Opting out for downs syndrome test

[furbaby]

Just wnderign did anyone else do this?

I saw my midwife last week and she was asking a all these questions and without evening thinking when she asked about the downs test I automatically said 'nope I don't want it', at that point she had to leave the room to photocopy something and I turned to my husband and realised I hadn't even asked him and he said he agreed.

My logic is, if our baby has downs we are not going to terminate, the tests can become more invasive if the risk turns out higher, and if our baby is born with downs we will deal with it and shower him/her in love and get on with it- either way as long as we're taking home a healthy baby I honestly would prefer not to know.

Am I in a minority or a majority when it comes to downs testing... it would be interesting to know others experience of this xxxxx

 

[Tell]

hi Furbaby
i have not actually thought about it untill reading your post, and i totally agree with you.
i refuse to terminate my little bean and whatever the result would be will make no difference.

if i was given a child then no matter what they have i will love them, its very sad to think that termination can be the result of this test, i happen to know many young children with downs syndrom that live a very happy and normal life

thank you so much for your post, you have given me the confidence to say no to this test

thank you

Tell xx

 

[mrsblue]

I have wondered about this as well - I'm not sure how knowing early would make me do anything differently, and if the tests are invasive then is it just us playing god? Not sure what I'll do, will chat to the midwife.

 

[So_hopeful81]

Hi!
You are not alone. I said exactly the same as you at my booking in appointment. I had previously had 2 miscarriages over the previous year, and as a result I just felt that I didn't want any more stress!
Unfortunately, at my dating scan, the sonographer decided to express his worry of a large nuchal fold. At that point, I felt like I needed to know the other half I the story. I did have the bloods then, and then went on to have a CVS (Invasive test) and was informed that my baby does infact have downs syndrome.
I have to be honest, I am grateful now that I know, and I'm fully prepare for my beautiful little girls' arrival! However, I do question whether the medical profession do take our wishes completely seriously!

You are doing nothing wrong! Stay string and positive and make sure that your OH and you get exactly what you want for your LO! Xxxx

 

[lesleyann23]

I am the same as you I didn't with my first and not with this I will love this child down syndrome will not change that.

Sent from my HTC Wildfire S A510e using Tapatalk

 

[bute69]

Quite agree with you. I declined the Downs tests, as I'd never be able to forgive myself if I miscarried because I'd had an invasive test. Also, I would never consider a termination whatever the result, so not a lot of point in having it. OH totally agrees. We will love this baby whatever.

 

[NinjaKitty]

I came to the decision that although I would not terminate regardless of downs testing results BUT I'd rather know and be prepared.

I came back as low risk and didn't take testing any further. I would have had the more invasive test if I had been high risk. My reasoning is the testing isnt just for downs. There are more serious chromosomal conditions which can also be picked up. Ones where the baby is at high risk of stillbirth or death soon after birth. Quite simply I would want to know. I would want the healthcare professionals to know so they could help my baby if possible.

This merely how I would react. It is definitely a personal choice and you must do what you are comfortable with. I do not think that there is a right and wrong answer to this one.

 

[tinytoes]

I was never offered one , you arent in Ireland unless there is a high risk (as in you are over 40) or something shows on your scan . If I had been offered I think I would still pass it up as it wouldnt matter one bit and the test is invasive isnt it ? Mind you if it were a non invasive safe test i'd go ahead just so I could be prepared x

 

[BabyBrain]

A friend of mine at work has recently terminated her Down's baby. Not because of the Down's itself but because her poor little one had so many other things wrong connected to the Down's that there was very little chance of her surviving the pregnancy let alone the birth and life beyond.
The severity of DS can be such that babies sometimes don't survive and I think in this case she did the right thing.
Every outlook is different, as is every case of DS as the severity is rarely the same between two babies xxxxxxxx

 

[misscrazycooki]

I had the tests done on my last pregnancy, I didn't care if he had it but just rather'd know so I could prepare myself x
All my tests came back low and no risk so it was good

