amnio or triple screen

hi
I had my 13 wk appt today.  WHen I asked about the amnio the doc said they really lean toward doing the triple screen first (i think that is what the blood tests are called)  then only doing amnio if necessary.  HAs any one else heard of this?  I want to hear it from several sources first before I decide. Thanks for the feedback

[jennbarr76]

Honestly, I had the triple screen test and it caused me nothing but worry and stress.  It can cause alot of false positives to show up.  The only way that I would take the test again is if I was over 35, it's been nothing but worry to me and everything so far has shown up normal.

[Angel4JohnnyB]

I think here they do the triple screen (blood test) first and then the amnio if need be......although a friend of my recently had both done with both coming out fine.

Is there some reason that you feel you NEED to have either done? Here they offer the triple screen to everyone but they don't push it unless you are over 35.
I told them that I did NOT want to have it done at all (I'm 30 will be 31 when baby is born)

Best of luck to you

[shubunkin]

i declined it. i had heard of too many false positives.

[mgi]

thank you - I guess I have 3 weeks to do my research

[boycrazy]

I have had the triple screen with all three of my kids and everything was normal.  I guess what you need to decide is if it did come back abnormal and they continued testing would you evaluate the pregnancy or would you still want the baby no matter what.  This is really something you should discuss with your husband.  Good luck.

[Still_AndiJ]

I missed the test with Jonathan (we moved during that point of the pregnancy) but had it with Tristan. Mine was normal, but I agree it was a lot of unnecessary stress. I had little to no risk factors and found out through Level II u/s's throughout my pregnancy that everything was fine anyway.

My best friend had hers done a few months ago and as luck would have she had her u/s done before the results came back. While her triple screen showed up positive, her u/s had shown everything was fine (good thing because you would have had to strap her down and hit her with a brick for an amnio)

It is up to each individual as to what they want to do. If you have risk factors that make getting the triple screen prudent, go for it. If the results show a positive, then you can make the decision to do the amnio. As wonderful as amnio's can be for telling you what is going in, they do still carry the risk (small, but it is still real) for causing miscarriage, introdcuting bacteria, and a few others. My personal belief is that they should only be done under certain instances (for instance, lung maturity or when there is a known risk of genetic abnormalities)

Take the next three weeks and do some reading, talk to your doctor, and your partner.

Good luck,
Andrea

[boobers]

I had a false NEG on the triple screen.  It is statistically determined by age.  They said I was fine and at my 20 week u/s found the baby had a heart defect--after an amnio, they found the baby had trisomy 18.  He died 2 weeks later in utero.  It was horrible.  I was 33.  If you are young, don't worry about it, if you are 35, have the amnio....that is my advice.  Good luck!

[carolyn55806]

Doctors hesitate rushing into amnio because it causes premature labor in almost 10% of the pregnancies that they are testing on. Something to think about.

[Myah's Mom]

I too understood that the triple screen is offered first, and if that's a positive (and there are LOTS of false positives), then they suggest the amnio. I declined on it also,for 2 reasons: -there are way too many false positives, which just cause undue stress. Plus, I wouldn't have discontinued my pregnancy even if I did find out that there was something wrong, so what's the point?
Amnio is thought to be a little riskier, which is why they offer it after a positive triple screen, I suppose.
Unless you feel really strongly about knowing in advance about any of the conditions it tests for, I'd skip it. That's just my opinion, though!

[Debra_Maine]

I wasn't offered the triple screen. I was 38 when I was 16 weeks and my dr. offered the amnio. I opted for it and it really was fine. As you can tell from my birth story, no premature labor there :o) The peace of mind of knowing all was fine with him was worth it to me. The risk of m/c is 1 in 300, but my dr. hadn't had 1 in 25 years of practice. My risk of downs was like 1 in 125. I needed to know, but that's me. It's a tough choice, but amnio is definitely more concrete in what they tell you. And if you want to know the sex, there is no guessing game. Good luck to you.

[mgi]

thanks millions you guys.  It really helps to hear all the feedback.

