Help! in need of advice about amnio

hi all,
I really really need to get some advice on an amnio I have been requested to have. can anyone help?:help:

ALR,

A few of the girls here have had amnios, myself included.

Fire away with any questions/concerns you may have.

Why has it been suggested you need an amnio? What are your questions surrounding it?

If I can help, I will.

My doctor called me after my NT tests. Ultrasound was fine but bloods show very high risk of DS (1in 6). i have read about the risks of mc and such but am emotional and confused and been in tears for days. st5ill have to wait for 2 more days before i have it.

One thing you need to consider, and it is a touch and very personal thought process, is this:

If the amnio results came back as positive for DS, would you terminate?

If your answer is no, then it may be that you don't even need to go ahead with the amnio. But you would have to wait out the rest of the pregnancy with not knowing a definitive answer.

If, however, your choice would be to terminate if the amnio gave a postive result for DS, then you simply have to bite the bullet, have the test. And pray that the mc risk doesn't kick in.

In relation to risk of MC, the average risk ratio is 1:200, but it might be really worthwhile to obtain your practitioners personal current risk ratio. (For example, my OB who performed my amnio had a personal ratio of 1:700 odd, so that aleviated my fears regarding mc a little.

I feel for you, I really do. I have walked in yoru shoes, and I know the torture I went through in the making of the decison, and in the waiting for both the actual amnio and then for the results.

It is only a decision that you can make along with your partner. It is a highly emotive area, and such a worrying time. Hugs to you, and if I can help with any thing else, let me know?

Thank you. I know i have to have the test, because for me I just have to know now. Its just a really emotional time. I have an older child from previous relationship who has Autism so ...I think I could cope but... this is my partners foirst child. we tried for 3 years to conceive, ..then went through an emotional ivf resulting in this pregnacy. he saYS "wait until the results before you get upset" ....but I have done raising a child with a disability without partner support... bloody hard! I dont know if I can do that again. I'm even more emaotional at the moment because I lost my mother last week. Its just the pregnancy from hell really!

You poor thing. You have a lot to deal with all at once. I am so sorry about your Mum.

My only suggestion would be to ask as many questions as you can (ask your Dr/midwife, here on BB etc). Also, read up as much as you can. I am a stong believer that the more knowledge you have regarding things, the more confidence you can summon together.

If you have already made the decision to have the amnio, then that at least is one decision off your plate? Now, sadly, you just have to play the waiting game to have the test done.

If you can, try to take some time over the next few days just to be, just to contemplate and to calm some of those thoughts? I know that most likely sounds impossible, but try....it sounds corny, I know, but a hot bath and some peace just to let your thoughts and emotions settle will maybe make you feel a little more able to cope?

Best of luck either way.....

Thank you... I have been doing research here, on the net, with friends etc. I cant seem to sleep much. I am trying to relax, breathe and be... when i can. I find it hard having to wait until wednesday for the test. then there will be more waiting. I will try to calm myself ( it comes in waves strangely enough). I will pop in and out over the next couple of days to say hi. thankyou

I hope all goes well with your test ALR. Will be thinking of you on Wednesday.

I couldn't sleep much in between being told i needed to have a amnio. One thing i did and i know i shouldn't have done was i had a glass of wine it was the only way i could get any sleep.

I am really sorry to hear everything you are going through and have ben through.
Good luck with the test ALR. I hope all goes well you you both.
Take care,

Thinking of you

ALR - good luck for today xoxoxox

I also read that sometimes amnio can give you a false positive? though the results show DS, there still is a small chance that the results are wrong.

Wishing you all the best, hun

:

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I also read that sometimes amnio can give you a false positive?

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As far as I am aware, this is impossible, as they test the amniotic fluid for all chromosonal abnormalities?

The blood tests (AFP, triple tests etc) and nuchal fold tests are indicative only, and often give "false positives" but an amniocentis and CVS (CHORIONIC VILLOUS SAMPLING) give a definative answer.

ALR...........good luck. Rest up afterwards as much as you can?

Not sure, Lucy. I read this at the American babycentre website.
It is just a website and not 100% reliable.

ALR - take care, xoxoxo

Thanks Prama...........off to check it out now!

i googled nuchal fold amnio false positive and the third in the list was the babycentre artice. I was doing some research as I have a nuchal fold scan on the 16th.

Ahhhhhhhhhh! I see whats happened. The nuchal fold test can indeed give a false positive (as it is a screening test only, same as the blood tests). But the amniocentisis is a diagnostic test which gives a definate yes/no result.

Good luck with your nuchal fold test on the 16th......

