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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Made the decision not to have screening tests and now feeling wobbly - anyone else there, or been there?

35 replies

pginthecloset · 06/04/2009 13:10

Hi, I'm 9 weeks pg with number 3. I had my mw appointment last week and declined nuchal and blood screening tests. I am certain that I would not have cvs or amnio, so there seemed no point.

My midwife was very supportive. She said that as I have two healthy children, and no know family genetic dispositions she didn't see it as a problem to decline.

But I am 35, and part of me is worried about whether i've made the right decision. I know that if I had an abnormal result it would send me sick with worry, yet so many women with abnormal blood results have perfectly fine babies - i don't think I could face torturing myself with the uncertainty.

Has anyone else refused screening and felt happy about their decision?

OP posts:

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Lizzylou · 06/04/2009 13:13

I refused screening with DS2, for the same reasons as yourself.
I didn't even think about it, I ended up being scanned a heck of a lot in later pregnancy due to his vast size, and all was well.
Try not to worry

shootfromthehip · 06/04/2009 13:15

Me. I didn't want the worry of any kind of results. Interestingly though, I was more inclined to have the screening the second time as obviously having a baby with any kind of difficulty would have had implications for my first child, however I still didn't do it. I felt it was the right decision for me rather than worrying for 9 mths.

If you are not sure or change your mind, speak to your midwife but I was happy to leave it. Good luck

Original poster

pginthecloset · 06/04/2009 13:16

thanks

I think it's because I've hit the magic "35" that I'm worrying. I didn't have screening with either of the others and it didn't seem to bother me so much then.

OP posts:

girlylala0807 · 06/04/2009 13:18

Hey,

I never had the tests and we dont get a 20 week scan here.

Im a wee bit younger, but we just decided what would be would be. I couldnt handle the results, my friend got told she was high risk had all those awful tests and there was nowt wrong in the end.

Its not that im not happy, more we will worry if and when we need to.

hedgiemum · 06/04/2009 13:19

I've never had screening with my 3 DC, or in this 4th pregnancy. I know there is no way I would have cvs or amnio, so it seems pointless. I have 3 healthy children and am 32 - I can't imagine making a different choice aged 35.

I've had several friends who have had false positives, which has lead to so much stress, only to have perfectly healthy babies. I've another friend who turned down tests, even though 41 so high risk, and did have a baby with downs. He is gorgeous and she and her DH have said they are happy they didn't know in advance, as coming to terms with it with a lovely snuggly baby in their arms was easier.

But if you're regretting it, its not too late to change your mind!

bunnyfrance · 06/04/2009 13:22

Hi,
I'm 36 at the end of April and also refused the blood tests. Just didn't need the anxiety of the results. Now that I'm 17 weeks and past the "window of opportunity" for the tests, I just think to myself what will be, will be.
Good luck and enjoy your pregnancy!

rolandbrowning · 06/04/2009 13:22

I didn't have any, as I knew i wouldn't have wanted to take the risk of the amnio, or abort the pregnancy if something was wrong. I was 33 when I gave birth. Ds is fine.

Hangingbellyofbabylon · 06/04/2009 13:23

I declined test with all of mine including this one and am 16 weeks pregnant. Like you I knew I wouldn't want CVS or amnio. We also already have a little girl with cerebral palsy, something no ante-natal tests can screen for. She is the light of our lives and I have no fear of having a baby with Down Syndrome. I love this baby with all my heart and soul and will accept whatever life has decided for us. I did find a lot of my friends and family thought I was mad for not wanting the screening but I think that it's important that we all have choices.

HumphreyCobbler · 06/04/2009 13:30

I feel that it is worth pointing out that the test screen for things other than down syndrome, as it seems to be the only thing people know about, it is all that gets mentioned.

That being said I do think that it is FINE to refuse all tests. They only give a probability which can cause a great deal unnecessary stress.

Original poster

pginthecloset · 06/04/2009 13:32

Thanks for all your replies. It's very unlikely I will change my mind about the tests. My heart is saying don't do it. It's just the little voice in my head saying maybe I should.

