1 in 2 chance for Down Syndrome – waiting for NIPT results and feeling overwhelmed

[TinyHeart]

Hi everyone,
I’m 33 and just got my combined screening results — I’ve been told there’s a 1 in 2 chance that my baby has Down Syndrome. I’m completely devastated and can’t stop thinking about it. This is my first baby, so I’m finding it really hard to cope with all this uncertainty.
My test results were:
• NT: 3.1 mm
• HCG: 2.88 MoM
• PAPP-A: 0.3 MoM
(taken at 11 weeks + 6 days)
I had my NIPT done two days ago and the earliest I’ll get results is next Friday, or if delayed, possibly the following Monday or Tuesday. The waiting is awful, and I keep thinking about the worst-case scenario — that I might need to consider a termination if the NIPT confirms Down Syndrome.
My 12-week scan showed that the baby looks structurally fine, with a prominent nasal bone and no visible facial flattening but I’m not sure how much that matters at this stage.
Has anyone else had similar results and gone through this waiting period? How did you cope? What were your outcomes?
Thank you for reading — I’m finding this really hard and would really appreciate kind, gentle replies. 💛

@Bc87
Thank you so much ❤️ My anxiety is at its highest this morning 😞

Sending gentle hugs @TinyHeart

@LasagneLasagne
Thank you so much ❤️ I really need those today.

Hope you get news soon. I was told 1 in 38 chance of DS, my NIPT came back as low risk and all was fine.

I remember the sickening wait, trying to go through the motions with my older DD while feeling so sick with worry.

Sending hugs.

@Topjoe19
Thank you so much for your message and for sharing your experience. It really helps to hear that everything turned out well for you after such a worrying wait.

I completely understand what you mean about feeling sick with anxiety...that’s exactly how I feel right now.😞

Thank you for the hugs and kind words, they mean a lot. ❤️

Thinking of you OP.

@Lndnmummy
Thank you so much - that really means a lot right now. ❤️

I am also thinking of you OP. We are all behind you whatever happens x

@Mrsplants
Thank you so much- that really means a lot to me. It helps more than I can say to know there are people thinking of me and supporting me through this. ❤️ x

Keeping everything crossed

@secreticanttell
Thank you so much. It really means a lot. ❤️

Thinking of you today OP. Whatever you hear will be life changing for you, one way or the other, so you must be overwhelmed with worry right now.

@honeylulu
Thank you so much for your message - you’re absolutely right, I do feel completely overwhelmed with worry today. It really does feel life-changing either way, and I’m just trying to hold myself together while I wait. Your kind words mean a lot. ❤️

Tiny heart I am really hoping you get the results today for your sanity!
I have everything crossed for you 🙏🤞🙏Xxx

Also thinking of you. I think it would be totally reasonable to reach out to your midwife/ the screening team (whoever you’ve been in contact with) to explain that you are having a hard time and to ask if they have any more information about when the results might be expected. Sending love 💛

Thinking of you.
although haven’t been through this in pregnancy. Currently going through genetic testing and other tests on 2 year old dc so know a little how hard waiting for results can be. Hope you get results today x

@Ncforthistopiced
Thank you so much ❤️ The waiting is unbearable at this point. It means a lot to know you’re thinking of me and keeping everything crossed. Xxx 🙏

I agree, I can't believe how long you are being made to sit in this agonising wait for @TinyHeart. my results took about 3 days but felt so much longer and the anxiety was terrible. Thinking of you

@intrepidgiraffe
Thank you so much for thinking of me 💛 I might actually do that if I don’t hear anything soon - the waiting is just so hard to cope with. It really helps to know there are people who understand and care. ❤️

@Chica1990
Thank you so much for thinking of me ❤️ I don’t think I would have been this stressed or panicked if the results had come back a little lower risk, but 1 in 2 and then waiting this long… it’s just the worst time of my life. I’m completely exhausted from all the worry.

@narnia2025
Thank you so much for your message and for thinking of me ❤️ I’m so sorry you’re going through the worry of waiting for results too. It really is such an awful feeling. I hope you get good news xx

I really don’t think this is the time or the place. I terminated a pregnancy because of NIPT positive for DS and it was the right decision for our family. You can’t plan for every scenario but some things you do know about and can plan for.

I agree with @Fatsnowflake and the Op's decision.
It is a decision only the Op can make.

That is one of the reasons tests are offered and taken, so people can make decisions.

I would have made the same decision as the Op thinks she is going to make, in full agreement with my husband.