Kind of a morbid question!

At which point do you go for the test that determines whether or not the baby has a Down syndrome and is it too late by then to do anything about it if it does?

I just found out: a friend of a friend has a 2 years old daughter who has a mild Down syndrome and the mother refused to go for a test during her pregnancy. I was really disturbed by the news, so that is the reason is my question

I dont think theres anything wrong with the fact that she didnt want to take the test. To me that just means that either way, she accepted the child. If God Forbid you do find out, there's nothing that can be done to 'undo' it anyway, so some people prefer not to know in advance... Because either way, they will not end the pregnancy.

---

Posted by MarcellaBella

I believe it's when they do the amnio test?

---

you can actually test now with a blood and sonogram, at 12 weeks. I took this at my hospital, it was called an Ultrascreen.

Then, with the AFP test at 16 wks, it's test for again, along with spinal bifida and a few others.

AFP test can have a false positive. The amnio is the only way you will know 100%

This is the kind of stuff couples should discuss BEFORE marriage and TTC.
Scott and I both agreed that we would not end the pregnancy if GOD FORBID a test came up 'wrong'.
It is a VERY personal decision, but one that should be discussed before TTC IMO.

You do not have to take any of the tests, but for us, I would rather be prepared and educated to care for my child if there was something wrong. Scott's cousin was 28 and had a child with DS, and no test ever showed anything wrong. (She didn't have an aminio though since she was still pretty young). Her child is a true joy.

---

Posted by michele31

Scott and I both agreed that we would not end the pregnancy if GOD FORBID a test came up 'wrong'.
.

---

\

Well, that's just my question: CAN one terminate the pregnancy at this point or is it too late??

---

Posted by WhatNow?

---

Posted by michele31

Scott and I both agreed that we would not end the pregnancy if GOD FORBID a test came up 'wrong'.
.

---

\

Well, that's just my question: CAN one terminate the pregnancy at this point or is it too late??

---

I think that's your choice..

---

Posted by WhatNow?

---

Posted by michele31

Scott and I both agreed that we would not end the pregnancy if GOD FORBID a test came up 'wrong'.
.

---

\

Well, that's just my question: CAN one terminate the pregnancy at this point or is it too late??

---

That's why the blood/sono test are given early at 12 weeks - so you can take any action. I believe you still can at 16 wks but as others have said it's completely a personal decision and must be gut-wrenching to even think about

---

Posted by Teri

---

Posted by WhatNow?

---

Posted by michele31

Scott and I both agreed that we would not end the pregnancy if GOD FORBID a test came up 'wrong'.
.

---

\

Well, that's just my question: CAN one terminate the pregnancy at this point or is it too late??

---

That's why the blood/sono test are given early at 12 weeks - so you can take any action. I believe you still can at 16 wks but as others have said it's completely a personal decision and must be gut-wrenching to even think about

---

Thnak you. That's what I wanted to know: if you are still able to make that choice, or if by the time you fine out it's too late anyway...

G-d forbid anyone has to make this decision, but I was just really shocked by that woman's story... Thank you all!

You can even make that type of decision further along in a pregnancy. It is a very different type of termination the further along you get. Oprah once a had a show with women who had to make those choices and it was heartwreching to watch.

We have friends, who during their level 2 sono found out that baby was missing limbs and had all sorts of other problems, and they terminated the pregnancy I still think she is having a hard time with her decision, but she carries on.

---

Posted by chmlengr

We have friends, who during their level 2 sono found out that baby was missing limbs and had all sorts of other problems, and they terminated the pregnancy I still think she is having a hard time with her decision, but she carries on.

---

that is absolutely terrible to hear I can see both sides to the issue, but either way must be the worst decision of your lives

waiting for those results was the hardest part of being pregnant I think. We had decided together on our personal decision, but still it was difficult to wait and wonder.

it is a difficult decision for sure...I HATE the point that drs STONGLY advise any woman who is 36 to have the amino. I had just turned 36 when we got pregnant. I asked...so if I did this 2 months earlier you wouldnt advise me to have this test?? (they said no, since it was so close to my 36th they would always advise)...

it was gutwrenching for me to even decide to HAVE the amino. I was worried about the very small percentage of a possible miscarriage. Rob said that in the end, there is no bad decision, that there would be no blame if anything happened.
We too felt we wanted to know early, so we could educate oursleves on how to care for the child...