I don't like worry and stress (who does? ) and I would rather deal with a problem if/when there is one rather than stress about a potential problem from screening.

I shall now try really hard to take my mind of the whole thing, and go back to throwing up

OP posts:

worriedamy · 06/04/2009 13:36

We didn't have any of the screening tests because we didn't want the worry for the pregnancy if anything came back as higher risk. But when we went for the 20 week scan it showed up that the baby has two soft markers. So we have that worry anyway... which at the time I was quite angry about, as we had declined the screening tests for that very reason. After finding the two soft markers, I wish that we had had more of the other screening tests, just to build up more of a picture... we still wouldn't have acted on the results, and we have refused the amnio.

I am 29 weeks now, and just on my way for a growth scan as the baby is a bit on the small side so that's not really helping things when it comes to worrying!!

At the end of the day, its down to you, and whether you believe that the worry would truely be any less? After we found out about the soft markers on the scan, some days I would wish that I never went for the scan at all, and other days I would try and find out as much information as possible to try and settle things in my mind. I suppose it depends on whether you are the type of person that worries less by knowing more, or ignorance is bliss??

nickschick · 06/04/2009 13:36

I was 4 months pregnant before we realised - dh surprised me with his opinion that the baby was obviously meant to be and was almost halfway here so no matter what we would be keeping him.

With my elder 2 dc id had all the tests nd all the worry and this pregnancy was so relaxed in comparison.

DS3 was born happy and healthy.

nickschick · 06/04/2009 13:37

Ive heard of loads of people who had risky results were worried all the way through and then went on to have healthy babies.

brettgirl2 · 06/04/2009 13:38

FWIW I didn't have the screening tests and kind of wish I had. Not because I would have terminated my pg for downs but because now at 39 weeks I'm very nervous about there being something wrong IFYSWIM?

The tests do screen for other things, but most of those to be honest can be seen through scans anyway. For example, it indicates spina bifida but the diagnostic test is a scan.

iris66 · 06/04/2009 13:38

I was tested in my 2nd pg (aged 39 - paid for nuchal fold etc) and was sick with worry that they'd got it wrong - DS1 was absolutely fine.
It also made me realise that I would find it very hard if I'd got a result that some people in similar circumstances may make a decision to terminate over.

I declined testing for my 3rd pg and am currently 27wks pg with my 4th child. I have absolutely no regrets about not testing as I know I couldn't terminate.
Hope this helps.

HappyTangerine · 06/04/2009 13:39

I'm 35 and this is my first baby-am 15 weeks today.I refused all testing as the outcome wouldn't make a difference to me. A close friend has spina bifida and hydrocephelus and is in his 40s now and I've done a lot of work with Downs children and profoundly disabled teens so the prospect of a child with a disability doesn't bother us as much as results that would come back high risk and make the pg full of anxiety.

Midwife was quite supportive after I told her that. She also explained that as it's odds based, the risk based on my age alone could stress me out so not to bother if we felt strongly that the outcome wouldn't influence us. Apparently 50% of people refuse the tests so its fairly evenly split. Family tried to put a bit of pressure on us but soon gave up when they realised we wouldn't budge, it's such a personal decision. Good luck with everything

BalloonSlayer · 06/04/2009 13:42

I had no screening tests at all with DS1 and DD - born when I was 35 and 37 respectively.

As DH said, there was no way we would have terminated a pregnancy anyway, so it was better just to think positive and let what would be, be.

With my unplanned pregnancy with DS2, I was 43 when I had him. I did have a nuchal scan, which gave me a good result, but as they take your age so much into account I was never going to get really good odds, they lengthened to 88:1 after that (from 40:1). But there was no way I would take the risk of an amnio when I knew our baby would be just as loved whether he had Downs or not.

Good luck to you and IMO you have done the right thing.

dogstar · 06/04/2009 13:45

I didn't have any tests at all when I was 35. I knew I wouldn't have cvs or terminate anyway. Ds is perfect.

