Abnormal Quad screen :(

[daughtersrus]

About 20 years ago, I had an abnormal AFP test while I was pregnant with DD #2. I had a level 2 ultra sound and it turned out that they were off by a week or so on my due date. DD was perfectly normal.

When I was pregnant with DD #3, I chose not to have the test. The nurse asked me why and I told her what had happened with DD#2 (different OBGYN). I told her that I wasn't going to terminate so I didn't think that the test was necessary. She commented that she wished that more people thought about what they would or wouldn't do before the test.

As it turns out, DD#3 has a very rare genetic disease. This disease is not something that would have been picked up on any test. Her symptoms didn't show until she was about 9 months old and it took over 7 years of testing to get a diagnosis.

As many have said, the odds that you were given are pretty good. Try to keep yourself busy. Sending you hugs

 

[java]

I will tell you what my doctor(who became a good friend) told me. This is a test that has a HIGH false positive rate. It is a way to get insurance companies to PAY For ultrasounds.
I went on to have a perfectly healthy baby. Go for an ultrasound you'll feel better.

 

[CTPinkPrincess]

8 years ago I made the mistake of ok'ing that test as well. It came back with a greater than normal chance for Downs for my age (I was 32 at the time). We went for the level II ultrasound which was reassuring - the perinatologist couldn't give me the same odds as my age (I believe he said after the ultrasound it would be the same chance of Downs as if I were 37) and we decided against the amnio. DD is now 8 and did not have Downs.

Go for the ultrasound and make your decision about amnio based on that - no sense going through another test unless you absolutely have to.

 

[KiKi Mouse]

I know what you mean. I have been on the internet driving myself crazy too. I can't seem to stop! I don't know how I feel about the amnio. Is it bad does it hurt? Should I be worried about miscarriage?

I'm 43. I have a baby who turns 3 weeks on Thursday.
I went for a nuchal scan at 12 weeks then the quad screen at 18 weeks.
My chances of a Trisomy 21 baby was 1/50 due to my age. After the tests my chances decreased to 1/500.
The quad screen is not an accurate prediction. An amnio is...but there is the risk of miscarriage.

 

[dis-happy]

I'm 43. I have a baby who turns 3 weeks on Thursday.
I went for a nuchal scan at 12 weeks then the quad screen at 18 weeks.
My chances of a Trisomy 21 baby was 1/50 due to my age. After the tests my chances decreased to 1/500.
The quad screen is not an accurate prediction. An amnio is...but there is the risk of miscarriage.

My story is similar, except I was 44 and pg and after they did my nuchal scan my odds went up so high the doctor wouldn't even tell me what they were. Found out later that my measurement equated to a 70% chance of a child with a problem. Anyway, I agreed to the CVS right then and there (I needed to know) and in the end everything was fine. Wishing you all the best.

 

[vettechick99]

My doc doesn't recommend this test because there are so many false positives. He asked me with each pg if I wanted it, and twice said it's pretty much not worth doing because of this exact stress.

Hugs to you!

 

[Barbossa]

1 in 150 are still pretty good odds that things will be OK. My DW was 38 when she had our DS, which put the default odds of downs at 1 in 64. One thing I did to ease my mind was to flip a coin 6 times in a row. The odds of getting all heads is exactly 1 in 64. I flipped that coin for a very long time before all heads came up, which gave me a feel for how unlikely it was that something bad would happen.

 

[maedelken]

If notbhing is wrong what would cause my numbers to be weird?

 

[KiKi Mouse]

I don't know if anything causes the high numbers or "fase positives" as some people call them. I personally know quite a few people that have had these "false positives" and have had to go for a fetal assessment ultrasound and see a genetic counsellor. It caused a great deal of stress but with everybody I know everything was fine.

When you are pregnant with any baby, no matter what age etc. there is always some kind of chance of something. That being said, the chance of a baby without any issues is much much greater.

I know it's hard but try not to get yourself worked up. The stress hormones are not good for your baby or for you. Go for your ultrasound and cross those other bridges if and when it comes to it.

I made myself into a basketcase with this last pregnancy and I robbed myself of having a happy peaceful nine months. I was a nutjob for the entire time and I drove my husband to the edge of sanity as well. Fortunately everything turned out and I have wonderful little girl that I want to smooch day and night.

 

[VillageMama]

I don't know why this blood test is so inaccurate but I know that it is. I had it done during my first pregnancy but not for any of the others.

During my fourth pregnancy an ultrasound revealed a "soft marker" for Trisomy 18... choroid plexus cysts on the brain. I was worried, of course. The only way to know for sure was an amnio but I didn't want to take the risk of miscarriage.

Doctors will rightfully tell you that the risk of the baby's death from an amnio is very small. But it does happen. I just saw A Baby Story where a couple had an amnio... an infection developed... and the baby was born too early to survive.

Dr.Spock.com says that the risk of a stillbirth due to an amnio is 1 in 200... or 0.5%.

Amnios can be wonderful tests. But if you are not comfortable taking the risk, I wanted to mention that it is possible to go through the rest of your pregnancy without freaking out.

If the ultrasound does not reveal any markers for Down Syndrome, then I, personally, would be willing to trade a little uncertainty for not taking the risk of an amnio caused stillbirth. But that, of course, is entirely up to you.

I feel so bad for you and for all of the mothers who are caused great stress from this Quad screen. That's why I've refused that test. It's notorious for false results. Best wishes to you and your precious baby! Many (((hugs))).