Hi ALR,

I think I may be too late since you wrote your concerns a couple of days ago. Firstly, I am soooooooo sorry to ehar of your mum's passing but I feel quite certain that she is still with you in every way, just not physically.

I wrote a thread titled Amniocintesis - do I or do don't I ? in the 2nd Triemster forum. I received a great response from a huge number of caring and beautiful people and the advise swung both ways. My case was a little different in that my nt scan showed low risk for ds, but with my age at 41, I still decided to go ahead a month later and have the amnio to be 99.9% sure. My dp and I were both in agreeance that we didn't want a "challenged" child as we are too old.

Anyway, I went through all the emotions like you are (were), I cried and asked lots of q's of family, friends, doctore, genetic councellor etc. And just like you I was so scared of the mc factor which was higher for me having had 2 previous mc's. I went ahead and had the amnio as I felt that it was the right thing to do knowing that we would terminate if anything was wrong. The choice is ultimately yours, but I think that you have answered your q, with already having a child that has challenges and how you cope with that.

I had a wonderful OB, I felt extremely informed before making the decision, and the procedure itself was no big deal as it was conducted very carefully and with a great deal of compassion and understanding towards my fears!! I also suggest having 2 days off from work with your feet up!! Give that little darling every chance!! I am now 20 wks pg and expecting a darling girl and all is well and I am so happy that I did have the test as harrowing as the decision was to make.

My heart goes out to you ALR and I wish you great results which can still happen even if you are diagnosed as "high risk". Lots of love to you, Nicole

Thanks Lucy. that cleared it up for me, i probably didnt read it clear enough cos I am just nervous about the whole thing.

Hi All,
well yes i had the test yesterday. I was very emotional ..especially after the doctor at the clinic again asked me about termination. the nurses were great but i could co0pe being constantly asked if I was ok. ended up bawling on the table. I went home and literally cried myself to sleep, stayed in bed all day. today i have just popped on to say hi and thank ALL the lovely women who givetheir support. I suppose tomorrow will be the day for the initial results. havent slept much but am trying to get it where I can.
Just a quick note. the geneticist did mention the IVF hormone treatment can skew the results, however the bloodscreen now has been adjusted for the high levels of hormones in an IVF cycle.

again warm hugs to you all and Nicolee41 yes I did read your thread. and am very greatful for the info especially knowing that others were freaking out too.

ALR - I've been thinking of you. lots of hugs, hun. Take care of yourself, it's so hard....

ALR been thinking of you hope everything is ok.

:hug:

Hi ALR,

Sometimes I don't get a chance to get onto the forums as often as I would like as I am so busy with work, but I just wanted to say hello and offer my ongoing support once again.

Let us know when the results are in and do your best to keep sane until then ok!! Lots of positive thoughts to you, Nicole

Hi All
Well results came in.......
They were Normal!!! no downs syndrome.....was a false positive. I want to shout it out to the roof tops! Just a healthy little boy kicking along in there!!!
Thank you Nicolee41, thankyou, Michelle, thankyou Lucy, thank you Prama, Thank you Pish.

The genetics counsellor said although they are not 100% sure, the results of 1in 6 chance result, was most likely due to my IVF treatment. apparently the hormones given in the IVF cycle have a high beta protein in them, mostly the screening clinics can correct results of blood tests if they know that the woman has had IVF. However the accuracy of the correction is not known and in my case there wase still a high level of that protein in my blood test.
I am just sooo pleased. I hope this info helps anyone else.

That is absolutely wonderful news!!!!!! :D

ooh ALR!!! I'm almost in tears!! What wonderful news, darling!!
OOhh what a relief!! Just joy!!!! Yippie!!!!
xoxoxoxxoxo
I'm feeling a bit better about my NT next now!

Oh I am so so happy for you!!!!!! This is fabulous fabulous news. I haven't commented but watched and prayed!

Congratulations on growing a little boy!!! WOO HOOOO!!!!!!!!! :hug:

I haven't commented before now, having never been in the situation, but i just wanted you to know that I was watching and waiting. YAY! :dance: YAY! All normal, thats great news! Congratulations and hope your pregnancy continues safely, happily, and healthily!

ARL, my heart goes out to you, I hope you get good news.... Lots of love and hugs,

That is wonderful news.
Congratulations on your little boy.

I really feel now that I can relax into this pregnancy:dance::clap:. Strangely,... even before the amnio problem i just couldn't seem to relax. I wouldn't even buy anything. I still havent !:rolleyes: but.... I now feel like I could. I actually went to visit my parents grave on the weekend (was dads birthday) and said happy birthday and thanked them for everything.

