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

[pginthecloset]

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?

The non invasive/non risky tests such as blood tests can give you information on how to prepare to help your child but I do find it a bit unsettling at times when there is a 'Let's throw a party. I'm not having a disabled child' attitude when amnios or nuchals come back as 'clear'. Most disabilities cannot be detected pre natally and this needs to be made more clear when there are discussions about whether to have tests or not.

I think there is a particular obsession with Downs personally.

The other issue is that the tests rarely pick up the severity. Some people with downs aren't very badly affected anyway, but some will be. My mum knows a girl with CP who is getting married this year and is a florist.

Also I think that many people forget that disability is not always from birth. My brother went to school with a girl who was 'normal' until some yob jumped on top of her in a swimming pool at the age of 8.

I was 42 when I gave birth to my DS. Like Riven though, the children I know very well with disabilities (of varying degrees) happened at birth or afterwards so I just felt it was a bit pointless having the tests. Plus I wouldn't have terminated unless the foetus had a condition which was incompatible with life which is something they would pick up at the 20 week scan. I think as result I was probably slightly more anxious at that scan than a lot of people but all was fine.

If you wouldn't have a CVS or amnio, then I don't see any point having screening tests. The things that are being screened for can either be picked up at the detailed scan, or can't be verified without CVS / amnio, so you don't really get any additional information.

hi i only had tests for downs and it was 1-250 thats all ihad my ds2 was born ok ..but now found out hes got gdd and now we are waiting to see a gene doc but im not botherd i would not swap him for the world and i was 38 when i had him

My first daughter has GDD and severe learning dificulties again things that can't be screened for. On my second pregnancy I didn't have any tests because I felt we would cope and my second daughter has no additional needs.

Riven, when my husband was a child a neighbour left her baby who had down's syndrome at the hospital this was only 30 years ago.

hi there, im only 22 and refused with ds who is 3. i just felt i didnt want the tests because if anything showed up it would put doubts in my mind, am 18 weeks preg now and have once again refused the tests. I suffered 2 m/cs in 2007 and have waited quite a while for this pregnancy. i personally do not want the tests because i dont want any doubts wheather to keep the baby or not, i didnt worry at all with ds and im not worrying this time. i would rather know when it is born if anything is wrong rather than having termination thoughts in my mind.