Quad Screen results back -- not good

[lharris927]

My quad screen results came back this morning and changed my initial risk from 1 in 30 to 1 in 2.  I am surprisingly calm about it all, and it's certainly made the decision to have amnio quite easy.  I was already scheduled for the targeted u/s next Tuesday, and the genetic counselor told me I could have amnio then too.  

Here's all my numbers, in case it helps anyone.  I'm 42, and my first screen came back 1:30.  My PAPP A is actually normal at 1.05 and my hCG was 1.7. The nuchal scan was 2.4.

The quad screen busted it all, though.  AFP is .53, UE3 = .89, hCG = 2.26, Inhibin = 2.9.

The genetic counselor tells me that all the numbers are within normal range, but having two high and two low combined with my age is what drives the risk.

So, nothing to do now but wait until Tuesday.  Thanks for this forum.  It's been very helpful and calming.  I want my baby to be fine, but there's nothing I can do now and I know what my decision will be should the baby have DS.

Happy New Year and best wishes to you all!

LH

[sue68]

Hi,

I had a thick nuchal measurement and didn't bother to go for the blood work.  Booked my amnio instead.  Figured at my age (41) I'm going to get high risk results anyway even if I wait for the quad screening and that would only freak me more - and its only a calculated guess.    DH and I wanted to avoid it but, now we think an amnio would quell any lingering fears we have.

Good luck on your Amnio - I hope you get good news.

[mommyin10]

You have a great attitude & I believe your baby needs that :) I was the same way with my amnio & waiting for the results. I wanted my babies to be healthy (as we all do), but really just wanted to know so I could plan ahead. I didn't realize how nervous I really was til I got my results & learned both babies are healthy. I felt like a weight was lifted ;) I'll be thinking of you (& pertykitty, too) and wishing you both that same sense of relief. Take care :)

[lharris927]

Thank you so much everyone for all the comments and support.  It helps more than I can say.

Rockermom, thank you for coming here and saying this while you are dealing with your news.  I appreciate it.

Pertykitty, I hope all is well!  Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

Courtcoop, thank you for sharing that.  It does help.  I just have to believe it's possible for me too.

I've gone back and forth since finding out the new risk.  I am calm, but sometimes I just get this heavy sorrowful weight pressing down on me.  It's a long time until Tuesday, and a long few days after that while I wait.  Nothing I can do but hope.

LH

[Courtcoop]

LH...
I am 41 and my blood tests busted my numbers as well with a 1:2....I was horrified.
Did the Amnio, my boy is perfectly healthy.
Don't stress, they are only numbers....
Good luck!

[Juliaschill]

Sending good wishes and prayers to you both!

[rockermom13]

LH and perty kitty I am so sorry for you both. I can't seem to process my information in any other way than to keep reading these posts. I'm trying to move on but I'm still so confused and trying to figure out what happened!?!?! Please let us know how things end up for you as I so hope you both have good news.

I think you both have good reason to hope!!! The numbers you got sound really good to me LH, mine were not nearly that good. All of your FT bloodwork results are very close to 1 which is the standard MoM, and that's great. All of mine were way off and I would think yours would be too if it was DS.  I don't know what the other screening numbers mean because I never got to that point but I do know that the blood work is more accurate early on. And pertykity as everyone said to me over and over you can't base it on the NT alone. One bad reading is meaningless, it's the combination that is bad.

I am praying for you both. I will say that no matter what your results, the agony of not knowing will be over soon and in some ways that was more difficult. For me anyway.

[Ecologic]

Ladies I wish you both good luck with the amnio results, I can only guess how hard the wait must be for both of you!!

[adgal]

I wasn't given all that info either.  Just the nucheal fold, the papp a and HCG numbers.  I know all of this is terrifying, I was scared too.  But after two years of hearing results like these on this sight, just this week we had only the second time that there has in fact been something not right.  The vast majority of the time everything is fine and these babies are born healthy.  I am thinking of you (and you too Perty) and keeping all of you in my prayers.  Hang in there, you will have your answers soon.  Thank God for FISH and not having to wait weeks for results.  That would have made me crazy!  

[pertykitty]

i didnt get all of those numbers and info.  im 38 and my nuchal fold was a 5.3 or 4.  i am at a risk of 1:3.   i had my amnio on tuesday and requested a FISH (dont ask me to tell  you what all it means lol) so i can get some results in just days.  i was waiting for my phone call today but my genetic counc. said he would call over the weekend as soon as he hears something.  ugh!  

all i can say is there have been many many women with scary results that ended in a healthy baby.  im ok with my results too, its just hard to sit and not know.  good luck!!