Bad 12 week screening results just need to talk it through with somone whose been there......

[feelingbadtoday]

I'm 38 wen't for my 12 week screening test today (nuchal fold+bloods) and was given a 1:2 results - I've been put down for CVS hopefully in the next week. I'm blessed that I have DS but this came as a such a shock - I fully expected my results to show a higher risk factor than when I had my son three years ago - I was even mentally prepared (I think!!) for a risk factor that might havve put me in the bracket for being offered CVS but not a 1:2. I just feel in shock at the moment - this preganancy has already been difficult in that I have mentally had probelms getting my head round it (It was planned but when I found out I was pregagnt it bought back lots of bad memories of a difficult birth with DS and a diffult few post natal months) - I can't stop crying and just feel a bit of a mess...Has anyone been there how do you get a grip/get it in perspective - I'm sorry if this isn't very coherent and well written its not been the best of days....thanks to anyone who responds.

MsLucy, I had the CVS test yesterday at the Whittington and am now chewing my nails waiting for the results and hoping that I don't miscarry. The stats don't sound as scary until you're actually there making these horrible. It was my blood tests that were dodgy, not the nuchal, plus my age. I had a combined test which is both nuchal fold and bloods.

I was told yesterday that there is already less risk of miscarriage as the procedure went smoothly.

When is your CVS appointment?

It seems there are a few of us in this situation on here, I will be looking out to see what happens for everyone.

I'm going to UCH for the CVS and also for another nuchal.
Whittington will call me on Mon to give me a date for the appointment.
How old are you elkiedee? I'm 38 next month and am hoping for a birthday treat rather than a birthday horror show.
Was the CVS painful? I've had lots of nasty tests in the past year or so, so am probably a bit less worried by it than I would have been before I had all the fertility investigations.
I have now heard of so many people in this situation who have all gone on to be fine, so have calmed down a bit (though am still a little bit scared).
Qally. Thanks for the support - that's very kind. I've got lots of prayers going in my direction, so let's hope someone upstairs is listening !!

MsLucy, no, it wasn't pleasant but it wasn't very painful - they give you a local anaesthetic and then they take samples from the placenta so the needle goes in near the placenta. dp came with me so he held my hand and watched it on screen - they use the same type of equipment as for your scans, but I closed my eyes at that point.

I'm 39 as of a few weeks ago.

ok.

that's kind of what I was expecting.

I will be shutting my eyes as well.

good luck with your result.

I will be keeping everything crossed and you never know, we may even see each other in hospital one day!

Hi all - comforting (if thats the right thing to say)that there are a few of us going through this at the mo. Mslucy all the best with your tests - its interesting what you say about nuchal being a bit hit and miss - I may be clutching at straws but I was convinced the midwife who did mine was not on top form. On the day of the scan she was already running 2hrs late so when I got in their she was stressed (more stressed than me I think!), then the baby wouldn't get into the right position so there was lots of hip wriggling required. Then when it did get into position I think she only took one measurement as I remember saying I guess you want to get a couple more and get an average (when I had a scan with DS this is what the consultant did as he didn't seem in a hurry - it also seemed logical that you don't go with one measurement). Obviously my bloods weren't great 1:84 for Trisomy 21 so I can't clutch at the hope that the scan is out too much. The odd thing is that for Trisomy 13/18 my background risk was low 1:1000 odd and my blood risk was something like 1:8000 odd but the scan was something like 1:21- Obviously I don't know how you weight the balance between the blood/scan but just seems so odd than my bloods provided such a low risk for that and the scan such a high one. MsLucy I know what you mean I think I'm in the shaky but coping stage now - Thursday is a day I don't ever want to repeat in a hurry - all I did was cry and say I wanted my Mum (stupidly I hadn't told her I'm preganant - for various reasons I had decided only to tell her after the scan as I naievly assumed that things would be ok - of if they were not that the bl**dy risk wouldn't be 1:2 and I could reason a postive'ish line on it- my mum is lovely but every glass is half empty ifyswim and she goes in tailspins of worry).
Anyway my thoughts and support to all of the rest of you going through this.

feelingbadtoday, if that is how you feel, about the scan, could you request another? It may change the situation, which would mean that you might decide not to opt for CVS?

I heard about another woman I know who had a scare and has a perfectly normal boy (8/9 now ).

She was older too, as was my friend who had the nuchal redone.

I'm afraid this sort of thing is just normal if you're an older mum. There is no escaping the fact that the risks are higher.

We must all remember that these tests are all estimates of risk and not diagnostic tests. They are not that accurate and have huge margins of error.

