Do I have a chance?

[Phil's Mum]

Hi,
I'm new to this forum and wondered if anyone could help me?

I'm nearly 13 weeks pregnant and had my NT scan this week. They told me I was high risk for Edward's Syndrome.

My Papp is .27 and freeBhcg is .12.

The doctor told me one of these results was within normal limits but after googling today I'm not so sure. I got really emotional and couldn't take in all he said. He also said the baby was small. I've checked that it is large for 11 weeks according to them or just under 12 weeks.

I am having a CVS tomorrow and am now starting to panic again.

Does anyone know if there is any chance of this baby being ok?

[helle]

Hi,
I'm new to this forum and wondered if anyone could help me?

I'm nearly 13 weeks pregnant and had my NT scan this week. They told me I was high risk for Edward's Syndrome.

My Papp is .27 and freeBhcg is .12.

The doctor told me one of these results was within normal limits but after googling today I'm not so sure. I got really emotional and couldn't take in all he said. He also said the baby was small. I've checked that it is large for 11 weeks according to them or just under 12 weeks.

I am having a CVS tomorrow and am now starting to panic again.

Does anyone know if there is any chance of this baby being ok?

Firstly, google doesn't have a Bachelor or whatever it is in medicine
and second, there is every chance. I have seen many woman come back with low scores from NT scans and have gone on to have beautiful babies.
Try not to stress too much before it's due, I know easier said than done!

[Phil's Mum]

Thanks Teagz.

I know google doesn't know everything. After a few days of highs and lows though I had a high today. Baby has started moving heaps today, which is so exciting but then I read something which really shook me.

[~clover~]

Google is probably not the best idea right now
I've heard of heaps of people having a not so great NT scan & everything comes out ok!
Trust your doctor
All babies at around 12 weeks start growing at different rates. They start becoming more individual, eg, some will get longer legs, others will be a tad smaller as they may be a tad smaller. All my babies measured a couple of days ahead, beacuse we are taller people & so are our kiddies
Good luck tomorrow

[Phil's Mum]

thanks for the support.

The specialist wouldn't commit to a chance, he just said the risk factor was how things tended to work out.

My OB seemed to indicate that things were quite bad but then she said you know what the specialist said, which is a bit confusing.

Bubs is smallish for the age and he/she wouldn't move much on the ultrasound until the lady gave it a shove. Then it moved fine. The specialist said it was sluggish but I think it was sleeping. It has certainly be active today!!

[smiles4u]

Sort of along the same lines ... i received a panic phone call from my GP to come in asap as my scan result was 1 in 90 (very high risk factor for downs syndrome), basically my GP made me feel my baby was already labelled as downs syndrome, i got home and never cried like i did that day and so did my heartbroken DP ... Cut a long story short i too had a CVS test & paid extra for the FISH test ,got results within 48hrs that our baby was healthy ... Our DD is now 3 & she is a very healthy & a very bright child ... So PLEASE know there is every chance there is a very positive outcome

Be thinking of you tomorrow xoxox

[Phil's Mum]

My previous post disappeared.

Thanks Rose.

My OB sort of indicated things were bad but I'm not sure if she was just trying to prepare me in case.

The specialist said what the risk was and the actual results were about the same as the risk, so he wouldn't commit.

[HotI]

Hi Phil's Mum

When working out the risk figure, they use the Mum's age and weight, the levels of BhCG and PAPP-A in Mum's blood and a measurement of the amount of fluid in the skin behind baby's neck.

The majority of women who get a 'high risk' result will have healthy babies.

Did the doctor give you a risk figure? If the risk is 1/20, this means that when they look at all the women with same results as you 19 will have a healthy baby, and 1 woman will have a baby with Edward's syndrome.

A CVS can give you definitive answer. They take a small part of the placenta (the placenta is made from the same cells that make the baby), and grow them so they can look at the chromosomes.

Have you been offered the quicker FISH test? The FISH test uses probes that stick to specific chromosomes and they can count the chromosomes that way. The results usually come back in two days. The lab will also grow the cells for the full two weeks so they can also see the chromosomes under the microscope to count them that way.

