results and every pregnancy is different. Odds given are including pregnancy hormone levels which nobody knows what your usual levels would be. I know of friends of friends who had twins at 43 and a surprise baby at 46. I believe downs syndrome can also have a small genetic inclusion too. I had a planned baby at 41. Please research private nuchal fold scans and ask your midwiveshow long you need to wait for your test results. Big hugs.

@AimeeLou84 how are you now, a month down the line? I am due on my actual 40th birthday. Sadly we lost a baby last year to Edwards Syndrome so I’m anxious but hopeful for this one x

Oh I’m so sorry to hear that but you have a beautiful rainbow baby on it’s way! I’m not too bad, I’m a constant worrier. Some days I can feel her other days I can’t, not sure if I have for 2 days it’s sometimes hard to tell if I’ve felt her at all as it’s my first, not sure what it feels like. I just can’t wait til July now I just want her here. How are you doing?