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High Risk Prenatal Screen
I just received the results from my prenatal screen test, risk for downs 1:30. Very high for my age 39. Anyone have a risk this high and have a healthy baby?
Best Answer
Hi Worried,
I just got caught up today on your post, and I wanted to say, I am very glad your results came back negative. Congratulations also on learning you are having a boy!!
I wanted to say, that despite the odds - and often times odds sound very scary, please remember they are just that - odds. Risks are assessed by many different factors, and the use of technology today is far superior than it was several years ago. There are also instances where odds are known to be accurate and then not accurate at all! Take my situation, where I was given odds of 1:385 and I was that one! I now know that I am the "lucky" one, as Martikadragoon said, things have changed so much in the last 10 years regarding Down syndrome. With Early Intervention therapies and the available resources out there, children with Down syndrome or other special needs are excelling so well and many are developing at typical rates and milestones. Like many have said, there are many stories out there, and every person who has had prenatal testing can probably share their experiences with you. In the end, while most stories are exceptional, there are some that are sad - but each has given those women a unique perspective and I am sure they have all learned from them.
If there is anything else that I (or others) can help you with, during your pregnancy or additional prenatal testing, please do not hesitate to call upon me (us).
Will you be having any further testing done? It is always a good idea to continue to watch out for any "soft markers" during your ultrasounds - regardless of the results from your FISH or other prenatal screening tests. But it is wonderful that you have great results. I hope that it puts your mind at ease.
In addition to anything I have mentioned, please keep in mind, that while I or others may have extensive knowledge in many areas, you should always seek professional medical advice from your own physician, as it pertains to medical conditions or concerns.
Good luck, and if you have any other questions that I can help you with, please feel free to message me directly.
Sincerely,
Sandi (Dragon1973)
MedHelp Genetics Community Leader;
Down syndrome Community Leader & Ds Group Forum Founder/Moderator
I just got caught up today on your post, and I wanted to say, I am very glad your results came back negative. Congratulations also on learning you are having a boy!!
I wanted to say, that despite the odds - and often times odds sound very scary, please remember they are just that - odds. Risks are assessed by many different factors, and the use of technology today is far superior than it was several years ago. There are also instances where odds are known to be accurate and then not accurate at all! Take my situation, where I was given odds of 1:385 and I was that one! I now know that I am the "lucky" one, as Martikadragoon said, things have changed so much in the last 10 years regarding Down syndrome. With Early Intervention therapies and the available resources out there, children with Down syndrome or other special needs are excelling so well and many are developing at typical rates and milestones. Like many have said, there are many stories out there, and every person who has had prenatal testing can probably share their experiences with you. In the end, while most stories are exceptional, there are some that are sad - but each has given those women a unique perspective and I am sure they have all learned from them.
If there is anything else that I (or others) can help you with, during your pregnancy or additional prenatal testing, please do not hesitate to call upon me (us).
Will you be having any further testing done? It is always a good idea to continue to watch out for any "soft markers" during your ultrasounds - regardless of the results from your FISH or other prenatal screening tests. But it is wonderful that you have great results. I hope that it puts your mind at ease.
In addition to anything I have mentioned, please keep in mind, that while I or others may have extensive knowledge in many areas, you should always seek professional medical advice from your own physician, as it pertains to medical conditions or concerns.
Good luck, and if you have any other questions that I can help you with, please feel free to message me directly.
Sincerely,
Sandi (Dragon1973)
MedHelp Genetics Community Leader;
Down syndrome Community Leader & Ds Group Forum Founder/Moderator
Thank You everyone for your kind words and sympathy. My FISH results came in yesterday, negative! I'm very happy and relieved and I'm having a BOY! AWESOME!
Please let me add, there ARE babies like Canada's who are lost due to health problems related to down syndrome, and that's an unfortunate risk. I did almost lose my lil guy following open heart surgery because of infection but it was due more to the rare skin disorder I passed on to him than the DS. He is alright now and almost 2 (in august). Everyone has a story, and they're all special.
Canada~ I commend you for your bravery because that had to be VERY hard to lose a baby and to go through a pregnancy again.
