Prenatal testing? (need personal opinions)

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Posted by bearsbabe_113

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Posted by JennRenee

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Posted by Stacey1403
ETA: I had an amnio due to my age

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What?! You can't be old enough to qualify for that!!

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LMAO -- not because I think you're old Stacey -- LMAO because I QUALIFIED for it!!!

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And you my friend hardly look YOUR age!

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Posted by JennRenee

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Posted by Stacey1403

I'm 35

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NO WAY! You look much younger!

You old fart...

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Posted by Teri



Stacey - what's involved with the genetic testing? Yet more blood tests between the both of us?

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I was talking about the genetic couselor. They will go over all your options and the chances of your child having certain things based on your age and ethnic background. It is kinda scary be at least it lets you make an educated decision on what you decide to get done. I'm the type of person that needs to know before hand and to prepare. You really should decide if you want ot know or not. The testing is one of the most nerve-wracking parts of pregnancy. I had to wait almost 3 weeks for my amnio results and it was the longest 3 week of my life. But when they told me 'he' was perfect. I was so darn happy!!!

*I'm sure your little one is absolutely perfect *

I also had all the tests recommended by my doctor. I am the type of person who had to know, although I would not have terminated the pregnancy if I had found out God forbid something was wrong. I just wanted to be prepared.

It is a very personal decision, one that you and your DH should decide on together based on your feelings. The one thing I made sure of before each test was to know the possible outcomes of what they were testing for and what my options were. With the AFP test and its high rate for having false positives, I made sure I knew that my next step wasn’t amnio, but a Level 2 sono which is advanced enough to rule out some things. Thankfully, everything came out normal, but I was prepared. I don’t regret any of my decisions, and maybe I’m saying that because everything came out fine, who knows? I will be just shy of my 32nd b-day when baby arrives, so my doctor said amnio was not a concern unless testing proved otherwise. Good Luck with your decision.

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Posted by chmlengr

I also had all the tests recommended by my doctor. I am the type of person who had to know, although I would not have terminated the pregnancy if I had found out God forbid something was wrong. I just wanted to be prepared.

It is a very personal decision, one that you and your DH should decide on together based on your feelings. The one thing I made sure of before each test was to know the possible outcomes of what they were testing for and what my options were. With the AFP test and its high rate for having false positives, I made sure I knew that my next step wasn’t amnio, but a Level 2 sono which is advanced enough to rule out some things. Thankfully, everything came out normal, but I was prepared. I don’t regret any of my decisions, and maybe I’m saying that because everything came out fine, who knows? I will be just shy of my 32nd b-day when baby arrives, so my doctor said amnio was not a concern unless testing proved otherwise. Good Luck with your decision.

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That's reassuring to know that a Level 2 sono can rule out some of the things if need be...I hadn't thought of that.


Thanks again ladies for all your advice - you're all helpful as always

I did not do any of the test for birth defects or genetic diseases or any of that...it was a very personal decision for me. I felt that whatever God blessed me with, that's what it was going to be! And I didn't want to spend 9 months all worked up about a potential false positive either. So all I did was basic blood work, the glucose tolerance and of course all the regular sonograms.

As you said, this is a very personal, private decision between you and your husband...we both agreed that this way worked for us and we will likely do the same thing if we are blessed to get pg again!

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Posted by Teri

Claud - you see, I agree that it's best to be prepared, but I almost think most doctors nowadays are trying to cover their @$$ with these tests and get their patients to go for everything under the sun, regardless of the stress and nerves of their patients

Maybe I'm being too cynical though

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I understand the way you feel about CYA, Teri...but, IMO...if it were really, really about doctors having to cover their asses, then the tests would all be mandatory, and not your choice to take them or not. I believe in my own heart that it's easier to know ahead of time...but, I also know that it doesn't work that way for everyone. Good luck, whatever you decide!

this is an interesting thread...


i am not pg...so not well read on pg tests...but I have a question...

can the amnio rule out everything? or can that give a false positive too?

It not CYA decision by the doctor. You don't have to have any of it-US, triple screen or quadruple screen (the blood tests)-all are optional. If the baby has any defect and the mother declined testing, there is no liability. I think its better to be prepared for multiple reasons:
-Even if you won't terminate, if the baby has an anomaly that is so severe that he/she will not live after birth, different decisions would be made. For example, here is no need for a c-section for fetal distress because its not worth the risk to the mother.
-If you discover an anomaly that requires surgery or intensive care specialists, you can deliver at a high risk hospital. This baby should not be delivered in an normal community hospital where he/she may not have the necessary help.
-If you know of an anomaly, you would have closer surveillance in the pregnancy and possibly be induced or have a c-section early if that would help the baby.

