First u/s today

[forestfairie]

Hi all,
Just wanted to update that I had my first u/s and ob appt today. I measured bigger than thought so they moved my July due date up a week. Everything looked great and measured right on target. Guess this is really happening lol

We are having the noninvasive genetic testing done next month which I understand is just an us and more blood work. My dr doesnt recommend the amnio since she said the noninvasive ones are just as accurate these days. Does this sound right to you ladies?

[forestfairie]

Man all this stuff is really just so scary to think about :( Im glad you guys had so much info on it! I guess we should just see what the diagnostics come back with and then make any further decisions. Thanks for the help!

[adgal]

Well, if this is any help, I have never ever come across anyone that has had a false positive.  I have come across more then I can count for false positives.  I am certainly no expert, but from what I have read and heard from other members here, false negatives just don't seem to happen.  Good luck.

[Ecologic]

I too have been wondering a lot about false negatives... not doing the amnio for now because of my good test number but still worried about false negatives! We will discuss that with the doctor at our next ultrasound in a week.

[rubyinparadise]

Congratulations on a great u/s and OB visit!! :)

I would have done amnio if I had had the courage. I'm just a big chicken. I don't think that the bloodwork is "just as accurate". Too many false positives!

However, I have not heard of any false negatives on this forum, or elsewhere online. I.e. I really haven't found any instance where someone was given great odds (e.g. 1:1000 or better), and then did have a child with a chromosomal abnormality.

[Ecologic]

I too had non-invasive integrated tests (bloodwork and ultrasound) and based on the results (probability of 1/1200 for Down Syndrome), for now I have decided not to do the amnio as I am more scarred about the amnio going wrong than the real possibility of having a fetus with a malformation.

That's said, I have an other ultrasound in a week (at 18 weeks) and we're going to ask many questions to make sure everything looks OK!

PS: my little one also gained 3-4 days at the 2nd ultrasound! I guess that's fairly common.

[adgal]

I agree 100% with aelis comments.  The non invasive tests are only intended to give you a risk factor, they are not diagnostic.  They can help you make the decision as to whether or not you want amnio.  My risk factor with the first trimester screen came back 1:13 odds for downs syndrome.  Based on that I opted for amnio, and my little man is perfectly healthy.  Other ladies her have had much better odds, such as 1:500 or whatever, and opted not to. CourtCoop came back 1:2 odds and her little guy is fine.  My point is, it is not conclusive or diagnostic, and that is so important to remember.  Some of those numbers can scare the heck out of you otherwise.  Glad your ultrasound went so well!!

[aelis]

Forestfairie, congratulations on our pregnancy I am happy everything is going well! As for the non-invasive tests, I did the Integrated Prenatal Screening Test, which consisted of: NT (nuchal translucency) ultrasound; bloodwork at 11-14 weeks and more bloodwork at 15-18 weeks. The dr told me that it is pretty accurate, however, it is important to know that these tests can only determine your risk factor and they are not diagnostics. That means that there is a margin of error (if I rember correctly for Downe and Trisonomy 18 there are up to 5% of false positives/negatives). I really recommend the integrated test as it might help you decide whether or not you want a diagnositc test done (like the amnio) later in the pregancy. We were happy with the risk factor calculated and decided against any more invasive tests. The u/s is also very accurate so that you have a chance to get a good look at your baby :)