Please help

I had gotten my ExAFP blood test since I will be 35 before the baby wil be born and genetic counselor called to inform that my baby has had crossed the cut off mark of Down syndrome... cut off is 1 in 200 and mine is 1 in 150. so I am scheduled for Level II u/s and recomended amnio. I am very scared to get an amnio and I have heard that there are many false positives on AFP tests. Please help me. I have lost my sleep. I feel very dizzy since yesterday..i.e before hearing the news. I dont know whats going on.

[JustME9]

I don't really understand all that stuff, but i'm very interested as someone i know is also going through the same exact thing.  She has her level 2 on tuesday...my thoughts are with you as well ((((((HUGS))))))

[Casey1]

mimi, I'm so sorry I can't be of much help either.  You and your baby will certainly be in my prayers.  I'm 38, so I'll be going through the same testing.  Good luck to us both! ((((((hugs)))))

[GinGib]

Hi! I am so sorry you are going through this. I don't know if this will make things better or worse but I know someone who had the amnio done and they told her her baby had down syndrome and suggested she have an abortion. She said no and her daughter is now a teenager and perfectly healthy and normal.
Good Luck and hugs!!

[momof2princesses]

Mimmi,
Try not to worry too much yet, I used to work in an OB/GYN office and I will tell you that there were so many false positives that with my second baby I didn't even get the test done. Of course there were some that were right but there were also alot of women who went through the grueling days of waiting and worrying for no reason. I wish you the best of luck!! Kendra

[susanelizabeth]

Please don't qorry - I know SOOO many people who have had that happen to them and everything has been just fine.  1 in 150 are damn good odds in the scheme of things if you ask me....

Susan

[timework]

I know it's easy to lose sleep over this...I did too last year when my AFP came back elevated just like yours.  I was 32 at the time and a total mess over the results.  I did not have an amnio because of all the risk factors involved.  My baby did NOT have Downs and I am currently pregnant again and opted not to even have the stupid test done.  It's just not worth the stress. I read in one of my pregnancy books that the AFP can have up to a 75% false positive reading.  Whats the point then???

[Flowerchild3]

35 is not old. You are not required to take the test. I had my first baby at 36 and did not do any testing other than ultra sounds. I had already decided I wouldn't abort under any circumstances anyway, so why put myself thru it?? He is a perfectly healthy 6 yr old. It's hard not to be scared, but you have overwhelming odds of having a healthy baby.

[jaydens mom]

Let me give you my experience with this darn test. When I was pregnant with my daughter I was 31 years old and didn't even question this test I was not nervous about the results i figured I was clear of the age for a baby to be born with downs. The dr called me with results i was 1 in 78. They wanted me to have an amnio. but i refused i wasn't going to change my mind about having this baby instead I had a level 2 sonogram which is a more in depth sono they can see the size of the femurs etc. Everything was fine and my daughter is 2 now and healthy as can be. These tests are often false positives. @ of my friends went through the same thing. Their results were in the same category as yours and their children are all fine. Try not to let it worry you. Ask for the sono instead you can tell through that as well as the amnio. Good luck.

[Still_AndiJ]

I feel the urge to add one little thing that so many of us forget. Would you love your child any less if they had Down's? My best guess is you would answer no (I hope so anyway). Why put yourself through the torment. Down's is not the "tragedy" it once was considered.

My husband and I had this discussion before we even started making babies. We both agreed that it doesn't matter, that is still our child and we will love that baby regardless. Besides, have any of you actually had a close relationship with a person with Down's? I can tell you from experience that a person with Down's is about the most loving and caring person you will ever come across. I often refer to my past patient's with Down's as my angels on earth.

Please try not to think of the negative, but focus on the positive. I know we all dream of "perfect" babies, but who are we to dictate what "perfect" really is?

Just something to think about...