does anyone know what the risk of Downs is for a 35 year old

[spangles]

What are the statistics of having a baby with downs syndrome at 35 years of age.

I had a 1:48 chance from blood tests age 33 - had Amnio and luckily was ok - for Downs they did what they called a "Fish" test (I do not know if this is spelt right) and the results were available in 5 days unfortunately this was a weekend so it was 7, they still did all the other genetic tests which came baack in the expected 2 -3 weeks. I also do not know if the FISH is available everywhere - mine was in Scotland

Thomcat - thank you so much for you kind words and support. I will let you know what happens. It has really helped me to read your posts - so true. I hope all goes well for you spangles & MandM. Geekgrrl really shocked at what happend to your friend - thank goodness she didn't take the docs advice.

Spangles - If you did want an ante-natal test to give a DS risk the 'best' test at the moment is the 'combined' test - this is a nuchal scan at about 12weeks with a blood test at the same time, and then a further blood test at 16 weeks. The results of both blood tests, the nuchal measurement, and your age are combined to give the risk figure - this test has the smallest 'false positive' rate and the highest DS pick up rate (85% ie. 15% of the DS pregnancies are missed by this test, but this is the most accurate test).
The next most accurate is the integrated test that TC mentioned - which has the benefit of giving you a result at 12 weeks rather than 16 weeks.

I had the integrated test with pg1 and the combined test for pg2..both had to be arranged privately and were about £120.

Fifalala - most regions now offer either FISH (it's an acronym hence capitals) or QF-PCR which are both methods to identify babies who have the 3 most common chromosome problems (DS, Edwards syndrome and Patau's syndrome). They give an early result from 24-72hours but then the amniotic/CVS needs to be cultured and looked at to rule out any other chromosome problems and this takes a couple of weeks.

Not what I was told today highlander, but maybe because they are giving me the dates of the earliest I would have an amnio if I wanted one after having goine through the full intergrated test first. ie, having a nucal, part 1 of a blood test, then part 2 of the blood test. I was told 20 weeks for an amnio and 17 for a cvs.

Anyway I've been blinded by facts, fugures and average and stats etc and all I want to do is press fast forward to December and have my baby.

I dont think I will ave an tests done.. my hospital doesnt do nuchal test, I would have to goto Leeds and pay £185 for this non invasive tests. I think I would cope with a child with downs, I would cerainly love it but I thought DH would find it hard to deal with coz when DS was born he said he definatly couldnt love a child that had abnormalites but 2 children later I have broached the subject again and he said he would love any child even if it was born with problems and possibly love it even more coz it was special... dont no how that sounds, its not meant to sound patronising but that was a big turn around for DH! The blood tests on offer can give false positive results and DH doesnt want to risk MC by having CVS or amnio. Think I will just go with the flow

Not sure if the integrated test that Thomcat talks about is the same as the one that used to only be available privately in London, Prof. Nicolaides?

Coz when I looked into it about 18 months ago the London group were calibrating the test to be able to detect Turners, Edwards and other chromosone defects. At least some published papers about this. Not "just Down's" at all. However, Down's is easiest syndrome to detect and to know how accurate the tests are at predicting, because it's the most common chromosone defect, they get the most data points to check against.

Zebra, yes I'm having it done privately, only way to do it.

They do detect the other things you mention, they just don't mention them, well not to me anyway, but I guess it would be.

Sorry Thomct, just saw your other thread, sorry you're going thru all that. You're right that Down's should be focussed on so exclusively, but most people haven't heard of any of the others and have trouble with trying to understand what a "chromosone defect" is, anyway, without a tangible example.

Hi Just want to say thank you to everyone on this thred, I am 39 and 14 weeks preg. I have been over and over until I am in circles about if i want to have amnio, my daughter was stillborn last Dec and I did have CVS last time, although all was clear. you have helped me make up my mind - I will leave well alone and what will be will be.

Yesterday we went for a cvs test. we are so scared of what the outcome may be. I'm 13 weeks pregnant, this is our 3rd child and we just don't know what to expect. Has anyone got any encouraging stories for us?

I know that testing throughout pregnancy opens up many thoughts and emotions. But I just wanted to add that I had a CVS back in January and the results came back OK. I didn't suffer any bleeding but I was very scared of miscarriage. We had had the nuchal fold test done and they looked for certain markers like the nasal bone etc. The results were OKish but as I was 39 and we have one ds already to consider my dh felt that we should go ahead and have the CVS done. We had the CVS done at Kings on the Wednesday and by the Friday evening they called to say everything was OK. A follow up report came in the post about 5-6 weeks later.

I am due in less than 3 weeks now and I have felt reassured by the results. Although I think if it had been left up to me alone I probably would have taken my chances and gone with the nuchal stats and the presence of nasal bone etc. I am a bit of a chicken when it comes to big needles (although having babies I feel has cured me of my previous needle phobia!).