Canada~ I commend you for your bravery because that had to be VERY hard to lose a baby and to go through a pregnancy again.
I wanted to tell you to be brave, things will be fine and you know what? your risk may be "high" for your age but if you do the math it's little over 2:100 risk..... my risk w/each baby is 1:100 and my last child was healthy. My first lil guy has down syndrome. :)
DS isn't the horrible thing it used to be, with therapies and health treatments our kids live long wonderful productive lives including school and graduating, work, love, all of it.
Feel free to message Me (Cindie) and you can find me on the Dermatology forum, I'm the community leader there, or message Sandi who goes by Dragon and is the CL for the Genetics and Down Syndrome forums,. Her little guy has Down Syndrome as well.
Cindie
DS isn't the horrible thing it used to be, with therapies and health treatments our kids live long wonderful productive lives including school and graduating, work, love, all of it.
Feel free to message Me (Cindie) and you can find me on the Dermatology forum, I'm the community leader there, or message Sandi who goes by Dragon and is the CL for the Genetics and Down Syndrome forums,. Her little guy has Down Syndrome as well.
Cindie
Dear worried
we know what you are passing through
we have exactly the same problem
SUzette is 35 and the NT ( 1.3) and the US looked great but unfortunately
blood tests said there is a chance of 1/58 to have down
This morning we went for an amnio
now we are waiting for the results
those will be the longest and scariest days of our lives.
This is our first time
he is a boy
So we are with you
hang in there and feel your gut
and your heart
Everything mwill be fine with your baby
Do not worry
Francesco ANd Suzette
we know what you are passing through
we have exactly the same problem
SUzette is 35 and the NT ( 1.3) and the US looked great but unfortunately
blood tests said there is a chance of 1/58 to have down
This morning we went for an amnio
now we are waiting for the results
those will be the longest and scariest days of our lives.
This is our first time
he is a boy
So we are with you
hang in there and feel your gut
and your heart
Everything mwill be fine with your baby
Do not worry
Francesco ANd Suzette
Hi. I know where you are. I completely understand...I had a situation last year. I was 34 years old at the time, and opted for all the blood screening, just to be sure. All my ultrasounds came back fine; nuchal was fine, all other measurements were good. Then I had the blood tests. It came back 1:225 that the baby had Downs, as opposed to 1:390. I said, "Why is there a higher chance?" but they said, sometimes it is a false positive, but you need not worry....they said, "You are before the cut off, 99% chance that things will be totally fine, you are not recommended for amnio"...well, I KNEW something was wrong. I didn't care if they testing said I was "normal range" when a number changes like that, and mother instinct comes in, you GO with the gut. We did the amnio. And the baby had Downs, and we lost him. I am pregnant again, and I am going straight for the amnio. I had a normal ultrasound this morning....but, that doesn't make me feel any better, because the last one was normal. First one, nuchal was 2.4; this one is 1.7 so it is lower, but still. I don't trust anything but chromo testing. I guess what I am saying is, if you THINK something is wrong, chances are it is. Get checked, put your mind at ease...
Hi there,
I'm 42 and my risk factor was 1:7 chance of downs - that was only from the nuchal - radiologist told me not to "bother" with the blood screening. So I went for the amnio and our baby boy is fine. Don't let these numbers freak you out - I know its hard not to worry but, remember that the triple screen results are not definitive - only calculated risk. Lots of women here have had high risk results and have or gave birth to perfectly normal babies. Good luck. If you decide to go for the amnio - from my experience - the wait and the fears and worries that build up before is worse than the procedure itself.
I'm 42 and my risk factor was 1:7 chance of downs - that was only from the nuchal - radiologist told me not to "bother" with the blood screening. So I went for the amnio and our baby boy is fine. Don't let these numbers freak you out - I know its hard not to worry but, remember that the triple screen results are not definitive - only calculated risk. Lots of women here have had high risk results and have or gave birth to perfectly normal babies. Good luck. If you decide to go for the amnio - from my experience - the wait and the fears and worries that build up before is worse than the procedure itself.
