Aa
has anyone else refused the triple-screen?
i was just curious, have any of you refused the triple screen? even with my 1st pregnancy, i refused triple screen, and am just personally against it when it comes to my own pregnancy.....i figure, well it's my baby, and rather than dwell on things that COULD be wrong, i'd rather just wait and see.....and surprisingly, i haven't been worried at all! i just didn't want to be prejudiced, so to say.....
i was just wondering if anyone else had refused it, and still felt good about it?
i was just wondering if anyone else had refused it, and still felt good about it?
As far as I know they didn't do a triple screen on me because I was going to have an amnio anyways.
*the only reason for the amnio was because if the baby had my skin disorder it would affect the birth process: C-Section rather than natural birth
*the only reason for the amnio was because if the baby had my skin disorder it would affect the birth process: C-Section rather than natural birth
I copied and pasted this right off of the American Pregnancy Association website. It states that there is a high percentage of false positives. I remember my doctor told me that it would give me my odds based on 100 other women who were given the test around the same time as me. So your results might be different if you took it at a different time? That's weird to me...
Also--I didn't get it because Spina Bifida and Downs can be detected through ultrasound...I know it's nothing like genetic testing, but it would show up enough to give the doctor a red flag to do more testing. I can remember that they were measuring my son's head and between his eyes and everything else to check for signs of Downs...so they do look during ultrasound as well.
I just knew too many people who had false positives, and I wanted to be as stress-free as possible. That was choice! Everyone has a different opinion on it...
*What does the triple screen test look for?
The triple screen is measuring high and low levels of AFP and abnormal levels of hCG and estriol. The results are combined with the mother's age, weight, ethnicity and gestation of pregnancy in order to assess probabilities of potential genetic disorders.
High levels of AFP may suggest that the developing baby has a neural tube defect such as spina bifida or anencephaly. However, the most common reason for elevated AFP levels is inaccurate dating of the pregnancy.
Low levels of AFP and abnormal levels of hCG and estriol may indicate that the developing baby has Trisomy 21( Down syndrome), Trisomy 18 (Edwards Syndrome) or another type of chromosome abnormality.
Although the primary reason for conducting the test is to screen for genetic disorders, the results of the triple screen can also be used to identify:
A multiples pregnancy
Pregnancies that are more or less advanced than thought
*What do the triple test results mean?
It is important to remember that the triple test is a screening test and not a diagnostic test. This test only notes that a mother is at a possible risk of carrying a baby with a genetic disorder. The triple screen test is known to have a high percentage of false positive results.
Abnormal test results warrant additional testing for making a diagnosis. A more conservative approach involves performing a second triple screen followed by a high definition ultrasound. If the testing still maintains abnormal results, a more invasive procedure like amniocentesis may be performed.
Invasive testing procedures should be discussed thoroughly with your healthcare provider and between you and your partner. Additional counseling and discussions with a counselor, social worker or minister may prove helpful.
Also--I didn't get it because Spina Bifida and Downs can be detected through ultrasound...I know it's nothing like genetic testing, but it would show up enough to give the doctor a red flag to do more testing. I can remember that they were measuring my son's head and between his eyes and everything else to check for signs of Downs...so they do look during ultrasound as well.
I just knew too many people who had false positives, and I wanted to be as stress-free as possible. That was choice! Everyone has a different opinion on it...
*What does the triple screen test look for?
The triple screen is measuring high and low levels of AFP and abnormal levels of hCG and estriol. The results are combined with the mother's age, weight, ethnicity and gestation of pregnancy in order to assess probabilities of potential genetic disorders.
High levels of AFP may suggest that the developing baby has a neural tube defect such as spina bifida or anencephaly. However, the most common reason for elevated AFP levels is inaccurate dating of the pregnancy.
Low levels of AFP and abnormal levels of hCG and estriol may indicate that the developing baby has Trisomy 21( Down syndrome), Trisomy 18 (Edwards Syndrome) or another type of chromosome abnormality.
Although the primary reason for conducting the test is to screen for genetic disorders, the results of the triple screen can also be used to identify:
A multiples pregnancy
Pregnancies that are more or less advanced than thought
*What do the triple test results mean?
It is important to remember that the triple test is a screening test and not a diagnostic test. This test only notes that a mother is at a possible risk of carrying a baby with a genetic disorder. The triple screen test is known to have a high percentage of false positive results.
Abnormal test results warrant additional testing for making a diagnosis. A more conservative approach involves performing a second triple screen followed by a high definition ultrasound. If the testing still maintains abnormal results, a more invasive procedure like amniocentesis may be performed.
Invasive testing procedures should be discussed thoroughly with your healthcare provider and between you and your partner. Additional counseling and discussions with a counselor, social worker or minister may prove helpful.
i refused it.....it doesnt tell the severity, even if you go further with the amnio, you still wont know the severity, and there's nothing you can do until the baby's born anyway. why add more stress to yourself when there's no reason to??? my dr doesnt recommend or discourage having it, his words - there's nothing you can do medically to change anything before the baby's born, it will just tell you to POSSIBLY be prepared for SOMETHING that may not even be true.....there are too many false positives. if you have certain risk factors, family history of these problems...then maybe i can see it. if not, dont waste your stress on it!!
