35+ Down Syndrome risk ????

[m3lanie]

I went for my first doctors appointment today to get a blood work referal and schedual ultra-sound etc.... and the first thing my doctor asks me is how i'd feel about having a down syndrome baby??? I'm 35 and so I guess that was why he asked me. I was shocked and after talking about it with the doctor my whole outlook changed... I got very nervous. I never thought about it til he brought it up.

How many of you out there have had healthy normal babies over the age of 35+? Any info to put my mind at ease? My Pendulum says I will have a healthy baby. lol!!  but still I am scared now and I hope this won't ruin my 9 mths. I wanted to enjoy my pregnancy. :(

[Pum]

I know someone that has a downs syndrome little girl and she was 31 so the risk is there with every pregnancy.

It is your personal decision to decide which pre-natal tests you will have and what decision you will make on any results.

I personally wouldn't have an amnio without being fully decided on what I would do for either result.

[kat9673]

I am in the same situation and I am also 35 and very nervous... But reading all of the comments is making me feel a little calmer. I will be getting the result of my AFP test on Friday and I am nervous, but will be positive! Thanks to all!!!

Kat

[SoCalTricia]

Well, your doctor may be a good doctor, but his bedside manner *****. LOL. Honey, don't worry...35 is YOUNG. Your risk isn't huge at all...but because you ARE 35, you will be offered many tests to check on baby's health. If you must know, take advantage of those. Personally, I opted for the Nuchal Translucency/First trimester screening and didn't do the amnio. I was comfortable with my odds from the first test, and didn't feel the amnio was necessary. Others here have chosen the amnio. It's a personal decision. But don't let your doctor's insensitive manner ruin this for you! Odds are, you and baby will be GREAT!

[oceanv]

OOps, just realized you're already pregnant, forget the ttc stats in my post :-O)

[oceanv]

Your Doctor should work on his/her communication skills I think.  I read somewhere that nature takes care of 95% of chromosomal problem pregnancies through miscarriage.

Anyway,
My girlfriend (we are the same age 7 days apart) delivered a perfectly healthy baby girl at the age of 38 - Feb 2008, we are both now pregnant and due October 19th when we will be both age 39 (her first preg she was ttc for about 3 days, her second - 3 months, me it took 4 months so also don't necessarily believe the "it may take up to a year speech make sure you are prepared for sooner if that also happens), my quad tests came out at 1:450 for downs (better than average for my age, average at 39 is 1:100, at age 35 it would be lower risk than me), my girlfriend forgot to do her quad testing (she's not a worrier, never got any of the testing on the first one) I would prefer 0 chance of problems but nothing in life is guaranteed) I will let the list know the results of those deliveries in about 19 weeks time.  My 41 year old 1/2 sister (42 at delivery is due Oct 20) so far her testing results have been good.  At age 38 she lost a baby at 15 weeks due to chromosomal difficulties (her 12 week scan showed potential problem with nuchal measurement), at age 39 she miscarried at 7 weeks.   I think pregnancy is a bit risky for many reasons, one of the ladies on my gestational diabetes board had been worrying about her gd the entire time (blood sugar probs on baby) and wham! at delivery the baby doesn't have any problems with blood sugar but has downs......which totally came out of left field because she tested as low risk, and she wasn't necessarily over the age of 35 because gd can strike anyone.................

The other thing is people deliver perfectly healthy babies, and they can have other problems, ie. my 100% sister, baby has no labelled disability ie. downs but has learning disabilities anyways.

I think pregnancy was easier in my mother's day (40 years ago) they found out they were pregnant when they'd missed almost 2 periods, they didn't get any testing and didn't know a thing about anything to do with the baby until it came out of them.  Sometimes I think the amount of testing we can and do get done just creates a whole slew of things to worry about.

Good Luck,
J

[YvetteY]

That's pretty lame of your doctor, at the age of 35 you are at little risk (granted it's higher than if you were in your 20s) of having downs syndrome baby compared to your 40s.  It's really less than 1%.    Granted it is possible, but I wouldn't worry abuot it, being 35 years.

[adgal]

First off, just hearing that your Dr. says that makes me mad!  I have worked with two OB's now, and neither one every asked me anything like that.  They did make me aware of the stats and the options for testing, but it was done in a very sensitive way.  It's true, we do have an increased risk, no doubt about it.  However, in the year and 1/2 I have been a regular on this site, I have seen countless women in their late 30's and early 40's give birth.  Only once was there a chromosonal issue.  It wasn't downs, it was something else, although it was serious.  Even with our increased odds, it is still something like 1 in 300 or something like that.  Pretty decent odds, don't you think.  Typically, when there is a chromosonal abnormality, your body will miscarry in the first trimester.  Your Dr. will do some prescreening tests through ultrasound and bloodwork, which will give you your odds, and you can decide on amnio then.  Many women have had amnio, and I have heard it described as much like a bee sting.  Odds of miscarriage with it are about 1:300, so again, it is a fairly safe procedure.  Honestly, don't put too much thought into it right now.  Chances are dramatically better that all will be just fine.  I agree with Jenn, I would be looking for a different Dr....that was really uncalled for.  Take care...Amanda

[m3lanie]

I understand why he asked that but it was just like shock and awe and the way he asked me, gob smacked me. I was almost shaking the whole time I was there. He's a new doctor, perhaps he has no idea how to approach this in a better way yet. A friend of mine had 2 kids when she was 34 and 36 ( they're 5 and 7 now) and down syndrome was discussed due to her age. I think it's policy that they bring it up. I just wish I didn't know that this was a risk. I am alittle calmer about it but I am still concerned. Once my blood work comes back in a few days I will know more with where i standI already said I didn't want amnio done.. i don't want to risk having a miscarrige by having it done. Is it paiful?

[40smama]

I don't understand why your doctor would say that - that's really insensitive.  No wonder your outlook changed.  Did your doctor mention amniocentesis?  That's the only sure way to know if you're having a Down Symdrome's baby.  Young women have down's babies too - they seem to forget that. and by young, I'm meaning women 34 and under.

If you're concerned, do the nuchal test & bloodwork w/that and if it comes back w/a low ratio, then consider amnio.  You don't have to even do an amnio if you don't want to no matter what your doctor says.

I would consider changing doctors if he continues to be so insensitive and make stupid statements like that w/out knowing any bloodwork or results from any other tests.  Good luck! - jen