sad today

[sleepless_mom]

I just got  my transnuchal screen back as a screen positive 1:84, I know that's not a horrible score but it scares me. My transnuchal scan was very good (area behind neck was very small coming in at the bottom of the normal range at 1.4) that means the markers came back in the blood work :(  

Not much I can do for now but worry and cry, I have a follow-up to talk with the genetic couselor again on Monday about what the blood part of the testing really indicates-especially since it was the blood part of the test that brought my number so far down.

I don't feel prepared to go on to an amnio, at the same time I also don't feel prepared for a DS baby.

[AshleysMom]

Best of luck to you.  The odds really are in your favor.

Like Sleepless mom, I went right for the amnio myself.  I had one at 36, then one at 39 about a week ago.  We wanted to know for sure and didn't want to stress over statistics.  Plus, my RE says that ultrasounds only pick up issues about half the time.  The other half, a DS baby can look completely normal.

I didn't feel pain with either, and the process was actually pretty cool since you get such a nice long ultrasound.  The m/c risk is now much lower than they thought - more like 1 in 1600.  That's what my RE's group now claims, and it was recently supported by a Newsweek article.  I know those stats don't mean much to the less than 1% of people who have problems afterwards.  I actually had a m/c after a CVS with my first preg and still opted for the amnios.

Good luck to you with whatever decision you make.  I'm sure all will be fine.

[lynda544]

I've had 2 amino's. One at 37, and 1 at 40. They do not hurt at all and are over quickly. I was very nervous but I needed answers. Everything went fine. I've heard of so many people having false positives from AFP test, I was glad because of my age they went straight to an amino. Like baby1234 said your odds are 83 out of 84 everything is fine!

[pcarsey]

I know how you are feeling! I had an AFP test done a couple weeks ago and it came back positive for spina bifida. My OB doc wanted me to have it ran again a week later. Again, positive, so now I had to go have a level ll ultrasound done next Tuesday the 8th at a hospital 2 hours away. The cut off for this test is 2.5 and my level was a 2.6, but it doesn't change how scared you feel knowing that any of it came back positive.

Please try not to worry much until you get some more answers. And if you have any ultrasound pictures, look for the nasal bone in them! When I had my scan done that was the first thing she looked for and said, awww look at that nose! I think it was to help reassure me and it worked. I know that is one thing they look for! So if you have any ultrasound pictures of the face, look for that nose!!

Good Luck, I will be thinking of you Monday!!
Patty

[tahariel]

May I ask what kind of blood test was done? The AFP test has a very high rate of false positives, which is why my ob/gyn doctor's practice will not do that test anymore. They do a new test called the B.E.S.T. instead, which has a higher rate of accuracy. My SIL had a false positive with the AFP test and was stressed for the remainder of her pregnancy, yet her baby was born perfectly healthy. Good luck.

[orphanannie59]

Ask the Dr. if they are going to do another u/s when you are a bit farther along on your baby's heart.  When I had my afp test, they looked for markers at 18 weeks and then I went back later (23 weeks) for another u/s on his heart.  The genetics center I went to told me there are markers for ds there as well, and if all is well the odds will go down for you.  You are very early, and these tests are only screening, not certainty. Don't worry yourself right now, there are alot of false positives.  I am sure everything will be just fine. :)

[sleepless_mom]

The nasal bone was never mentioned. I've read something about that on the web also, so I wonder why no one said anything? Thank you for bringing this up, it will be the first question I ask on Monday. I went to a very reputable center (actually the first training center for transnuchal in the NW) so they've been at it a while and my ultrasound tech has been doing ob/gyn scans for 25 years. As for numbers 1:84 doesn't seem so bad as a percentage 1.2% or something, but for some reason the tears won't stop tonight. Thank you all for your well wishes and prayers.

[baby1234]

I know the number says 1 in 84 that there is something wrong, but try to look at it in reverse. You have a 83 in 84 chance that all is well! Those odds always look so much better to me!

The nasal bone is a huge marker for Down's. Babies with Down's don't have one and babies without do. If you saw a nasal bone, then you are a-okay! (and you probably are if they didn't see one, too)

[4boys1girl]

I remember with my forth son they scared me too with some of the results.  The blood work and my age brought my numbers way down.  At the time I was only 30 years old.  They sent me to a high risk Dr that did further testing and things looked great on the ultrasound.  How did your ultrasound look for the other markers that indicate downs?  I remember they check the bridge of the nose and I think there is something with the eyes or the head.  I also had amnio when I was 34 weeks and I was scared to death of the pain and the risks.  Everything went fine.  It felt like a bee sting and there was not any lingering pain afterwards.  
Kris

[melimeli]

Im so sorry but just remember that you still have a great chance that the baby is ok.. if I was better at math I cuold tell you that you still have a ___  percent that your little one is fine... we will pray for you guys

[Tanker Chic]

I'm really sorry.  I can only imagine how scared and worried you must be feeling right now.  I actually taked to my SIL just today about amnio because sometimes the dr will want to do one to see if the lungs are developed (incase i go into preterm labor) anyway, my point is, if you decide to do it, she was telling me it isn't bad at all.  She said you don't feel anything and she just looked at the u/s screen and it was over before she knew it.  I know it isn't ideal but maybe worth it for peace of mind.  

I'm really sorry.  I hate news like this.  For me the uncertainty is always the hardest.  Try your best to think positive.  Hopefully things will go well with the follow up appt.