It can be really difficult whilst waiting for results. You can ask to speak to a genetic counsellor before you have the CVS, or whilst waiting for results if you want to talk to someone 'impartial'.

The blood test and NT ultrasound are just screening tests. Low BHCG is seen more often in pregnancies with Edwards syndrome, but they are also seen in the average pregnancy.

Take care,

K

[Phil's Mum]

Thanks Kate.

The specialist said one result was within normal range for a pregnancy and I thought it was the Bhcg.

But google said it was low and so I panicked. (Yes I know google can be evil).

Thank you everyone. The CVS is later today but I probably wont find out until Tuesday.

I'll be praying hard until then.

[Razzberry]

Hun, I was in your position just a gfew months ago although my risk was from the nuchal fluid being higher than normal from 9 weeks. They didnt even do a blood test as it was so obvious. I was told my baby would probably have a lethal trisomy and was offered termination.I waited till 11 1/2 weeks to have the CVS test which all came back normal. It was an agonising wait not knowing. Have you been offered counselling by a genetic counseller? This really helped us. By 16 weeks the fluid had resolved and then at the 19 weeks scan there were no abnormalities picked up! so there is HOPE!!! my baby is testament to this! I wish you all the best and will be thinking of you.
Big Hugs xox

[Phil's Mum]

Thanks for sharing your situation. Waiting is the worst part. I wish I could have the test now, not later today. I just want it to be over.

Good luck with your baby. Aren't you glad you waited?

[Phil's Mum]

Some of my replies have gone missing. I think because I am new.

I would like to thank everyone for their support and sharing their experience/knowledge.
Hopefully the posts will show up soon.

[helle]

Sort of along the same lines ... i received a panic phone call from my GP to come in asap as my scan result was 1 in 90 (very high risk factor for downs syndrome), basically my GP made me feel my baby was already labelled as downs syndrome, i got home and never cried like i did that day and so did my heartbroken DP ... Cut a long story short i too had a CVS test & paid extra for the FISH test ,got results within 48hrs that our baby was healthy ... Our DD is now 3 & she is a very healthy & a very bright child ... So PLEASE know there is every chance there is a very positive outcome

Be thinking of you tomorrow xoxox

This happened to my mum too. Scores for my brother came back as 1/50. He's now your typical, healthy 18 year old boy, driving everyone bonkers (but we still love him )
Sometimes at the end of the day all those figures are, are numbers.

[Combat_Barbie]

It might be a good thing to remember that people generally tell the whole world when something bad happens, but are not so inclined to shout good news to the rooftops. There will always be double the number of bad stories on the www to good stories.

[Phil's Mum]

Well it's done.

It's a bit like I imagine liposuction to be but on a lot smaller scale. It's also a bit painful even with the local but managable.

I'm a bit annoyed though. I asked them for more pictures and to take baby's length measurement again. Well baby has grown 11mm in 3 days!!! Or more probably they messed up on Tuesday. Baby is still small but not worryingly small like I was told.

I feel a lot more relaxed now than I did before. I should get the results early next week.

[Razzberry]

Really hoping you get the results back asap! and great to hear about the growth!

[smiles4u]

So glad the actual test went well and i'm hoping the time in waiting for the results goes extra super fast for you !!!

... Wishing you the most brilliant & fantastic news ever on the planet xoxox ... Will be thinking of you

[Phil's Mum]

Just a quick update - I got the fast test results on Monday but for some reason I couldn't log on to the site.

The result said that the baby has triploidy. This is where the baby has 3 of every chromosome. I was told the condition is lethal and the Drs recommend termination.

I'm going to wait for the normal test results to confirm things but then I'll do as the Dr suggests. Although I'm hoping the pregnancy will miscarry before then as I feel guilty for terminating a baby I can feel moving.

I'm devastated and slightly in denial. I also found out the baby is the girl we were hoping for so it is especially hard to bear. In hindsight finding out the sex wasn't the best decision.

Thank you everyone for your support.