I refuse any genetic testing as far as downs syndrome goes or any of that stuff. The way I look at it is when they do give you the testing it is to late to *end* the pregnancy if wanted. Not only that, I believe that the lord grants you your child the way it is for a reason. I only allow them to do the pelvic tests, as far as std's go or whatever they do lol. I do the urine tests and blood tests, and IF i have to have some sort of genetic testing for the docs reference or knowledge on how to deal with the pregnancy then I allow it, but I always refuse to know the results.
I have never gotten it done, with any of my 3!! I told the doctor that if something was wrong, that I would be stressed throughout the entire pregnancy which can cause more damage to the baby!! I guess I am one for taking things one day at a time!!
i refused it and the dr was actually shocked that at 21 i could have a possibility of have a special needs child and i wouldnt even know and i told him regardless of if i found out..did the amnio and all it wouldnt change anything because i wasnt going to abort...this was my baby and i loved it.. well of course i love him lol even though he is a little brat...but yea i refused it and never regreted it even though i found out about cases in mine and bf's family...this was our baby and nothing was going to change anything.. i know a girl who had her test and came back pos for downs.. she had the amnio and pos for downs as well..it was very high and she has a healthy 3 years old daughter that does not have downs...so...imagine if she would have aborted?
i didnt think about it for the dr's sake....he didnt tell me i could have it done but choose not to personally know the results! well, hell.....maybe i'll let him do it then.....but that depends on his attitude at this dr appt lol.....if he is the same rushy, hasty, triple booked dr as always, i'm going to have to switch to a local one.....right now i drive 3 hours, for an overnight stay at my moms just to see him!
its just a little drawn blood and worth it if it will help the doctors know what to expect=) its actually a really big load off your mind you may not even know you had! i know i didnt! i had it done, got the results and felt some stress i didnt even know was there just disapear! but its different for everyone , do what you feel is right for you!
Yeah, I did it with both pregnancies and if the third happens I will get it again. You can always get it done for the drs sake and tell them you don't want to know the results so they can be prepared. Just an idea. GL to all of you!
I got it done. I know I wouldnt have terminated my pregnancy I just wanted to be prepared. The further you get past the recommended time frame could skew the results a bit. It is basically a blood test that calculates the odds of 3 different deformities. If your odds are bad they may recommend a amino to confirm if it is that. I think in your case if you arent curious, then dont get it. I just did it to ease my mind, but I could see how it may cause stress if there is something wrong
the triple screen is just a blood test - they look for various markers within your blood. The blood is also typically tested for iron content to determine if you are anemic at that stage too.
not only is it nice to have a heads up, but it is vital that the doctors are prepared in the event there is a problem with the baby
ya that's how i looked at it....i'm already stressed some with my 1st pregnancy(well 1st *good* one), and on top of some legal stuff fiance is having with my stepson, i just didnt want the added stress of knowing my baby might "have" something.....
i remember when they first started doing the tests, that sometimes the sac wouldnt reclose, and cause problems....i know science has come a long way, but i'd rather be surprised with a 100% handicapped baby, than not have one at all ya know?
idk, my ob said he'll ask me again at my next appt, and i know i'm gonna blow up on him lol.....i've already told him no 2 times in april(appts were 6 days apart).....so now a month later he may ask again.....
what does a 3-screen entail? like, how do they do it?
i remember when they first started doing the tests, that sometimes the sac wouldnt reclose, and cause problems....i know science has come a long way, but i'd rather be surprised with a 100% handicapped baby, than not have one at all ya know?
idk, my ob said he'll ask me again at my next appt, and i know i'm gonna blow up on him lol.....i've already told him no 2 times in april(appts were 6 days apart).....so now a month later he may ask again.....
what does a 3-screen entail? like, how do they do it?
there was no way I wouldn't keep my babies but I just thought it would be nice to have a heads up...
I refused it and never regretted it for a second! I was going to keep my son no matter what...so I didn't feel like finding out about things that MIGHT be going on, and then having to worry about them for 5 months. He was measuring just fine on ultrasounds and all of his organs were developing normally...so I wasn't worried.
I don't plan on getting the triple screen with my next pregnancy either...
I don't plan on getting the triple screen with my next pregnancy either...
no I didn't refuse it but I didn't have to get it if I didn't want since it's not totally correct with twins anyways....
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Pregnancy Community
Get information and tips on how to help you choose the right place to deliver your baby.
Get the facts on how twins and multiples are formed and your chance of carrying more than one baby at a time.
Learn about the risks and benefits of circumcision.
What to expect during the first hours after delivery.
Learn about early screening and test options for your pregnancy.
Learn about testing and treatment for GBS bacterium.