 

[aliciabubba]

i had the tests done on monday, id rather be prepared! I would never terminate if he or she did have DS..its just better to know. xx

 

[kirstymichelle]

I never tested with my DD and wouldn't again in future x x x

 

[Rachaellius]

I decided not find out either as it wouldn't make a difference as to whether I continued with the pregnancy or not. I agree with so_hopeful though I really dont think they take much notice of you sometimes. The sonographer at my 12 week scan said to me that she was trying to see but baby was wriggling around too much. To which I said 'well I requested that I didn't want to know anyway!'. She seemed a bit put out by it and said 'well I can't see anyway!'.

I was so angry afterwards, at her for making me think about it at my scan when I'd previously been asked and said no!

 

[Bee7]

This is such a complex subject. I chose to take the test (and any other test that was offered to me) because if there are any problems with baby then i'd rather know and be prepared and able to make an informed decision. I did question myself after having it - if the results had come back high risk then there would have been another decision to make - whether or not to have the invasive procedure that can give you a yes/no answer, or to spend the rest of my pregnancy worrying and unsure. Luckily, my results came back as low risk so i wasn't put in this horrible position. But as we know, there is still a chance that every baby can have problems.
xx

 

[furbaby]

I want to say thanks guys for responding- it has been really interesting to hear both sides for and against testing - obviously for me and some others testing isn't an option it's not something we want and for others it is, I can see an argument for both

For me I won't worry about my baby having downs as I haven't requested the test I don't know if i am low risk or high risk so for now I will perhaps even naively presume I am low risk. It helps that my husband agrees with me completely and said he doesn't want to know because we will deal with whatever happens together

For the women who have had the tests although not a choice I would make I think it is very brave and so_hopeful I hope your little girl is healthy bouncing baby XD x

 

[So_hopeful81]

Thanks Furbaby!
At the moment, with the extensive testing that the docs have done, everything in our little poppet seems 'normal'. She has had some serious scanning on her organs particularly her heart, and they are certain that she doesn't have any thing wrong with her.
My friend had scans and was seen as low risk. She had a wonderful little boy who had downs syndrome. The sonographer had not picked up on any of his problems, including a serious heart problem. He is just as love as her other children are. Lid the scans had picked up on his heart defect, the docs would have suggested that there was little chance of his survival. 5 years on, he is absolutely fine. He has had heart surgery and survived it! He runs around like a little loony, but is brilliant!!!
My decision came with the thought in my mind that I wanted to know so that I am prepared and ready to be the best mummy I can be to my little girl. And also if I carried a chil and then something happened after birth, my love would not wilt!
I hope that your decision is respected!
Big hugs xxxx

 

[Jo1985]

Me and OH agree we would not terminate for DS. Although he said he isn't bothered about finding out, I would like to know so I can be prepared if need be and give the little 'un the best start. OH agreed after all. First scan in a week!

 

[stephj25]

I agree with you, I opted out of having the test as it isn't going to make a difference to me whether the baby is born with downs or a disability etc. I would like to be prepared if there is anything unusual but I'd rather not take the risk of a possible miscarriage to find out and wait until the birth. This baby is a miracle, no matter how it's born

 

[VikkiR]

I wanted the test, the bloods came back 1:150 chance, right on the border of high risk. I did not want to bring a DS child into the world and particularly at my age where there was a chance there would be no one to look after her once my husband and I had died. I had a CVS at 14+6 and could have waited a week for an amnio which statistically is safer. I opted for the CVS there and then as I knew I wouldn't have the courage to go back for an amnio. Thankfully, all is OK, I really do not know whether or not I could have gone through with a termination.

 

[Luckybean27]

My sisters friend has had 2 babies and she is 26. On both tests she was high risk. First one about 1:12 and second 1:7 however she decided to have no further test with either as she didn't mind having a ds child. both babies were born without ds. I think like most women have said I wouldn't terminate but I would like to be prepared.
Whatever decision you make is the right decision for you hun xxx