Quick question about Trisomy Pregnancy

[Rosa]

Hi all, sorry to be a pain, as in my previous message, doctor told my husband and i that baby #2 miscarried due to having 3 chromosomes instead of 2, it is doing my head in, as far as i know doc said we are both fine, it was just a sheer of bad luck, i am so scared to fall pregnant again, as i have been reading trisomy pregnancies is from what i have read having a child with down syndrome, what shall i do from here??? Im only 27 and DH is 29...Don't know if we shall be taking other steps from here, I am so confused, can anyone please help??

[butterfly_warrior]

I don't know a great deal, but I do know that Down's Syndrome is a trisomy of the 21st chromosome, and is basically the only trisomy that is compatible with life. Trisomies of other chromosomes result in miscarriage - it's impossible for the pregnancy to go to term and impossible for the child to live. I also know that they happen randomly, and just because it has happened once doesn't mean it will happen again.

I'm so sorry that you have experienced another loss. Perhaps it would be worthwhile asking your doctor to do further testing to see if this was a random accident or whether there's something more sinister causing your losses.



BW

[Penny]

Hi Rosa,
I am so sorry about your loss. I have had a miscarriage at 13weeks in July. The baby had trisomy 18 (3 of the 18th chromosome) which is not compatible with life. I knew nothing about it and had never heard of it... After some investigation we went to a genetic councelor who was able to give us all the answers I needed. There is a whole lot of different trisomies and maybe find out the details from your obs and ask him if he (or your GP) can refer you to a clinical genetics service in Perth. The service here in Melbourne was free of charge.
Don't worry too much, chances are that your risk of this happening again are just the same as for any other woman within your age group. I know exactly how you feel, I was so confused as well, but the genetics services really helped me to get my head around all this.
Hope this helps and big hugs.

[Rowie]

Hi Rosa

My last pregnancy was a Trisomy 20, 3rd chromosome of the 20th, also not compatible with life. Both hubby and I had genetic testing and we are fine. I am now pregnant! It is a random thing and you really have to believe in the miracle of mother nature getting this right. When those cells split a million times we have to hope that mother nature gets it right and sometimes it goes pear shaped. Talk to your GP about getting blood tests done on both of you to make sure that all your chromosomes are in order and then you can both make a decision from there.
Take care and believe me you are not alone in this. So many of us have been where you are at and come out the other side.

[mummacassdy]

Dear Rowie and Rosa I am so sorry to hear of your losses. It is terribly hard to cope with. We lost ours at 17 weeks due to Trisomy 21. Can I ask you what genetic testing you have done as I would love to have this testing but am not aware of how to go about it. i am also in Melbourne.

Rosa, I don't know how far along you were when you lost your baby, but as i said I was 17 weeks and delivered naturally - I bled and spotted for 6 weeks and everyone kept telling me to get it checked out but I didn't - I thought if it went on past 6 weeks I would but I bled for 2 weeks then spotted for another 2 then got what I thought was a period - 6 days of heavy, bright red bleeding that just stopped, I spotted for 2 more days and then it all went away. It has only been a few days since then so I don't know what will happen. Whenever I think it is over, things change. Not sure if that makes you feel any better but just thought i would let you know of my experience as they sound similar. I am also frightened of it happening again. At the moment I am taking homeopathics so I can't try for another 4 weeks or so. People said to just try again but I want to make sure I and my husband are as healthy as can be first. And if I can find out from Rowie about the genetic tests then I will be much wiser again.
Rowie, not sure if you know but there is a support group at the Royal Womens called SAFDA, which is support after fetal diagnosis of an abnormality. We were thinking we might go to a meeting, there is one on this month about the 20th November.
All the best of luck to you both
Mummacassdy xx

[Mummatotwo!]

Hi Rosa,

not sure if this information could possibly help, or if its a little too late in reply?
But here in QLD, all genetic testing is bulk billed through medicare.

So perhaps that could be your first step?

If you want, i can give you an email and telephone number of a genetics councellor who may be able to direct you in that area. (my sister is one)

[diannescruffy]

Hi Rosa my name is Dianne. Last year in April at 24 weeks I lost our son who had Trisomy 13. Trisomy 13 is not genetic and we now have a 5 week old baby girl called Isabella. I am 37 and my husband 44. This is our fourth child, all healthy. Please dont think it will happen again as my daughter is living proof you can have a healthy child after Trisomy. I was also very scared before and during my pregnancy. I would love to hear from you, hope this has helped.