Thank you everyone for your kind words of encouragement, please keep me in your prayers.
You only have a 'chance" of 1/30. This is a very small chance. These tests are really bad for women and make most worry unnecessarily. THere is a high false alarm with these tests.
Amnio does have some risk (though low). Make sure if you do it you get a doctor who is very experienced. Ask his miscarriage rate after amnio as well. Important to know.
Amnio does have some risk (though low). Make sure if you do it you get a doctor who is very experienced. Ask his miscarriage rate after amnio as well. Important to know.
These darn screening tests!! I agree with chinesebones, stay away from the internet , it can drive you nuts!
Unlike chinesebones, I did not do an amnio and I had a 1 in 20 chance with my twin boy. He was born perfectly healthy. I chose not to do an amnio because 1. I had twins and that meant two amnios and 2. It wouldn't have made a difference and lastly because all other "markers" or measurements were within normal limits.
It all depends on you and if you are a person that just must absolutely know, then you know what your decision would be. Anyways, good luck and I'm sure things will be fine(ps. I was 39 when pg and your age also gets factored into the analysis)
Unlike chinesebones, I did not do an amnio and I had a 1 in 20 chance with my twin boy. He was born perfectly healthy. I chose not to do an amnio because 1. I had twins and that meant two amnios and 2. It wouldn't have made a difference and lastly because all other "markers" or measurements were within normal limits.
It all depends on you and if you are a person that just must absolutely know, then you know what your decision would be. Anyways, good luck and I'm sure things will be fine(ps. I was 39 when pg and your age also gets factored into the analysis)
I had a 1:39. And my baby is here and completely healthy.
Thanks chinesebones,
I guess 3% doesnt sound as scary as 1:30. Hopefully my dr. will call today with an amnio appt. It is difficult not to worry.
I guess 3% doesnt sound as scary as 1:30. Hopefully my dr. will call today with an amnio appt. It is difficult not to worry.
I had an integrated prenatal screen, b/w at 12 and 15 weeks.
I also had a nt scan (measuring 1.5 mm) but the results were not included because the nt center is not certified yet, the techs havent completed enough scans.
I'm definately going to have an amnio, I need to know, can't deal with stress of not knowing.
I also had a nt scan (measuring 1.5 mm) but the results were not included because the nt center is not certified yet, the techs havent completed enough scans.
I'm definately going to have an amnio, I need to know, can't deal with stress of not knowing.
i have heard that more parents have healthy children than with downs even when they get high hits. So good luck! But we were friends with a family when i was younger and their son has downs he was the most awesome guy in the world. I havent seen them in over a decade but i still love that kid!
your risk isnt as high as you think, there have been many of us with a risk of 1:2 or 1:3. most of the posters here had babies that were completly healthy. i had a baby girl that does have down syndrome, and i have to say i love her more than you could imagine! she is just 3 weeks old this friday.
there is no way to tell you 100% unless you choose to do an amnio. im 38 and my risk was 1:3 and had a nt of 5.3. i chose to do the amnio (the mc risk isnt as high as you will hear) because i needed to know. i was keeping my baby either way, but i wanted to be prepared and for us it was the right choice.
i dont know how far along you are or what tests you have taken to get those odds, but you have to have faith that everything will be ok ;) good luck and congrats on your pg!
there is no way to tell you 100% unless you choose to do an amnio. im 38 and my risk was 1:3 and had a nt of 5.3. i chose to do the amnio (the mc risk isnt as high as you will hear) because i needed to know. i was keeping my baby either way, but i wanted to be prepared and for us it was the right choice.
i dont know how far along you are or what tests you have taken to get those odds, but you have to have faith that everything will be ok ;) good luck and congrats on your pg!
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My best advice: stay away from Google. Try to relax- it's still just a 3% chance (or less if you consider the nt measurement.) Get the amnio as soon as you safely can. It feels really weird but is over quickly, and then you have a great reason to take it easy for a couple of days. Rent some escapist movies or read a good (lighthearted) book- anything that will take your mind off of it. You'll be ok!