That being said, the tests don't pick up everything, including the amnio. The amnio doesn't have false positives. A negative result is a true negative, it just doesn't screen for everything. At minimum, I think everyone should have a level 2 ultrasound to look at the anatomy. That should pick up most of the really big problems. However, you have every right to opt out of everything. It is not uncommon or unreasonable. Many women do.

Ladies, I rarely do this, but I need to speak from my medical point of view here instead of my mommy point of views. The AFP, quad screen, etc. are not done to cover the doctor's butt, believe me. They are done in the best interest of you and your child. I understand completely the trauma of a false positive and the hesistation many women have over having amnio. But sono can rule out many things that the AFP might be falsely positive for, such as gastric wall defects and neural tube defects. Amnio is scary - the thought of a needle in your belly near your baby is very disconcerting. However, it is an EXTREMELY safe procedure, done everywhere everyday.

Also, many women feel beforehand that they wouldn't terminate based on the knowledge that their child has a genetic illness. However, I have seen it many times before, there are some very serious illnesses, incompatible with life, that once you research them you may feel like it is a more humane option for you and your child to terminate early rather than to bear this child and watch them suffer.

Finally, my most important piece of info involves being prepared ahead of time for the birth of a child with special needs. PLEASE think about this - if your child, god forbid, was found to have some birth defect or illness, or whatever, ahead of time, you want the doctors to know this before the baby is born! You want to be seeing a high risk obstetrician for the remainder of your pregnancy, and you also want to meet with the pediatricians, neonatal intensivists, surgeons, or whomever is going to take care of this baby when he comes out. He may need immediate special care and you want a team of prepared and knowledgeable professionals ready to take care of this baby. Granted this is in the most serious cases, but especially if you are delivering in a hospital without a high level neonatal intensive care unit, it is absolutely something very important to consider. Children with serious problems can survive and thrive but you want them to have the best chance from the beginning and this often involves preparation on your part and the doctors ahead of time.

Okay, off my soapbox. I respect everyone's opinion, and as a future MD, I appreciate everyone's thoughtful and researched points of view. I hope my patients are interested in probing me for more info and finding out the reasons why I suggest certain things. But at the same time, I still feel in my heart of hearts, when you ask your OB to take care of you for nine months you are asking them for the benefit of their extensive education, training and experience and more times than not, trusting their expertise only enhances your care.

Edited to say: Tammy took the words right out of my mouth! We were posting at the same time

I did go ahead with all the tests also because my doctor recommended them and because I have to know what's in store. I did not have to have an amnio though. I also did genetic counseling because I had a nephew who died at 3 wks old from a heart defect and even though there has been no other problem in my family my dr felt it was better to err on the side of caution. I was even sent for a fetal echo-cardigram (which is basically a fancy sonogram that zeros in on just the heart).
I know some of the other ladies mentioned it but my dr also said that it is better for them to be aware of any problems to make sure that the proper medical team is available for immediate evaluation upon delivery.

I had an amnio with Luke and I am having one again next week. I will admit that I am more nervous about it this time - the procedure not the results - than I was last time because I know more about the procedure and risks but I am still doing it. DH even questioned just last night of we really need it but if, God forbid, something was wrong, I would need to know to be prepared for our future.

Im sorry, I dont know if this helps at all.

Tammy and Jessica ~ thank you so much for your perspective. I learned a lot.

Wow - Tammy & Jessica - thank you so much for all of your feedback! I really appreciate hearing all sides of this decision.

I think that part of my problem is that I recently switched OB/GYN's...I loved my previous dr but he recently joined a large practice and it was INSANE getting appts, waiting in the waiting room, etc. I didn't want to deal with a PG like that so right before I found out I was PG, I switched Drs. I definitely like and respect this woman, but I don't have the history with her, so I guess I'm more on the defensive.

Plus, she never really offered these tests as choices or optional, she just gave me a folder of paperwork and I read through it all. I think I would have appreciated it more if it was discussed with us in greater detail before just assuming I'd want to take all of them.

Thanks again everyone - I appreciate everyone's advice