Just had my Triple Test Result

[khiddi]

Hello there, firstly I apologise for going on......bu I'm more of a lurker than a poster and hope that someone out there can offer me words of encouragment, I have just hadmy triple test result and it has come back at a 1 in 5 chance that I'll have a baby with Downs

I am 16+4 weeks pregnant and aged 34.

I'm feeling very tearful, stressed and worried (amongst others) at the moment, don't really know who to turn to, I have to wait until the end of the week to see a consultant.

On top of this I have had my GTT results and they have come back as raised so I need to see someone at the hospital about this!

I know my age and weight (my BMI is 30+) goes against me, but is there any hope for me?

Thanks.....

khiddi, you could go for an amnio for most conclusive results.

as for gtt - try to really cut down on the sugary snacks etc (easier said thna done i know!) and then ask for another test.

i have to pop out so cant write more, but didnt want your post to be ignored.

thinking of you xcx

and fruit juice (to cut down on)

Of course there is hope for you

Firstly, I am not a health care professional.

With the Downs result, have the hospital given you information regarding the choices you now have? Amnio, CVS, Nuchal Fold, do nothing at all. A person could have a great result, but still have a baby with DS.

GTT - again has anyone spoken to you about what happens from here? Will further tests be run? If you do have gestational diabetes it can be controlled by you or insulin and there is plenty of experience and support on here.

Hopefully someone with more experience will be along soon.

sweetie, I'm sorry to hear you're going through this.

obviously you can have a conclusive test to find out if your baby has Down's syndrome but before you do that please think about what you would do with a positive result. If the answer is "nothing" then I would seriously consider not having the test.

don't know much about GTT but hope someone else can help you with that.

xx

Thanks for the kind and fast replies, just wanted to add that the appointment with the consultant (for the triple test) will offer me an amnio, but I am really scared of the 'problems' associated with the test. Just wanted to add that I have a perfectly healthy 4.8 year old dd and did not have a triple test then as I did not find out I was pregnant until it was too late for the test.

Thanks once again.....

Congratulations on your pregnancy
I am sorry you are feeling so upset and worried after your test results and my heart goes out for you. Pregnancy is one huge emotional rollercoaster when everything is going smoothly and when things don?t go as expected it can feel enormously hard to cope.
I am not experienced in test results re Downs and am sure there are plenty on here better to advise you about your options. I guess it depends on whether or not you want a conclusive test and wish to take it further so you have a clearer picture.
I do know a little about raised GTT though. I went through the worry of a raised GTT result and was very upset and worried about it. Fortunately, I did manage to control it without taking any medications and brought it back down from quite high to just above normal. It took a lot of will power and very careful diet plan. My lovely MW referred me to a dietician who was wonderful. With the GP?s agreement, they gave me targets and allowed me a short time to attempt to manage it without medical intervention. Between them, I was given a reasonable diet plan and agreed to a moderate exercise routine/looking after myself. With very careful monitoring over the following month, I managed to avoid diabetes. It is certainly possible to lower it. Obviously, I can?t speak for your case as I am not a health professional and do not know how high your GTT score is etc. Only your medical care team will be able to talk you through your options.
However, even if you are not able to reduce it quickly enough through diet, I know lots and lots of women do develop gestational diabetes and find that it can be controlled successfully through pregnancy and disappear afterwards. It is something to take seriously but not worry about IYKWIM.

There's an organisation which can offer telephone helplines etc called Antenatal Choices and Results, website here:

www.arc-uk.org/

At 16+ weeks you may be offered amniocentesis but you need to think about what you would do depending on the results and talking to someone there might help you think it through.

There's lots of other threads here under Pregnancy with women going through similar dilemmas.

Did you fast before the test?

I was always told to fast for 12 hours before the Gestational diabetes test, because eating a banana a few hours earlier can bring on high results in some people.

Are they recommending a second test. If they do schedule it for early in the morning fast for 12 hours before, and then go. The nurses at my OB's office say they get a lot of false results because patients eat before they go.

If you do have gestational diabetes you can control it with diet and exercise, but maybe a medication would be necessary.

Unless you have serious moral or religious concerns about termination - and I totally respect anyone who does - you should test.

I had a dodgy nuchal last week and have just had a CVS - I'm a bit earlier than you. If you want a diagnostic test I would imagine you would be recommended amnio.

The procedure was a bit scary but the doctors were amazing - it was done by the Professor of Fetal Medicine at UCH. The risks of miscarriage are greatly reduced if you have a senior person carry out the procedures so make sure you ask for the top person in your area.

I think it is important to have all the facts in place before you make any decisions.

Just to add my support and send you my thoughts your reaction is completely normal and there are quite a few of us around who have or are going through this so we know how you feel.- I had a CVS test done earlier this week after getting a 1:2 result and am waiting for the results. Whether to test or not is completely your decision - I can only speak for myself our decision was based on the need to have all the facts - ambiguity is not on option for us.

I know that you can't avoid the stats but lots of people have told me very positive stories about bad risk factors that have resulted in unaffected pregancies (even with a 1:5 the balance is very much still in your favour).

Anyway just wanted you to know that you are not alone and send you my thoughts and good wishes.

think of it like this, your triple test result is the same as saying that you have an 80% chance of having a baby without Down's. Which sounds so much better.