Please read b4 freaking out about any tests!!!

[Courtcoop]

Food for thought...my sister (was 39 at time) has her NT Scan and DR told her the baby had (was told 99% had) Trisomy AND spots on liver/heart, would be a very sick child if "made it".
Sister was planning on keeping regardless but it was a hard pill to swallow.

My sister (now 45) did not tell anyone until now.   They had to WAIT another month + before level 2 ultrasound sound to find out the baby was perfectly fine. The Shadows were error on the scan, not the baby, the lack of fluid in the spine was the scan, not baby.  The little rascal is one tough cookie and is perfectly healthy 6 year old boy w/ tons of energy.

PLEASE...take what DR's/SCANS say of "potential risk" at face value as informative, not a definate. Markers that are there at 13 weeks, 16 weeks, most likely will NOT be there months later  My sister stressed so much she had anxiety attacks, told no one and almost lost this healthy child.

[piggy2]

thank you so much for your post.  I know we really rely heavily on our MD's and think that they always have the right answer.

I hope all of our doctors weigh their words with care when they give us this "info"!  I can freak myself out just by trying to do my own homework and what I come across on the web researching.  

Forexample, when I got my BETA numbers back they were really high, well what do you think I did?  I googled "high beta numbers" and got "marker for downs"    I was later diagnosed with twins!!(hence the high numbers) and nobody told me it does not mean the high numbers in the beginning, but later.  

That's why we come to talk to our sisters on medhelp!!!

[Quinns momma]

These tests and scans are simply screenings that possibly indicate a problem and further dignostic testing is warranted. It is then up to the parents to decide if they wish to proceed with more invasive testing such as a CVS or amnio.

I agree many of these tests and or scans have a high occurance of false positives. It is unfortunate that many patients have doctors that do not sit down with them and go over these issues in more details.

[adgal]

Great post!!  And you are so right.  They are simply a screen to determine level of risk, it is not diagnostic..they cannot say for certain if baby is ok or not, but they can sure scare the heck out of us.  The reality is they are simply a tool to use to help you determine whether or not you would like further testing, as Quinns momma said.  I agree with more of what Quinns momma said...they should better explain. In so many cases (mine included) they give you a number and your options.  

[Suzan1975]

Great post...Really makes you think twice...I guess at the time when you are dealt a huge blow of news that you were not excpecting to hear at the time..It can be hard to not slip down the negative side of things..I will defin keep all of your stories with me in the coming weeks ahead to keep my head up and stay positive until further testing!
Thanks for the great story...very uplifting  Courtcoop...and I am glad in the end everything turned out great for your sister and baby in the end..Thank goodness she had a feeling and stuck with it to the end...regardless of the outcome!

xo

[rubyinparadise]

Your poor sister! Thanks for sharing what she went through. It really puts these scans & tests into perspective...