anyone else having an amnio done?

our first trimester screen showed an increased risk of down's syndrome despite the baby looking normal on the ultrasound portion.  they consider anyone with a risk higher than 1 in 250 to be positive and we were 1 in 155.
we are debating whether to pursue an amnio or not....and have the option of waiting until the level 2 ultrasound on 7/27 to do it or doing it anytime after 15 weeks (i'm 14 weeks tomorrow)
anyone else having this debate?
i'm almost 36 and DH is 50 so that is a big part of our increased risk factor.

[Chez_lee81]

We didnt havnt a problem with our first trimester screen. I think if I were in your situation I would have to consider wether the results of an amnio would have any bearing on your decisions about the baby.

Amnio's have a lot of risks associated with them and I would definetly want to know everything there is to know before consenting.

If the amnio did show anything would you terminate the pregnancy. If not why risk the pregnancy.

[happynifer]

well, the risk of any complications from an amnio is less than 1 in 500 (according to the mayo clinic and other sites i've been reading)....and the risk of losing the pregnancy far lower (especially since the clinic we go to specializes in high risk pregnancies and does in utero surgeries etc).  since the risk of down's for us is much higher than that, i think it may be worth the risk.  i'm not certain if i would terminate this pregnancy since it took so long for us to get to this point, but i would definitely want time to prepare for a special needs child and be able to set up early intervention, daycare, etc.
so many decisions....

[brigadiva]

Even if a woman has no intention of terminating the pregnancy, knowing that the baby has downs could greatly assist in a family's preparations for the new baby.  Having an amnio does not mean that you will or will not terminate a pregnancy if the results are positive.  It could just be helpful in psychologically preparing and finding support services, as happynifer said.  If having an amnio helps in any way and the benefits outweigh the risks, then I am for it.  A woman at the salon the other day was told he baby had Downs AND Trisomy 18, and that her baby would die shortly after birth.  She had the amnio done and, surprise, NO problems.  Imagine the level of comfort that gave her throughout the rest of her pregnancy!  Imagine if she had not had the amnio and terminated believing that the baby would not survive!  Her baby is now 7 months old and healthy as can be :o)  

Happynifer, I know those numbers seem high (I haven't gotten mine back yet, so I don't know if we will need to consider an amnio or not) but as I have heard it put, consider the number as meaning that out of 155 pregnancies, one baby would have Downs.  (I doubt you plan on having that many lol)  So, that makes the number look a lot less scary than it is.  I think you are doing the right thing by really researching the amnio and talking about it.  Give it lots of thought, keep asking questions, and you will find what is right for you :o)  Best wishes!

[happynifer]

thanks
and yes i know that my numbers still mean less than a 1% chance of downs which does mean more than 99% chance things are fine, but it's still a touch scary (especially at my age)
our risk of trisomy 18 was only 1 in 6000 so i like that number much better, but i guess i don't get to decide that now do i :)
i have my regular midwife appointment Tuesday and will discuss this with her as well.

[happynifer]

scheduled amnio for 7/13...still have time to cancel if i change my mind, but i think i need to know.

[ivy_kween88]

Sorry, but I'm so confused! What's an amino? Is it that level 2 ultrasound or is that something different? My ob doctor is sending me at about 90 miles from where I live to get a level 2 ultrasound done to make sure everything is coming along great with our baby, although I'm still confused about the whole situation, but I guess there doctors they should know what they are doing! My sister in law was 35 when she was pregnant and her results showed that her baby was going to come with 100% down syndrome and her girl is already 9 and in perfect conditions!!

[happynifer]

an amniocentesis ( or amnio for short) is a test where they use the ultrasound to guide a needle through your belly into your uterus to get a small sample of the amniotic fluid.  they can test this fluid to determine the actual genetics of the baby.
it's more invasive and carries more risk than as ultrasound alone, but is the only way to test the baby directly.
the rest of the tests simple give you a probability of there being a problem.
so there is no way your sister in law was given a 100% chance of downs without having had an amnio done.  If she had tested positive for downs on an amnio then the baby would have been abnormal because there are no false positives with this test.

[ivy_kween88]

She never got an amino done since she gave birth and all her pregnancy she saw a doctor in mexico and they found that out in an ultrasound which i dont see how they can find out in an ultrasound,  anyways they usured her that her baby came with 100% down syndrome and even gave her the option of abortion, but like you say the only way they could have found out is by doing an animo!

[lorane]

I did the first trimester screening and now will be doing the blood test next week for AFP but opted out for the amnio or cvs. Hope all is well with you! I remember you from our March IVFers. How far along are you? I'm 15 weeks 2 days and next week July 8th we HOPEFULLY will find out our babies genders! I want a boy and girl!

[happynifer]

14 weeks 3 days :)
one of each would be so cool .....
we are 90% sure our little one is a girl, and we'll confirm that with the US/amnio on 7/13

[pol79princess]

I am in a similar situation as you. My risk ratio came back at 1:195, so it is about 0.5% chance that my baby has DS. However, they consider that "elevated risk," which really doesn't make sense to me since it's still so low... I also decided to do amnio, as the risk of miscarriage from the procedure is much lower than the risk of my baby being sick. I just wish my doctor had informed me (or that I did the research myself) before I did the test about the very high incidence of those "false positives" so that I wouldn't panic as much as I did when I heard those numbers. But the damage is done; I'm freaking out and the only way to calm myself is by doing amnio. Mine is scheduled for July 19th, and I hope we both get good news! :)

[happynifer]

mine is tuesday..i'm excited and terrified at the same time.

[JadedSweetheart]

One good thing about the amnio is that it will give you definite results, and rule out the false positives.  I just got the results of my quad-screen back and everything was negative, however, if the results had been positive I would have had the amnio done to make sure and prepare for a special needs child.  
While I was waiting for the quad-screen results I thought a lot about having a special needs child, and while it is one of the most difficult things to do, it is also one of the most rewarding because those little milestones are all the more important.
I hope you ladies have good results of your aminios and that the test goes well.
I also hope that you will be able to relax a little bit while waiting for it. (Easy for me to say all of that I know, but I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers)

[happynifer]

well after waking up this morning planning to do the amnio, i decided not to after the scan.  She is perfect on ultrasound and the doctor felt that since termination was not an option that we could pick up downs on further ultrasounds.  He felt pretty good that she is healthy given all her measurements were perfect and her longbones actually measured long (not unexpected since both of us are very tall).
so we will repeat the US in 2 weeks and follw her closely that way.
thanks all :)

[pol79princess]

I'm having second thoughts about it, too... My u/s showed a perfectly healthy baby; it's just that stupid blood test that messed it all up :( I haven't canceled my appt. yet, but I will see my OBGYN before that, so maybe she'll be able to ease my mind a little. JadedS. is right, though, amnio would give me definite results, and I would sooooo like to know for sure...  

[happynifer]

i didn't change my mind until the ultrasound prior to the amnio today so you still have time.
and i still have the option of doing the amnio at the US in 2 weeks if i change my mind again....
if i didn't have the option to get repeated ultrasounds i probably would have done the amnio today.