[cinnamonheart]

Depending on your age... I was 36 and classified as high risk because of it.. They did the triple screen and all came back as fine..I also heard there a alot of false posititives but when you think about it anyway what would you change if you found out there was anything wrong?Probably  nothing you would love your baby no matter what...
I didnt op for the amnio I heard there was risks involved in that procedure that could cause early miscarriage/premature labour...

[mejoje]

I just went to my 10 week apt and the nurse just went over this. The triple screening is a blood test to so spinal defects, etc. done I believe at 16 -20 which it can be false and she said it normally is then they would send you to get an u/s, but at that time you will be getting one anyway and if you don't get the triple screening they will look closer at the spine and the neck (in Down's the neck will be thicker). So she told me that at that office they do not deny the triple screening but they really don't see the advantage of it. If you have an abnormal finding on the u/s they will do the amnio. and then the genetics consiling and all. One thing I will interject is will it make a differance to you if your child has one of these diseases, remember that by having the amnio done you are inserting into the baby's environment the chance of infection. Just a thought. Lots of luck.

[happiface]

I had the triple screen with both pregnancies. First showed nothing... second one showed higher risk for problems (age 36).... the triple screen can't DIAGNOSE anything-- it merely gives you a risk factor (ie- 1/900 or 1/200, etc) that there may be a chromosomal defect.  The triple screen results are combined with your age to determine the risk.
I opted for an amnio with the second (higer risk) and everything ended up being fine.  The risk of m/c after an amnio is only 2-3% higher than the normal chance of m/c at that stage of pregnancy.
If your screening results are 'less' of a probability that something is wrong than the increased chance of m/c, then they probably won't recommend it. (make sense?)
I hope that helps.  If you are concerned about fetal abnormalities, then you can do the triple screen and decide about an amnio based on the results.
I know that after the amnio, the next 4 weeks of waiting for the results were absolute hell.  The results were a HUGE relief.  I don't think I could have survived another 20 weeks of pregnancy not knowing and constantly worrying that there may be something wrong.
Hope that helps. Best of luck to you.

[mgi]

hi
for those of you who had amnio  - how many weeks were you?
I ask because if I have the triple screen at 16wks then one week for results - I'd be at least 18 weeks before the amnio?
thanks

[happiface]

I had the amnio done at 15 weeks, 4 days. It took a little over 4 weeks to get the results- I found out just before 20 weeks.
You can check this website for info on amnio- I found it helpful.

http://www.mtsinai.on.ca/pdmg/Tests/amnio.htm

[Clarter]

My doctor does a different test intead of the triple screen, but if you are over age 35, it is highly recommended.  You would only do an amnio if that was positive.  Can't remember what it is called.  An amnio can be risky, so if you feel you must be tested, I would do that one first.  I was 33 with my first and 35 with my second and they didn't even offer me the test either time.  I'm trying to get pregnant again and I am 38--I'm sure that they will offer it and maybe even encourage it.

[Debra_Maine]

I was 16 wks.

[boobers]

I was 15 1/2 weeks with my amnio with my last baby and 20 weeks with the one we lost--due to trisomy 18, not amnio.  Had that amnio at 20 weeks because the AFP came back fine but 20 week u/s showed baby w/ defects.  Anyhow, amnio miscarriage rate is NOT 10%.  That is false information.  I mentioned in a seperate post that the mc rate goes up with people who do not follow instructions--i.e., taking it easy--or with a DR who does not do them often.  Infection can occur if you do not take it easy and/or the DR is not sterile--lawsuit.  Anyhow, if you go to a qualified DR for an amnio, and rest afterwards, you will be fine.  My DR has never lost a baby due to amnio--and they have been doing it for 15 years.  Pretty good results.  I think the people who will scare you away from it have not had it done and do not know the real information.  Just my opinion.  Good luck!

[mgi]

thanks
I read the web site
well I called my specialist and they still didn;t return my calls
I will keep you updated.
I think I willl call my regualr doc tomorrow anyway I had an infection last week - was getting better - then doc did a pap and now my insides are throbbing!