Blood tests for Spina Bifida/Downs Syndrome – Did you get them?!?
Hi I had the AFP test done when I was 20 years old and pregnant with my first daughter. My risk of Downs Syndrome came back at 1 in 34 which is high. I had the amniocentesis done and the wait for the result and the whole procedure is horrible. If you have been taking folic acid the risk of Spina Bifida is low. My second baby I refused the tests. My pregnancy age is 21 weeks and 4 days again after serious thought and being told that the risk for Downs is now higher in younger mothers than ever I declined the AFP test. The anomaly scan at 20 weeks can pick up problems such as Downs Syndrome. My anomaly scan is ok. Ask yourself this question. Would you abort your baby at 16 weeks plus? This is the age in gestation that your baby would be minimum if there was a problem. If the answer is no then accept your baby. As for your Auntie, the next time she comes out with the “What would you do if there was something wrong with the baby” line. Tell her if she hasn’t got anything nice to say then d
Yeah I got the test, unfortunately mine came back positive. Not for down syndrome but for another genetic disorder, where the baby won’t live very long after birth. So I freaked, and then the doctor ordered a level 2 Sonogram to see the anatomy of my child up close. They said that the baby looked healthy, his body parts were functioning normally, and that he had all his body parts, there were no defects that they could visually see, but to be on the sure side, they wanted to do the aminocentrisis. I thought about it, and decided to do it. I just had it done yesterday, so far the first 24 hours is over, and I haven’t noticed any fluid leaking, heavy bleeding or cramping at all, so that part I’ve passed. Hopefully the results will come back a false positive, not a real one. I don’t know what I would do if I had take this baby home, and sit and wait for it to die in my arms. I”d probably be mentally wrecked. This is my second child, and second son, you know. We’ll just pray for me, I supp
I didn’t have the tests for exactly the same reasons as you…they sometimes measure the nuchal fold (for downs) at the 20 week scan anyway…or at least they did with me, after asking if it was ok to do so, and you can see if the spine is healthy or not at both the scans. (usually) You’re right about the risk of downs being very low in women under 35 and the chances of spina biffida aren’t too high so long as you have been taking folic acid and/or getting lots of food containing folic acid. My little sister has spina biffida and apart from a fatty lump at the base of her spine and needing an operation as a new born she has suffered no ill effects what-so-ever. Congratulations on your pregnancy and good luck to you!