Which is why I am glad I am being given the CVS. This will give me a result I can trust rather than some vague estimate that could mean anything.

From what I understand all women over 35 used to be given amnio as a matter of course until quite recently - there are risks associated with age and I would rather know for sure than pretend everything is OK when it's not.

I hope everything will be fine, but if it's not I will be able to make an informed decision.

Even though I have doubts about the scan - I feel that CVS is the way forward and I'm just thankful that after a bit of pushing we have managed to get a test fairly quickly and though we have to travel to the hospital (as its not our local one)its not too far away.- I need to have more accurate information to base my decisions on and CVS seems the only way forward - even taking into account the risks I would rather know one way or another.

Best of luck tomorrow!

You have someone going with you?

Thanks ilovemydog DH is comming - starting to get a bit twitchy now (yesterday I surprised myself how good I felt - put it to the back of my mind like it ws a bit of a bad dream and enjoyed the sun). Trying to stay calm, keep an open mind that it can go either way and what will be will be. I hope the rest of you who are waiting for tests/results this w/e are doing ok - thinking of you.

good luck everybody - I'll be thinking of all of you and keeping absolutely everything crossed.

I will hear when I need to go for the further tests tomorrow - hopefully sooner rather than later.

Haven't been too bad this weekend - watched lots of stupid comedy, seen friends, walked miles with DH and DS on Hampstead Heath and up to Ally Pall today which is always a favourite - love the way you can see for miles across London.

Have to do lots of work now, so haven't got time to be too miserable!!!

Activity is the best form of medication.

mslucy, I decided I'd had enough of resting today too, have done a bit of lying on the sofa but we took ds to a park with a paddling pool today, I thought he'd appreciate the chance to cool down a bit.

Will be looking out for further news of you all tomorrow too.

Mslucy, just posting to say I had my CVS done at UCH (Mr Pandya or somesuch name). If you get the same chap, he was great. Very, very reassuring and calm and clearly very experienced.

And feelingbadtoday, wishing you strength.

The problem with CVS is that it forces you to think about the risks that are present for everyone but which normally you don't have to dwell on. It's a horrible time but am crossing my fingers for both of you that you'll get good results.

I'm not sure this helps but my first test in a previous pg (amnio) came back positive after I was given a very low risk rating (but I was just weirdly determined to do the amnio anyway - I didn't imagine anything was wrong but I really wanted certainty not risks). I'm just sharing that because I think it's important to bear in mind that the risks are rather rough and ready. You just can't rely on them too much (either low or high).

Fingers crossed for you both.

Hello all - well I've been up since 4.45 my test is at 11 - so I'm just focused on getting it over with - luckily Monday is a nursery day for DS so we haven't had to worry too much about childcare etc. My thoughts are with the rest of you.

Good luck for later. Have you had any sleep?

I do know what you mean about the shock of a changing result, I went from 1:2000+ with my first 2 DCs to 1:80 with my 3rd, which really threw me as I was used to what felt like 'risk free' pregnancies. I was 37 but it was only a year since my previous pregnancy so age shouldn't have made such a difference. Once over the initial shock, we decided it wasn't that bad so I didn't have any further tests, though it remained a slight worry through the pregnancy. Everything was fine though - and I had my 4th this year, aged 39 with an improved score of 1:350 (which is v. good for an old bat!).

A friend of mine has a perfectly healthy little girl who was a 1:2 - so it really is 50/50.

Good luck FBT. I'll be thinking of you today.

Good luck, fbt. Fingers crossed for you.

I'm just wondering whether I'll hear today and regretting taking today off work a bit.

DONB, which screening test did you have?

Hoping things go well for you FBT.

Only just seen your thread, but my heart goes out to you. Best of luck for today.

Good luck FBT - thinking of you

FBT (and Elkie - posted on your original thread) - really hoping for good news.

I am 36 and was given 1:96 and had a CVS, which was fine. I am now 22 weeks. I know it's scary but even a 50% chance is still a high chance that things will be JUST FINE.

elkie - nuchal fold at around 12 weeks, I didn't have any further screenings until the 20wk scan and the sonographer, knowing my results, spent much longer than usual checking for physical signs of Downs, spina bifida etc. She's a brilliant sonographer in a tiny cottage hospital and she's done all my scans over 4 pregnancies - she's got the sex right everytime too!

Hi ...just to say that my nuchal scan and bloods came back with a 1:2 and I'm 42! Had the CVS and all was clear...now have gorgeous DD...so bad odds can come out in your favour

Fingers crossed FBT - it's such a stressful time. Hope all goes wellx

My initial CVS results came back all clear, I got the good news this morning, full report in 2 weeks.