Jackie14571 - try and take it easy if you can and get plenty of rest (not easy I know if you have other kids - how old are your kids and how old are you if you don't mind me asking?). You may experience some sort of period cramping pain but with me it seemed to go away after a day or so. Good Luck to you.

Thomcat - Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy. I know you have had a tough time recently with decisions that you really didn't want to make but I am glad that you, your dp and the lovely Lottie will have a wonderful new brother or sister to join your loving family around Christmas time. It was great news to hear that everything is OK. Lottie sounds like a fantastic little girl and you speak about her so eloquently!

As I said before, testing is a tough call - and each pregnancy is different and each person's circumstances are different - go with what feels right for you.

Sorry rather long post but just felt I wanted to share my experience of CVS. I posted just after I had had my CVS back in January and felt quite reassured by other mumsnetters who shared their experiences with me so I wanted to return the favour.

Good luck to all you ladies who are expecting and look forward to hearing all about your new arrivals over the coming months. Can't believe I'm going to be a mum again in less than 3 weeks....

xx

I agree with Thomcat that it's a shame that people think the only chromosomal abnormality being tested for is Downs. The combined test at 12 weeks (nuchal fold and blood tests) is for a range of chromosomal abnormalities, some of which are very, very serious (some incompatible with life). I think a good question to ask yourself early in pregnancy is not, "Would I love a baby with Downs" (of course you would!) but, "If something is detected, would that information be useful to me (because I may choose to terminate, or at least spend my pregnancy gathering information and getting prepared) or would I prefer to do without the worry and just deal with what comes when it comes?"

I'm 41 and 24 weeks pregnant and had the combined test, which reduced my risk factor from 1:43 to 1:842. On that basis, I chose not to have amnio. However, I have now had an abnormality (talipes) picked up at the 20 week scan which, although not a huge problem in itself, has put my risk of chromosomal abnormalities up to 1% and my risk of genetic abnormalities up to maybe as high as 10%. If I'd known this at 12 weeks, would I have chosen amnio? Quite possibly. I've been offered both abortion and amnio and turned both down, but the worry is terrible. Would I have been better off with no screening at all, given there's nothing I can do about the risk now?
Again, quite possibly. But I'm someone who always wants to know, even if it's bad news.

I think what I'm rambling on towards is that these decisions are very individual and often quite difficult and what suits one person won't suit another. Also that the more information you get, the more your risks shift around. Knowing your age-related risks tells you so little about your real individual risks (note how my risks have shifted from 1:43 to 1:842 to 1:10, as they've measured different things at different times). It is a very complex area and I do think first-timers need more help understanding it all.

Btw, termination for foetal abnormalities is legal up till birth, though of course doctors are less likely to agree to it the later you get or the milder the condition. For example, I was offered an abortion up to 24 weeks for talipes; over that, an abortion was on offer if I had amnio and they uncovered a serious chromosomal abnormality.

Hi

Just to say that Ive found this thread so useful and people have written so eloquently. Im 11 plus 3 pg and having my nuchal and scan on Monday and am 40.

Hester find it hard to find the words but just wanted to say that Im sorry that you are having worries and especially that the testing rollercoaster gave you good news and then bad - its a blow.

I think situations and decisions are so individual in these circumstances. We will have the nuchal and then I dont think anything else but you dont really know till you see what they say. I dont think I could risk amnio/CVS. These scans are so important/potentially life changing. Its hard

MF

Thanks mumfun and best of luck xx

Thank you for your messages. I've had the first part of the cvs results through, the three chromosomes they tested for ds ect have come through clear just waiting for others now. And we ve been told we are having a little girl. I already have a daughter age 10 and a son aged 7 and i am 34. We feel betterknowing they are clear but know we are not out of the woods yet and just praying now things will get better.

Hester,

I just wanted to say that I agree with you on the thinking first...

When I was 22 and pg with DD my results came back as 1:120.

I figured I couldn't cope with knowing and would rather deal with it at birth. I had 119 reasons why my baby would be born without any abnormalities and the scan showed everything OK...

i think what confirmed in my mind and what I haven't seen mentioned here is that some of the results are only 70% accurate anyway- at least that was the situation 3 years ago and as TM said 1 in 100 chance of m/c from an ammnio and so risk of m/c was higher than risk of abnormalities!

As it was I went through pregnancy and labour without giving it all a second thought and it wasn't until someone said to me three weeks after giving birth about it that I remembered I had been given this high risk category.

Jackie....

for results so far

Hi Jackie

Glad you have had the first part of your CVS results and that they are OK and congrats to you and your family on expecting another little girl. Good luck to you for the rest of your pregnancy.

xx

Thanks to you all for your kind support. The full results from the cvs test have come through clear, got to go to Birmingham hospital for a scan on the babys heart when i am twenty weeks, they said theres a possibility could be something wrong with it but i'm in a positive frame of mind now and am sure that everything is fine. Thank you once again. x

Best of luck, Jackie