This time at 40 I've had a nuchal scan and bloods tested even though I still wouldn't go for the more intrusive tests. I sort of did it assuming all will be fine, but if they come back indicating a problem, I'll prepare myself for that possibility.

I really like Hangingbelly's take on it!

wannaBe · 07/04/2009 13:17

nope. Was offered tripple test and declined. I had no intention of terminating if something showed up so didn't see the point of testing.

I already had a 50%chance of any children having a genetic visual impairment which wouldn't have been detectable anyway so didn't see the point in worrying over any other unknown factors.

I'm a firm believer that things happen for a reason, and tbh i think that all this testing isn't really such a positive thing at all, as it gives a result on so few conditions when there are so many more that are not detectable in utero.

A friend has just had a baby born with a cleft pallet which was not picked up on the scan. she said she's actually glad, as she would have spent her entire pregnancy worrying about it. Now she's just been faced with it and just has to get on with it. Best way IMO.

rempy · 07/04/2009 13:27

No screening here either, for both pregnancies, bit younger than you but not sure 2 years will make that much difference!

Wannabe makes a very valid point. It is false reassurance to know that your child doesnt have spina bifida or downs, because there are literally thousands of other birth defects and genetic conditions out there that arent screened for. I think lots of women think that those few screening tests mean the baby will be absolutely fine. It simply isnt the case.

Even with the 20 week ultrasound only half of major cardiac defects are detected.

Also, when you work out the sums (which we did, although it took most of an evening!) even with a down risk of 1 in 25, or 1 in 10, should you be the unlucky 1 in 100 who suffers a miscarriage after amnio, you are still much more likely to lose a normal baby. It was that fact that made us decide that even if bloods were abnormal, we wouldnt have amnio, and if you aren't going to have amnio, whats the point in having bloods?

I worry really that the default it to accept the tests, because most people have such a poor grasp of statistics and chance that the results are often unhelpful and serve only to provoke anxiety.

Good luck with your pregnancy, take your folate, and get some rest!

mrsturnip · 07/04/2009 13:32

I just had the blood test with ds3 more for information. Would have had to pay for nuchal so didn't bother and we would never have had CVS or amnio anyway (not for anything).

Ds1 (who had 'perfect' nuchal and bloods) is severely disabled - more disabled than any child I've met to date with DS - no signs of anything wrong at all until he was 18 months. Would have been mad (in our eyes) to terminate for DS when we could then go on to have a child more affected who wouldn't 'show up' anyway.

Anyway tbh once they're here you don't care.

peachyfox · 07/04/2009 17:07

We turned down the nuchal because we decided that because we would not terminate or have invasive testing we would rather go with the very high probability that everything was fine rather than get ruin what will be my only pregnancy with worries. It's not a very reliable test anyway and having a baby being a bit of a lottery anyway - the only sure thing being that you love them.

We decided if we ever had to get 'bad news' we would rather be holding a baby when we got it.

We are absolutely happy with our decision!

ursigurke · 07/04/2009 17:22

I'm 10 weeks pregnant and will see the midwife for the first time after 12 weeks. As the first scan will be at least 2 weeks later, they will probably offer me a nuchal one. I think, I'm going to refuse that, just want a normal scan. As we would keep the child anyway I don't see why I should worry throughout the pregnancy if the nuchal scan would indicate a higher risk.

Original poster

pginthecloset · 07/04/2009 17:24

thank you all for your further replies. I feel quite reassured and happy about my decision now.

I'm also a believer in what will be will be.

OP posts:

Minshu · 07/04/2009 22:16

Hello - I'm a 34 year old first timer going for my 16 week bloods this week, so have been giving this some thought over the last few days, so really interested to see what you ladies have had to say. I tend to go with gut feelings on things like this and wouldn't terminate based on the results, so would avoid CVS or amnio due to the risks.

However, I do want the blood test so that if the results were to be a cause for concern, I would have time to "prepare". (I hope that doesn't turn out to be a mistake and I end up spending the rest of the pg worrying unnecessarily...)

Whatever will be will be.

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