Anyone else get a postive result on their Triple Screen blood test?

I just got a call from my doctor saying that I basically popped positive for possible neural tube defects (baby) and that he is going to schedule a level 2 ultrasound. I know that just because you pop positive doesn't mean there IS something wrong with your baby but I was just wondering how many other woman have went through the scare of wondering if you are part of the 10% who WILL have a baby with neural tube defects. Even it if DOES I will love it the same. I don't care if it needs special care or not I will give it anything it needs but it is still sad to have to go through this. This is my 3rd pregnancy the other 2 I had miscarried before 12 weeks. I am currently 16 weeks 5 days.

[2songbirds]

I tested positive for my current pg as well (25 1/2 weeks). This is my 3rd baby, 7th pg, so I've been thru the testing before, but this was my 1st. It came back positive for spina bifida, and I was totally freaked. They redid the test saying there's a high false positive rate, which after researching this I found it to be very true. The 2nd test came back negative.

I know it's easier said than done, but try not to worry to much. It's probably a false positive. If I would've known about the high rate, I would've never had the freaking test done in the first place.

[twinsmommy]

Did you get your numbers? My AFI was 2.6 (cut-off is 2.5). The level II US said that my baby was fine. My positive was blamed on bleeding earlier in my pregnancy and a placental problem (placenta accreta)

[twinsmommy]

By the way, even though we were freaked by the test-results, if we hadn't done the level II and found out about the accreta, things would have been way worse, so we were glad we did it!

[Hulahut]

Hi - I did the quad screen last week and am now awaiting my results.  I almost did amnio but chickened out at the last minute.  My DH is a statistician, and he's broken down the numbers for me (based on our genetic counseling meeting).  Of all positives, 97% are FALSE.  So why did I do this test?  I didn't want to do nothing, and I didn't want to do amnio out of the gate.  I have my big u/s on 1/30 and hope that will answer any questions I may have depending on what my results are.  I know it's easier said than done to say don't freak (b/c I will inside if I get a positive, even knowing the high false positive rate), but the liklihood of defects really is low.  Good luck!

[tiredbuthappy]

i'm glad to see this question... the whole idea of the test has been bothering me. i don't want to know in advance if my baby has downs. i am 27, and healthy, so odds are in my favor. i know a false positive would stress me out. and i know i do not want an amnio. does the first trimester screen tell you anything other than the possibility of downs? should i get it? i will love and care for this baby regardless of whether or not s/he has a disability. i fear that if there was a problem, the rest of my pregnancy would be full of anxiety (and maybe even dread?)

[amyschlink]

Thank you everyone. I am not completely worried but you know you always have the little bit of fear in your head and heart. You pray for a healthy child and then something like this happens and gets you kinda scared. The doctor didn't tell me my numbers (I didn't think to ask either) he just said they were off the chart of the normal range (or something like that). I will find out either tomorrow or Monday when my ultrasound will be. Funny thing is that we actually had a normal ultrasound due on the 29th of this month to see if it is a boy or a girl (if it cooperates that is..lol). I just hope everything is OK with the baby. But like I said, if there is something wrong with it, I will do whatever is nesscary to give it the best life it can have. I really don't want to do a amnio test because there is that little bit of risk in miscarriage and I don't want to risk it. But we will cross that bridge when we get there/

[deanne11]

Just wanted to say I was thinking of you and praying all is well.

[cantwait4baby]

I know of two people who had positive results. One went on to have the amnio to rule out the defects and the other just delivered her babies (2 seperate pregnancies had positive results) and they were both fine.  So that = 3 false positives.

I thought for sure mine would be but it actually came out negative.

[babypandabear]

I did with my daughter. My chances were 1 in 150 of having a child with Down's Syndrome...(I was 19 at the time) I had the amino and everything done...I have a perfectly healthy daughter who excels magnificently in everything...I have read that if you are off by two weeks over or under it will cause false results...

Hope this helps you and anyone else out there..the doctors aren't always right nor are their tests always 100 % accurate!

[amyschlink]

Well I have my ultrasound on the 24th (Wednesday). We have to drive 2 hours away to get to a hospital that can do it. Keeping my fingers crossed that everything is OK.