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