Birth defects

Good morning everyone! I was wondering if you choose not to do the Triple screen (AFP) around 15 wks, what birth defects does that test for that you cannot see on u/s? We opted not to do that this time since this is our last and no matter what was wrong with the baby it wouldn't matter. I just didn't know if there was anything it tested for that you coudln't determine through u/s. Thank guys, and I hope everyone has a great day!

[Harley-girl]

I believe spina bifida and downs syndrome. I have elected to have it done but I know a great deal of women opt not to. I would think that most later u/s would be able to pick up these defects.

[meikman]

I can't remember exactly what the test is for, I believe Down's Syndrome.  I think if one is tested postive then they have a intense u/s to look for more markers.  We chose not to do it because our Dr told us that there are more false positive.  I would be more upset with a false positive than not having it done at all.

[1twinmom]

I thought the triple screen was just for Downs but I could be wrong. We opted not to do it with either of my pregnancies because 1. We wouldn't terminate anyway 2. There is a very high rate of false positives. Amnio is the best way to go for testing. Ultrasounds can miss defects. When I had my Level II they said there were no indications of defects such as Downs but that doesn't mean there isn't still a chance for it.

[Harley-girl]

I know it does test for 3 seperate defects as just last week my doctor went over in detail with me what it tests. Pregnancy brain tho and I cannot remeber the third test, soemthing with a #18 in it.
I know there are about 20% of false positives which is very high but I just prefer to know in advance to prepare myself if any (God Forbid) problems.

[cutiemama]

Hi Girl! How are you doing? Here's a link on the triple screen test:
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/prenataltesting/tripletest.html

[froggies1]

Sorry to butt in but does anyone know the yahoo site for dollchina?

I am having the quad screen done at 16 weeks which is just a blood test.  I never got the AFP

[Emma1]

Cutiemama - hey girl! I'm good!Sitting here second guessing that maybe I should have had that done. I have no idea why, as it's way too late to do it, but I guess it's just the hormones taking over. How are you doing?

Froggies - that is the same test I'm talking about. It's a blood test, and i opted not to do it this time. How are you doing?

[amand221]

it's Trisomy 18.  We actually had a scare on the ultra sound for it (a cyst on the brain), but the triple screen came out okay so we shouldn't have to really worry too much about that anymore.  The dr. told us that the cyst should be gone by my next ultra sound.

It was still really scary (the worst days of my life actually) and I know lots of women that have had false positives with the blood test and it caused them soo much stress to only be found out to be fine later on after ultra sound.  For me I was glad to have the triple screen b/c it helped ease my mind about an ultra sound finding, but if I hadn't have had that happen, I would have probably wished I hadn't even bothered taking the blood test.

God Bless!
~Amanda

[froggies1]

The dr put me on compazine for nauseau, I feel better today I don't go back to the drs until July 18th.

I only know it by the name quad screen I think the only reason why I did it was because I did it with my DD and because it's only a blood test.

[Emma1]

Bless your heart! I was almost at that point of getting on medicine and then finally it eased up. With my pregnancy after Kennedy I did the quad screen and something came back unusual. And I'm not saying this to put fear out there, but when we went in the babies heart had stopped. It was awful and I didn't want to go through that again. So I opted not to do it this time. They made me with my last couple pregnancies b/c one of them I lost had a chromosome disorder. I guess I have a fear that something could be wrong that I could have found out about before hand. I don't know, just anxiety I guess.

i hope you get to feeling better!!!!!

[froggies1]

Emma1- I hope everything is ok with you I would do the same thing if something happened the first time I got the test done.

Mum2beagian- Thanks I'll try it.

[lib and jrs mom]

i had my AFP drawn last dr. visit.  it was neg.  thank god.  i had it done with both my other children too.  i would never consider abortion, but i thought if there was something wrong, i needed to prepare myself, and my home, for a possibly disabled child.  luckily it was neg. with all three children.  there is a high false pos. rate, but an amnio and further u/s can rule out any problems.