 

[maedelken]

Thanks for all the support. I go today at 1 and it can't come soon enough. I feel like i am going to vomit. I am so scared.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

 

[maedelken]

So none of the 24 markers were there and ultrasound tech sounds really confident that baby is healthy. She did remind us of course that the only way to know was to get the amnio but she feels pretty confident. She also told us that the baby's weight is good too. 7ozs compared to the normal 4 to 5ozs for 17 weeks. She said that was good too bc downs babies are usually under weight. I feel more relaxed but still have the little doubts that creep in. Don't get me wrong we will love the baby no matter what. What do you guys think? I don't think doing the amnio is worth the risk. The genetic person said that our original odds of 1 in 150 will increase 50% based on the clear ultrasound but they can't change it on paper. (huh)

 

[laurie31]

So your odds are now 1 in 225 of having a Down's baby. I'd say they were less than that in reality, since you have NONE of 24 markers.

If you have an amnio, you have a 1 in 200 risk of miscarriage. I wouldn't be willing to take that risk since your odds of a Downs baby are LESS that your odds of losing a healthy baby from the amnio, but that's just me. I would try to forget the whole quad screen thing and focus on your NORMAL ultrasound. Hopefully in 23 more weeks, give or take, you'll be holding that perfect little bundle of joy!

 

[Mrs. Charming]

Ohhh yay, I'm glad it went well for you. I'm personally afraid of the amnio, too. If it's not going to change how you will feel about the baby, I'd just relax as much as you can and enjoy the pregnancy.

I'm 18 weeks preggo and tortured myself about having the genetic testing done, and in the end I didn't do any of it. Sure I worry sometimes, but what's going to happen is already done. There isn't a darn thing to do but take care of myself, and love the little bugger.

So on that note.. just breathe a sigh of relief. Oh, and ignore what the "paper" says.

 

[Wendy31]

W/ my DD, I was 26 &, w/ our 1st DS, I was 28, & we didn't think the screening was necessary (I, being a worrier, didn't want to face the "what if" if the numbers didn't come back high enough to not warrant my worry).

However, w/ our youngest DS, things went differently! Since I was 35, when the doctor offered the initial screening, I thought more closely about it, but, in the end, again refused thinking, "A test won't change anything..."

Fast-forward to our 20-week ultrasound in February - which is supposed to be fun, like someone else said. During the ultrasound, the doctor noticed that one of the baby's kidneys was slightly enlarged. He didn't seem too concerned. But, that night, I got home & started reading things about babies w/ enlarged kidneys & discovered it was a soft-marker for down's syndrome. I panicked. And called my doctor in tears the next day.

He offered to do an ammnio, but I didn't want to because I was afraid of a miscarriage. He said we'd do another ultrasound in April &, often times, the kidneys repair themselves on their own.

Well, that didn't happen. At the April ultrasound, the kidneys were still enlarged, & I was referred to a high-risk ob.

Again, I'm a worrier, & I went into high-anxiety mode. (And I seriously think that's what led to my pregnancy-induced hypertension in my last month, but that's another story!)

At the high-risk ob, we first had to consult w/ a genetics counselor who confirmed that, w/ my age (35 & would be 36 at time of delivery), the baby was at a higher risk of downs. At this point, I asked for the screening, but was told it was too late in the pregnancy.

Then I had an ultrasound w/ the high risk ob. The doctor noted that everything else looked normal - except for the kidneys. But he confirmed that, only w/ an ammnio would we be able to know for sure.

This was April 29th, & I was a basket-case & knew that I couldn't go until July 25th (my due date) as freaked/panicked as I was. And I wanted to be able to enjoy the pregnancy w/o all the worry.

I was told that, that late in the pregnancy, the risk of an ammnio wasn't so much a miscarriage as it was early labor.

So I decided to go for the ammnio.

I remember it feeling a lot like getting an epidural. And, just when I thought I couldn't take it anymore, it was over.

And then I went home & laid on my side for the rest of the day/evening.

I was a kindergarten teacher & even missed the graduation pictures w/ my kindergarten class for that day.

A week later, my DH strolled into my classroom after school one day. He was off that day & the genetics counselor had called our home w/ the results. So DH came in person to tell me that our DS did not have down's or any other genetic disorder.

His kidneys were still swollen & we were told he might have to have surgery at 3-months old. However, a week after he was born, he had his own ultrasound, & everything looked fine. So, no surgery unless problems develop.

And, today, he is a happy almost 9-month old that still thinks he needs to nurse every 2 hours. And I am still a worrier.

 

[KiKi Mouse]

If the ultrasound tech thought your baby looked great then go with that. I have had enough of these types of ultrasounds that I know if they saw anything they would say and you would have to go back for more or see your doctor.

As for an amnio...your choice. When I was pregnant with DD#2 I talked about it with my midwife...I wasn't going to get one but I did ask about the m/c chance and she said she has seen it happen.

If the tech didn't see anything and all looks good then be thankful and take the time to enjoy your pregnancy. The stress hormones are not good for anybody.

 

[Barbossa]

Our DS7 had a heart marker for downs. We had an amnio a few weeks later, in hindsight I don't know why we did because we weren't going to terminate the pregnancy even if positive. The amnio results were negative (aka DS was OK). The whole experience led me to think that modern medicine, at times, provides too much information causing too much stress. Stress is not a healthy state to be in, too often parents freak over the low probability event.