Should I get First Trimester Screening for down syndrome?

[mum2mum2]

Hi all

I am 7 weeks pregnant & just came back from my first OB appointment today. I am 27 yrs of age. My doctor gave me a choice if I wanted to take the first trimester screening for down syndrome? & he explained to me the consequences & further tests involved in case I am a high risk category.
He asked me a simple question which has confused me so much- he said " If you are low risk, its fine but Incase you are high risk, are you prepared to take the next step which is aminocentesis test in which they put a needle to take sample of amniotic fluid to do further tests & rate of miscarriage increases a bit- he said if you are not going to do that- there is no use of taking the first trimester screening test b'coz its of no use otherwise. Its merely a screening process. If you are low risk, its good but if you are high risk but are not prepared to take further tests.... its a waste!

I understand its not mandatory to take these tests . Can anyone tell me from their experiences that is it really necessary to take this test? b'coz my understanding is that even if you are high risk- the chances of having a baby with the down syndrome are very less- so why undergo the test & worry yourself for the rest of your pregnancy & undertake the further risky aminocentesis test if you are high risk (as the chances of miscarriage increase when you get aminocentesis in case you are high risk)?

My other side of the brain says its good to get the tests done & know whats possible so that I am prepared for the worst case scenario that might come in the future??

I am sorry if I have confused you but I am so confused myself whether to get the screening done or not?
any suggestions, experiences,thoughts will definately help on first trimester screening... do all of you get it done without thinking too much? Please help me decide.

Thanks
God Bless
:-))

[dianeandross]

Congratulations on your pregnancy Dispy.!!

The NT scan at 12 weeks is really a personal choice - it used to be a test done in women over 30 but is becoming more of a routine ultrasound with it being offered to every pregnant women.

It is definitely not an US that you need to do, especially if you are aged under 30, have no family history of DS, etc.

I guess the main question to ask yourself: if you were told that you were high risk, would this make you feel differently about the pregnancy - and if your child was DS would you abort? If you are not prepared to abort - there is no reason to have the test.

I had the test with DS because I took it as a chance to see him and to make the pregnancy more real to us, we tried for 3 years to conceive and he was an IVF child. I wasn't going to have the NT scan done this time, (am 27) but have since found out we are having twins, and they "recommend" to have the scan done. So I will, but would not have an amino - regardless of results.

Don't feel pressured either way, and even if you have the scan - that doesn't mean that you HAVE to have further tests such as an amino if you are considered "high risk" this again will be your decision because the m/c rate is around 1-in-100 I think.

Goodluck with your decision - unfortunately as I said it is a personal one that only you and your DH can make.

Take care,
Diane

[Alan]

Hi Dipsy
At 27 years old I would say that you are a low risk of having a Downs syndrome child. The test your doctor is talking about is done by an ultrasound and measurers the fluid at the back of your baby’s neck. This test will not tell you that your baby has downs but it can indicate that your baby is at a higher risk of being born with downs syndrome.
Amniocentesis does increase the chance of miscarriage by between 1% and 2% however it is a much more accurate test.
One of the things you need to consider is, should the test indicate that your baby does have downs syndrome would you have a termination? If the answer is no then there is no real point in testing for it. As I said earlier you are young and if there are no other risk factors such as a downs syndrome child in your family then i would say that you are at a low risk.

[Arimeh]

Hi Dipsy

My sister gets the testing done because she would terminate a DS child.

I don't test because I wouldn't abort, and I don't want to have to be faced with that when pregnant.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

[fionas]

The test that they are talking about will only give you a risk factor and chances are that, based on your age, the risk will be low so that's why some doctors see it as a waste of time.

Once you hit 35, they recommend testing because the chances are higher solely based on your age. But the 12 week test only gives you a risk factor, it doesn't give you a definitive yes or no.

If the risk is higher than about 1 in 300, they recommend that you have an amnio because that will tell you yes or no. But the downside of an amnio is that it can carry a risk of miscarriage.

These days more babies with Downs are being born to women aged BELOW 35, probably because women over 35 test for it and then go on to have amnios and terminate.

I had screening because of my age with DD and luckily my risk was low so I didn't need to have an amnio.

People don't just have amnios with a view to termination. If I was in a situation where the first screening results were not good, I think I would have an amnio so I knew for sure. I have thought and thought about what I would do if the result was positive and I just don't know BUT I do know that I would want to know beforehand and mentally prepare for having a child with Downs.

Having said all that, you ARE low risk because of your age so please don't worry too much - the statistics are on your side in this.

[mbear]

I fell pregnant with DD#1 when i was 27 and i didnt have the full tests. Im 33 now and pg with #4 and i will be having the screening done in 2-3 weeks time.

I agree with Fionas - i intend having it done not because if there were a risk of downs i would necesarily terminate, simply i would want to be fully prepared and equipped with every ounce of knowledge and support should i receive unpleasant results......

[briggsy's girl]

i think saying that you should only have the test if you're prepared to terminate if you have a child with Downs is frankly appalling! no offence to anyone that thinks like that - but terminating isn't your only option - being prepared for the different life you're about to be faced with is just as important for many people.

i WILL be having the NT scan - i'm 28 - and yes, we have family with history of disability - not DS - but other genetic conditions which i believe might be shown as higher risk via NT scanning. i will NOT have CVS or amnio, i would never terminate unless there were chromosomal abnormalities incompatible with life. But i would sure as hell handle the notion of a Downs child better if i knew my risk was 1 in 5 as opposed to 1 in 5000. it wouldn't change my love for my child - but it will prepare me for the possibility that it might happen.

if you want to have the screening test, have it - your doctor ing amnio/termination is a load of crap - that's essentially dismissing the life of a child just because it has DS - and i find that disgusting. if you choose to just know what your chances are, it is entirely YOUR choice




ETA - a friend of mine came back with a high risk based on NT scan and bloods - she chose to have amnio and confirmed that her little boy had DS - the amnio resulted in a leak of amniotic fluid, and at 24 weeks her boy was stillborn. she didn't regret the NT scan - she would have embraced her little DS boy - she regretted the further testing that resulted in him losing his life