Need encouragement! Positive Triple Marker screen

[cowboyslady88]

Just got a call from my OB that my bloodwork came back positive for Down Syndrome on the triple marker screening. I went through this before with my last pregnancy. The ratio for my last pregnancy was a lot higher than this time. My son came out absolutely fine and is very intelligent. However, I am still fearful that things may not be fine this time. Our next step is to see a genetic counselor and do a Detailed Anatomic Ultrasound to see if they find any of the abnormalities typical in Down Syndrome babies. We will not opt for an amniocentesis (sp?) because of the increased risk of miscarriage. We would not terminate the pregnancy regardless. It would just be hard for me to prepare mentally to raise a child with special needs. I am worried I would not be a good enough parent to raise a child with special needs. I would love my baby regardless. So it's going to be pretty scary for us over the next few weeks. We go next Monday to meet with the genetic counselor. Please keep us in your prayers and if you have any stories about false positive triple markers I would sure love to hear them.

[30something13]

I am glad to hear that all ios fine and no one needs mistakes like that during pregnancy!

I do not even have the blood work done as there is no corrilation to any findings! They used to only give that test to woman over 35 then one lady had a baby coem out with downs that was younger and she had not been told about the test and wish she had, so she sued and won so now all dr's have it be routin but I have had 8 different OB tell me that it is wrong about 70% of the time. I think that the us are more accurate way in finding out of somethinng may be wrong! Like some downs ahve heart trouble and that can be seen on us. So any major thing that they would need to know ahead to prepare would be seen and know, most of the time that is.

There was someone on here that had the amnio done and her water broke, she was due this past July like me, and a couple woman posted on her comment that the same thing happened to them. One lady even lost her baby at 23 weeks and the baby did not ahve anything wrong with it like the dr said she had a high chance.

[cowboyslady88]

Just wanted to post an update. I went in for an appointment today for my Level II Ultrasound and Genetic Counseling. We had our ultrasound first and they looked for the markers that would be indicative of Down Syndrome. They found absolutely no markers at all for Down Syndrome, thank goodness. Also we determined that it was due to my doctor's medical assistant putting in the wrong numbers for the lab work requisition. So everything of course was thrown off due to the fact that the days were off by 11 days. I had tried to talk to my doctor's office about this and they said they would deal with all of this at the Perinatal office. My OB's office didn't want to accept responsibility for their mistake which is very unprofessional. I will be going to a different doctor from now on. Thankfully it was all due to the mistake on the dates. So when they had the lab plug in all the correct dates it came back that I wasn't even in a high risk group at all. So with the combination of everything getting fixed on the labwork and seeing no indicators or markers on the Ultrasound they put my risk ratio at 1:2,765 which is not at all likely to actually have down syndrome. So thank goodness that it was a good outcome. If you decide to have this testing done, stay on top of your paperwork and make sure that they put the right dates in. My doctor's office tried to shut me up and they didn't even want to deal with it or own up to the fact that they made a big mistake. So they lost my business. They may be medical professional's but they don't know my body like I do. Also we found out baby's gender and it's a girl!! So it was a great day!! Thanks to all for the encouragement and prayers.

[Limonada]

I don't have any personal stories to relate like some of the other ladies, but I wanted to let you know that I'll be praying that everything looks great in your next ultrasound and that your baby is just fine :)  It sounds like you're a strong person and, if the odds end up not being in your favour this time, then I'm sure you'll be able to handle it.  

[vacuumprincess]

God gives special children to special people.
try to remember your false positive in the past.  Good luck!

[cowboyslady88]

Thank you so much ladies. I definitely understand about the amnio. Once the perinatologist told us they didn't see any of the soft markers for Downs on the Level II Ultrasound, that was enough for me. It wouldn't change the outcome though. I hope for good results on this Level II ultrasound so I can stop worrying and get back to planning for my baby. The one positive thing is we will find out what our baby is. Still hoping for a girl but more than anything we hope everything is okay and our baby is healthy. Thanks for the prayers!! =)

[belle77]

I had a friend who tested positive also, she opted for the amnio and it was a false positive.  I agree with everyone there are alot of false positives.   I will keep you and your little one in my prayers!!

[amandamae1126]

I would have to agree with the other ladies that there are a lot of false positives. You've been through this before, so I would try to focus on what happened last time...a perfect baby! I too am a worry wart and decided not to have the test for that reason. It wouldn't change the ultimate outcome, so DH and I decided to not do the test. I wonder if that was a good choice or not, but I just can't spend the rest of my pregnancy worrying. Like you, I would not do the amnio either.

Hope all works out for you hun - I will be praying for you! :)

[blueeyedtabbycat]

yah its scary. The worst was just not knowing one way or another. I kinda wish I would have done the amnio just so I could have been prepared, I dont know if you could understand that or not. But the waiting was hard. And honestly when she was born I didnt even need to look at her and wonder. She was perfect and DS never even crossed my mind. She could have been born with a 3rd eye and I wouldnt have noticed, lol! Good luck on your journey:~)

[cowboyslady88]

Thank you all for your encouragement. My doctor called about an hour later and told us that our odds were actually much higher this time around. I have the odds of a 45 year old woman! Not good!!  I am a worry wart by nature and I should not have had the triple marker done this time around being that we had been through it already. It wouldn't change anything other than giving us time to mentally prepare for a special needs child.
To blueeyedtabbycat: I am so glad your baby is fine. It sure is scary isn't it?

[SunWorshiper_26]

There are more false positives than true positives. Try not to panic. Even if you do have a child with special needs DS is not too hard to handle. I'm a therapist and worked with many children with DS they are the most loving, happy and most eager to please. Honestly all they need is love and I know you can do that. Wishing you the best of luck!  I had the same problem that blueeyedtabbycat had with echogenic bowel. But even if it is DS we will love our baby just the same :)

[blueeyedtabbycat]

hi I just wanted to say that I have been in your shoes and now am the proud mother of a perfect 14 month old girl.
I choose not to have genitic testing with my 4th child because I didnt have it with any of my other children and planned to keep any baby regardless of any gentic issues anyways. Well I had my u/s with my DD around 18 weeks and was informed she had ecogentic bowel. A soft marker for downs. I was scared out of my mind that she would have downs and how was I going to care for her. We met with the gentics concelor and was told we needed blood tests done to know the risks that it could be ds. So I had the triple screen test done. My results were high for my age and all that. Being that she had ecogentic bowel it was worse. I had another u/s and was informed by the gentics lady that I needed an amnio. We refussed due to risks. We were also informed we could abort at 20 something weeks!!!!! UGH! Doctors are not God! Unless you have an amnio you wont know untill your LO is born. The waiting is the hardest part:~( Remeber that those numbers dont mean much. They are only odds.
So anyways thats my story. I have a healthy DD named Taylor Marie but at one point I was told there was a strong possiblity that she had down syndrom.
If you need to talk Im here:~)
Good luck!

[trying43]

I am sorry you are going through this.  Just you saying you would never terminate or do amnio and you would love the child no matter what, proves what a wonderful parent to a special needs child you would be.  However, hopefully its just a false positive and you will have no worries.  My prayers are with you.  Good luck.

[beanie485]

I completely agree with EVERYTHING LosingMyMindInGA says

[LosingMyMindInGA]

First I commend you for refusing the amnio and termination and accepting whatever God may throw your way.  Becuase you have had a false positive triple screen in the past it's likely that its going to be the same this time.  Hopefully your level 2 ultrasound will give you some more peace of mind.  Just remember, God will never give you more than he feels you can handle.