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Pregnancy 18-34 Community
This patient support community is for discussions relating to pregnancy and childbirth in women age 18 to 34.
Wild.Blue ~ this is for you. I'm the one with the Down Syndrome diagnoses
by martikadragoon, Apr 22, 2008 11:02PM
Wild.Blue~ As Joy said.. I am 21 years old and my baby boy has Down Syndrome. I'm almost 20weeks I found out thru the Amnio, 2 weeks ago. (it's alot more positive than the stupid U/S and AFP.. lots of false positives)
I had a 1/1000 chance of it (VERY LOW)... and guess what. It happened.
BUT~ and a big one.. if it turns out that your baby has downs, you need to do all the research you can before making any rash decisions. K?
I did, and it turns out, even tho they say alot of babies with Down Syndrome have heart problems (%40)- MANY of these issues are solved either by themselves or by simple surgery a little after birth.
Sure there is also a level of mental retardation associated with it too. again, BUT- i'd say from what I've read and learned from other mom's %95 is MILD to Moderate! So it's not that bad, and with normal early intervention (a nurse comes to your home and teaches Sign Language.. Simple kind. And also does excercises and later speech excercises).. These kids grow up to graduate high school, have jobs, and live either FULLY on theyre own or Mostly on theyre own (someone checks on them each day) They DO get married, and live long lives!..
Please feel free to talk to me if you have worries, because I had no warning, not even a Positive AFP. I can give you info on sites for this.
ALSO It is VERY, VERY tough to diagnose DS by ultrasound. My dr's won't even do it because it's unreliable false positives and negatives!. So you may get stressed out for no reason if you get a false positive.
I'd really suggest trying an Amnio depending on how far along you are and as long as you have had no bleeding during your pregnancy.. It isn't bad, and you get to lay around for 24 hrs and have your guy wait on you hand and foot!
At your U/S they will look for a missing frontal nasal bone, as well as a thickening on the back of the neck. those are called "soft markers" there are others they will look for but I'm not sure what they are.
If you get a positive diagnoses, they'll be doing a fetal Echo (special heart scan) at around 24-25weeks.
Cindie
I had a 1/1000 chance of it (VERY LOW)... and guess what. It happened.
BUT~ and a big one.. if it turns out that your baby has downs, you need to do all the research you can before making any rash decisions. K?
I did, and it turns out, even tho they say alot of babies with Down Syndrome have heart problems (%40)- MANY of these issues are solved either by themselves or by simple surgery a little after birth.
Sure there is also a level of mental retardation associated with it too. again, BUT- i'd say from what I've read and learned from other mom's %95 is MILD to Moderate! So it's not that bad, and with normal early intervention (a nurse comes to your home and teaches Sign Language.. Simple kind. And also does excercises and later speech excercises).. These kids grow up to graduate high school, have jobs, and live either FULLY on theyre own or Mostly on theyre own (someone checks on them each day) They DO get married, and live long lives!..
Please feel free to talk to me if you have worries, because I had no warning, not even a Positive AFP. I can give you info on sites for this.
ALSO It is VERY, VERY tough to diagnose DS by ultrasound. My dr's won't even do it because it's unreliable false positives and negatives!. So you may get stressed out for no reason if you get a false positive.
I'd really suggest trying an Amnio depending on how far along you are and as long as you have had no bleeding during your pregnancy.. It isn't bad, and you get to lay around for 24 hrs and have your guy wait on you hand and foot!
At your U/S they will look for a missing frontal nasal bone, as well as a thickening on the back of the neck. those are called "soft markers" there are others they will look for but I'm not sure what they are.
If you get a positive diagnoses, they'll be doing a fetal Echo (special heart scan) at around 24-25weeks.
Cindie
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I just posted an update on my appointment and they said I have nothing to worry about. They couldn't see any signs of downs. I got some 3D/4D pictures of him and he is looking so adorable. Thanks for posting all the information. I don't think I'll do the amnio.. I'm just too afraid. Plus everything today looked great so I have no worries anymore
But on the car ride there, I realized how much I love him and how I could NEVER go the adoption route if he had Downs. I was prepared for the worst news but got the very best! It looks like he'll be joining us sooner than we thought :)
xoxoxo