Even though this year has been hell (lost my job, both parents 5month apart) had drama's with the amnio.. I can only hope that the rest of the year can only get better!!!:lol:

I cant thank you all enough for the support you have given me. It has been truely amazing

You have had the toughest of years. I am sure it will end on a beautiful note for you...:hug:

OH ALR, that is the BEST news! What a massive relief for you! And a little baby boy too. Fantastic. (When I got my amnio results I also found out I was having a boy, and I cried with relief and joy......)

I am so glad that you can now nove on and begin to relax and enjoy the pregnancy: it is a truly special time. You have had a really really tough time, but this good news is more than likely the start of a very peaceful patch.......

Take care of yourself, and again, I am so so glad it all turned out well.

Congratulations ALR that's fantastic newS!!!!

It's going to be a great second half of the year for you! i can just feel it! :hug:

dear ALR,

i just found your thread today, otherwise i would have posted last week for you.

i had the same reason for having the amnio - having the Nuchal Test come back with a 1 in 6 chance of having a Downs baby. I was rung up and told, you have to have an emergency AMnio tomorrow morning! I didn't sleep that night either.

my ob spec at the public hosp, decided NOT to use the local anaesethetic either (without telling me until it was too late) and the procedure was agony, i experienced really bad cramps for five days afterwards. THe fortnight of waiting for the results was horrible, my therapy was to go and buy 2nd hand baby furniture, i could't help myself, i just HAD to do something positive.

1 in 6 is such a high risk, it's a scarey time.

Hugs for your recent losses, i am guessing you were close to your parents, that's rough to lose both of them in such a short time.

All the best for the rest of your pregnancy, what a relief for you!

i'm glad it ended happily, but yeh, i don't think the medical people have ANY idea how much stress having the amnio, puts a pregnant woman under. I had to CHASE the doctor for my results.

Hi again ALR,
This is so weird, but I just read thr posts on my hotmail account because I am subscribed to this thread, and now when I enter it on bellybelly I can't see any of the posts since Aug 2!! Anyway, absolutely wonderful news about the normal results!! Woohoo!! I am so happy for you and now you can start to relax and enjoy your pregnancy and all the amazing things that we all experience.

I so wanted all to be well for you and it is so I am incredibly rapped for you. have a terrific day ALR and son!! Nicole

Just found out that I was low risk for DS but high risk for Trisomy 18 ratio - 1:101. My GP has booked me in on monday to see a specialist at the hospital to talk about it and see if I want amnio. My hubby and I discussed we def. want to do the amnio.

The ultrasound was fine but it was in my blood test that they found the Trisomy 18 and 13.

At what week do I get the amnio? I am now 13 weeks and a half....

Caz

Hi Caz1971,

No doubt you already know the answer, but it is generally around 16wks that they do the amnio (well it was for me anyway). Best of luck to you. I posted a thread called "Amniocentesis-do I or don't I?" It is a heart wrenching decision to make so I wish you every bit of strength. I had a great NT scan but decided to go ahead and have it anyway as I am 41 with 2 prior mc so I wanted to be sure that all was ok with my darling little girl.

Keep us posted ok. Nicole

Thanks Nicolee41 -

Well went to the antenatal clinic yest and today at 11.00 am scheduled for a CVS. I find out in 24/48 hrs if baby is normal but is 95pct but then have to wait a week till its 100% - how heartwrenching is that? Good thing is I find out the sex!

I am quite scared of the needle - but that's is nothing compared to what may be laying ahead for my baby!

I am taking till end of the week off work - I possibly cannot function waiting for the results. Also if I miscarry the doc said usually takes 24/48 hrs after! I just want to lay down and relax to avoid all of this..

I have been praying all night that baby will be ok. My 10 y.o. son would be so devasted!

Caz

ALR, I just found your thread today, The topic intriged me because I didn't know what an Amino was. I thought it had something to do wit Amino acids....oops!!! How very wrong was I??? I was reading all the posts and was sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to know your results!!! I had tears in my eyes when you found out that everything is ok! I am so happy for you! That is FANTASTIC!!! Good luck with the rest of you pregnancy and congratulations on your beautiful, HEALTHY, baby boy!!!!

well had the CVS today. All went well. It felt a little uncomfortable. The Dr and sonographer were really nice. The sonographer said I may be having a 'boy'.

I find out the results as early as tomorrow or in two weeks. So now just have to wait.....

Felt abit crampy after the procedure, but getting plenty of rest.

Caz

Hi Caz,

Just wanting to wish you all the best for your results with the CVS. This must be a really difficult time for you waiting on the results. A CVS was recommended for me too. It was a hard decision but in the end I didn't have it. I have now just had my 20 week u/s and there was no evidence of the condition they were concerned about. Sincerely hope your results show the same. You continue with that rest.

ALR, congrats.

Beka