Friday, April 22, 2011

What are the odds?

I think getting an NT scan just to get the extra U/S may have not been the best idea for us. I was all about getting tested when I heard the word ultrasound. I would never pass up a chance to see the little baby! The U/S went great and the measurement of the space at the base of the neck (nuchal fold) was right on with the normal size. 1.1 I think…Then they did the blood draw and I left the office with photos in hand and couldn’t have been happier.


I had actually forgotten we were tested until I got the phone call with the results. I was surprised to see that my doctors office was calling me and I innocently answered. The NT test scans for Down syndrome and Trisomy 19. The nurse told me that I was high risk for Down syndrome – a 1 and 6 chance and low risk for the Trisomy. I was shocked. I didn’t expect to be in the high risk category. I know that my risk goes up because I am 35 but I hated actually hearing this. So there is an 83% chance this baby is totally normal. I just hate the fact that I even have to worry about the other 17% …I know there are lots of false positives with this test but I am usually not that lucky. I think we have decided to get an amnio just to know. I need to be prepared if our little baby has downs. Any others out there that had an amnio done?

*The anti nausea meds have been helping!  It feels nice to eat a normal meal again.

** Edit to post - I forgot to mention that we did talk to a genetics but he didn’t give us any information that we didn’t already know thanks to Dr Google.  Basically my hormone levels are off and my age point to downs.  I was too far along for the CVS scan so I have to wait.  They never mentioned anything about a second blood draw...I will do some checking.  My Anatomy scan and Amino is scheduled for May 17th - I will be 18.5 weeks along.

21 comments:

  1. Strange, they didn't give me my results until I had a second round of bloodwork around 16wks. I was told they wouldn't know until they had the NT results, and both sets of bloodwork. Have they said anything about doing that?

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  2. Thinking of you and hoping you're in that 83%.

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  3. I agree with Courtney. My doc said they will do the blood work when I go back at 17 weeks. And then when we get the results we can decide if we want the amnio.

    Anyway, I have obviously never had an amnio but I have been in the room for a few of them. It always seems pretty painless for the mother and over very fast. Although I can't say for sure because it wasn't me.

    I hope you can not worry too much about this but I know that must be so hard. Thinking of you....

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  4. Thinking of you. I completely understand wanting to get the amnio though, if you have an elevated chance.
    Fingers crossed for the 83%.

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  5. I agree with Courtney also, are they having you wait for the second round of bloodwork before getting the Amnio? Mine was called a Quad Screening, because it was two rounds of bloodwork and the u/s was checking for two things.

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  6. I hope you are able to get follow up tests that relieve some of the anxiety! And I'm so glad the meds are working on your nausea!

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  7. I'm so sorry you got that news. I will be praying that everything turns out to be fine. Glad you are feeling a little better!

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  8. So I did not have this issue but I did have a poor NT scan. I am a little surprised at how they are handling this. You should be seen by genetics at this point to discuss things. I am also wondering why they did not talk to you about a cvs instead of amnio since you can do that now instead of waiting. I would call your ob office and see. If the nuchal is fine, why are they suspecting downs. Downs is a trimsomy condition, trisomy 21. Email me if you have any questions at cgd.adventures@yahoo.com. There is a lot of info and support out there.

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  9. I'm so sorry those odds aren't like 99% to 1%, so I will pray you're in that 83%. I don't know anything about the NT scan and blood work, and I'm sure at this point, you wish you could just continue blindly into your pregnancy. Those darn numbers always ruin things for us. I'll be praying for you and your baby! :) P.S. I need to get me some of that anit-nausea medicine!

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  10. i have a friend who was given the same risk for downs, and then after her amnio, everything was fine. ugh, i hate that you're having to stress about this now. but i thought the initial risk assessment after just the NT scan wasn't as accurate, as the one you get after the 16-17 week screening?? i don't understand how you're kinda being left in the dark. that is irritating bc i know you're stressed now and someone or a bunch of ppl should be holding your hand through this!!! i know it's much easier said than done, but please try to realize that the odds are still in your favor, and hang in there. big big big hugs. xoxoxoxo.

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  11. I know everyone is different but my sister was told that her numbers were off and her baby would have down syndrom. She went in for an ultrasound to confirm and they said no she has Tri 18 so she had to go back for another ultrasound and they said no she has downs and clubed feet and hands so she went back for another U/S and they said no she has Tri 18. Well long story short, my niece is now 10 almost 11 and is one of the healthiest smartest happiest kids I know. Not a thing wrong with her. Keeping you in my thoughts.

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  12. This is all confusing. Down syndrome is trisomy 21. Are they saying you are at risk for Down syndrome, and not for other trisomies (like trisomy 13 and 18)? Remember that NT scan is a screening test, so it's not diagnostic. So, I will keep my fingers and toes crossed for you.

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  13. The whole testing thing is scary. We avoided it simply because everyone told us there are way too many false positives. I understand your need to know now though. I hope you are a false positive as well and that you get the peace of mind that you need from the amnio.

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  14. Sorry you're feeling so ill. And don't worry about the tests! They are mostly wrong. Good luck at the amnio!
    I would love to feature your success story on my blog! Here's a link to the info: http://stressfreeinfertilityblog.com/2010/01/17/calling-all-success-stories/
    Thanks in advance!

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  15. I'll be praying for a healthy baby for you!

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  16. Sorry you have to worry about this. I hope you can get another test done! I am praying for you and your baby!!

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  17. I'm sorry you're having to go through this Jennifer (((BIG HUG))) Will be thinking of you and praying that everything is ok. xox

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  18. sending you big hugs. i hate the worry that we have to go through. praying for a beautiful healthy baby. (Kathleen)

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  19. I wish you didn't have to go through this stress, I'm so very sorry. I would definitely get the amnio done, it will be good to KNOW something instead of this silly odds thing. I've heard from others that the amnio sounds scarier than it really is. Hang in there, my dear.

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  20. I'm so sorry you have to worry about this. My husband said, after our scan, that he would have Never done it if he had known it wasn't mandatory. We got bloodwork results for the first u/s & b/w and will also get a 2nd set of results after 16w bloodwork.
    My BFF also got 1:6 had the amnio and everything was fine. She said if it happened again, she would not do any of the tests.

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  21. I'm thinking of you and wish you didn't have to deal with this added bit of stress and worry. Just focus on that awesome nuchal fold measurement and that big 83% chance that everything is fine!!

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