Down syndrome screening test??? Your views please!!

[AprilDreiszus]

I'm 21, 11 weeks 5 days pregnant with my first child. My doctor talked about the down syndrom screening test, originally I was going to have it done. Now I am not so sure. I feel my probability of having a child with Down syndrome is so small, worrying if I get a high risk or false postive test would just cause my pregnancy to be stressful. What are your views? Did you opt out?

[Pray4me2015]

For me as an older mom, I will be 35 at birth, I opted for testing. I know for my age I will be at an elevated risk for certain birth defects/issues and I would like to be prepared. As this may be my only successful pregnancy after 4 yrs of TTC.

[bsugirl1]

I'm 41 and at my age I will get the test I'm scheduled to have it in 2wks I'll be 14wks at that time. I wanted the test sooner but my MD said they found testing before then should too many false positives.  So I agreed to wait at my age I'm already concerned about the what if so knowing the facts will help me. women in their 20's I can see why opting out may be a thought since their risk are lower. I also see how the knowledge of knowing can create stressful pregnancy but also a way to be proactive during pregnancy & delivery and during the critical time right after birth to give your child the best plan to meet their medical needs to avoid potential more harm of not knowing or being at a hospital with doctors that are not familiar (not the MD's scope of medical practice) with your child's special needs. At the end of the day it's a choice you have to feel comfortable with.

[Cvarnadore]

It was not meant as a snide comment. I simply meant that the only reason to have those tests isn't to keep the baby or not. I opted out of initial screening with her. They just happened to find a cystic hygroma during ultrasound. She was diagnosed through a cvs, which is pretty accurate. Genetic testing ultimately saved my daughter's life and will allow us to have her for a long time (prayerfully), which is why I feel so strongly about it. Sorry if it came across negatively. That is the problem with written word... you cannot detect how the writer intends for it to read. I wish everyone nothing but the best with their pregnancies.

[sweetbug3611]

I went through the second guessing getting it done up until the day which was Tues and I went through it after the ultrasound part the rest was really easy to decide upon. My ultrasound showed that the everything looks normal and no signs of anything wrong in fact baby had all ten fingers and toes, baby was very active and measured a week ahead of my due date. I then saw a genetic counselor who went over everything with me and at that point I was still given the choice to get the blood test done, with the u/s being "normal" it cut my chances down to less than 1% and that's for my age (40) the younger you are the more that number decreases. I was also able to get a gender test done. I think it was totally worth going I feel more informed and relaxed about knowing verses with my first I worried the whole time. if you just went for the ultrasound and genetic counseling and then decided not to do the blood test at least you have a better informed decisions on denying the blood test or any other more invasive tests further down the road. I would like to add any way the results would have turned out I would still not terminate but at least I would be better prepared for the possibility.

[sweetbug3611]

I went through the second guessing getting it done up until the day which was Tues and I went through it after the ultrasound part the rest was really easy to decide upon. My ultrasound showed that the everything looks normal and no signs of anything wrong in fact baby had all ten fingers and toes, baby was very active and measured a week ahead of my due date. I then saw a genetic counselor who went over everything with me and at that point I was still given the choice to get the blood test done, with the u/s being "normal" it cut my chances down to less than 1% and that's for my age (40) the younger you are the more that number decreases. I was also able to get a gender test done. I think it was totally worth going I feel more informed and relaxed about knowing verses with my first I worried the whole time. if you just went for the ultrasound and genetic counseling and then decided not to do the blood test at least you have a better informed decisions on denying the blood test or any other more invasive tests further down the road. I would like to add any way the results would have turned out I would still not terminate but at least I would be better prepared for the possibility.

[amanda_stevie]

As I said, the test isn't always right. My friend was told her daughter had down syndrome. That there was a chance that her child wouldn't make it. The doctors sent her for multiple testing. I cried with her for months as she went for multiple tests that eventually came back saying it was all wrong. Fast forward four years and her little girl has absolutely nothing wrong with her and about to celebrate her fourth birthday. Im not trying to fight or argue, It's my opinion. The question was your view, not to attack anyone else's opinion or view. Hence why Im not attacking you, but I don't appreciate your Lil snide comment How parents who do have the tests just want a "long life with their child". Just be polite with your comments, We're all adults here looking out and caring for our Lil ones.

[Cvarnadore]

It wouldn't have changed my husband or my mind on keeping the baby, either. It obviously didn't because we kept her. One reason to find out, though, is so you and doctors are prepared during delivery. I had SEVERAL fetal echos (which you don't get during "normal" pregnancies) because our daughter was found to have Turner Syndrome (one of the major 4 they look for). Those echos showed just how extensive her heart defects were. Because of her heart defects, we could not give birth in our regular hospital or even the level 2 hospital most high risk babies are born at. They didn't have the resources she would have needed after birth. We had to make a plan and give birth near a Children's Hospital so she could be quickly transferred. Not trying to shove anything down anyone's throat, but there are reasons for doing tests than whether or not to "keep" the baby. Sometimes, parents just want to be prepared and have a long life with their children.

[amanda_stevie]

I opted out of it. My doctor said that 95% of the time it will come up positive, but only 5% is actually correct. My husband and I decided no matter what, we were keeping our baby So There's no reason to have added stress if it is positive.

[Babee1]

We are having ours today & as the others said its very safe im 33 & id like to knw to prepare myself

[Drixya]

I am having ultrasound and blood test this week. I think it is better to know and have time to prepare.

[Cvarnadore]

My youngest daughter was diagnosed with a genetic disorder in utero. I will always do a genetic screening from here on out. The intial screening, as stated above, is not invasive. It isn't done just to see if you want to terminate. I know with my daughter, if they didn't know what to look for, they would have never found her complex heart defects that go along with her genetic disorder... until it was too late. She got the best care imaginable because there were no "surprises". Have my genetic screening scheduled for next Friday!!

[finallyanours]

Not sure how they test were you all are but here they do an ultrasound where they measure the thickness of the skin on the back of the baby'S neck. They then take blood from me. Separate the free flowing DNA cells from the baby, culture (or grow) them and run chromosome tests on those cells.  Very safe, not invasive at all and has a 98% accuracy.  Women over 35 have a 1 in 200 chance of having a baby with down syndrome. I would never terminate my pregnancy because of a positive diagnosis. But, I feel like knowing ahead of time will give us time to prepare ourselves, our other children and allow us to find support groups faster.

[madsmum]

Im the same. Ive already cancelled my appt twice and scheduled for monday but i think i will cancel it too. With my first 10 years ago i was 21 and wasnt even offered it. I think now there is so much over testing for everything. I also hear of false readings regularly so not sure how accurate the test is anyway. I'll be having my baby regardless so what will be will be. I'll find out if something is wrong when my baby arrives x

[kelbells21864]

We decided not too..after reading how the test is done made me change my mind real quick..we also felt the chances of something being wrong were small as well.we figured if something was wrong jus knowing would be very stressful..were already so attached were putting faith in God that we will have a healthy baby. What will be will be and we will love it either way.