Scan - Down Syndrome Testing

[CMcDx]

Hi,

Just want everyone's thoughts on down's syndrome testing at their dating scan?

I wouldn't change my mind about the pregnancy if my baby had down's, would go ahead regardless. But does it benefit me in any way to know? And could they find out at a later stage anyway, with lower risk to the baby?

What are the advantages of knowing/Not knowing? Is it just so you can decide to go ahead with the pregnancy?

C x

 

[ts2573]

I want to know because it gives me time to prepare myself both mentally and emotionally.
Downs, like any disability, isn't an easy thing but I think time to process before baby arrives might make things a little easier after birth.

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[Hoping for no2]

It's not only Down syndrome that you get a risk factor for but also Edwards syndrome and patau syndrome which are both very serious and unfortunately carry high mortality rates. We were low risk for all 3 syndromes but had we been high risk for any I would have opted for further testing so we could be prepared X

 

[Loveandpeace]

I have been wondering this too. Can they test even if you aren't in the higher risk age bracket? My scan is on Thursday but I'll only be 11 + 1 and dont know if they will be able to tell by then?

 

[Wednesday]

For me, it may change whether I continued with the pregnancy or not, so this is why I had testing at the scan. The testing involves a measurement being taken during the scan and then you have a blood test, so pretty noninvasive.

I guess you need to decide whether you'd prefer to know or not. If you wouldn't end the pregnancy, then would you rather know you were carrying a baby with genetic abnormalities before giving birth? Xx

 

[cossie13]

I had it done with my first and will be asking for it again this time. Although with my first the sonographer asked if we planned on having the invasive testing (where they shove a needle into your womb) and I said no. She replied with "well what's the point in having this test then?" - I thought that was rather rude! I wanted it doing because it's nice to know. It helps prepare yourself just in case. In the end mine came back as 1 in 4400 so really low risk and they didn't recommend any further testing anyway!

 

[Merry]

At my booking appointment yesterday the midwife asked if we wanted the screening at the scan. I said that I wouldn't have an invasive test even if the results were high risk, but as others have said it's possibly better to be prepared if there is a potential problem.

 

[Loveandpeace]

I am glad this has been brought up as I need to discuss this with DH before Thursday so we are both on the same page in making decisions.

 

[Beauandhamish]

I wasn't bothered about the downs testing but wanted it for the other two syndromes. Unfortunately at my scan the baby was laid awkward so he couldn't get the measurements for it anyway.

 

[Loula]

I will be having this because it will make a difference to my pregnancy. I have downs in my immediate family x

 

[babyscotcher]

We were agreed that we would not end the pregnancy even if they were high risk for one of the above syndromes however were planning to have the measurements to prepare ourselves just in case. However as things happened we couldn't have the measurement done as he was being difficult during the scan and it took her 3 attempts just to get the normal measurements. We could have had a more thorough blood test (not the harmony test) that would still have given us an indication of risk but was not as accurate so we chose not to.

I think it very much depends on how much it would matter to you if your baby was high risk. Also when given a risk factor it is still only an indication. Even if you had a 1:10 risk factor of having downs there is still a 9:10 chance that they haven't therefore if you are not wanting to have the more invasive amnio or pay for a harmony test then it may not be worth the worry.

 

[CMcDx]

I was just thinking, would it be come more apparent later in the pregnancy if the baby had any of the syndromes or is the only way to determine this to get the test done at the dating scan?
I know there's risk involved so just wondering what others thought.

Thanks for your input, still don't know what I'll do. My partner doesn't want to test so I don't think we will in the end up.

 

[xSebbiesMumx]

I rejected all tests! I have a weird phobia of needles and as soon as she said a needle through my stomach that was it! To be honest even if the scan did reveal my baby has downs or pataus or whatever It wouldn't change my mind about anything! ..to me it's still a baby regardless of medical disabilities

 

[TORino]

The test offered at 12 weeks is not a diagnostic.

It gives a risk score based on 4 parts. The nuchal measurement, beta hcg levels, papp a levels and maternal age at conception.

It is done using ultrasound and blood analysis.

The score would then prompt further investigation. Anything higher than 1:150 is classed as high risk and a diagnostic test would be offered. The diagnostic tests all carry a level of risk of miscarriage which is low but still present.

I had this test done, and whilst it has provided me with a low risk score on the trisomies, it has flagged up a low level of Papp a which can be indicative of placenta problems later in the pregnancy (and is a marker for aneuploidy) which had I not had the screening I wouldn't know. The pathway for low papp a includes taking aspirins and having extra growth scans to check for iugr, blood flow problems which could potentially spot problems early and prevent fetal demise if the issue is severe.

I've decided to pay for the NIPT test (which gives 99.9% detection rate) as this low Papp a issue is clouding my pregnancy and I need to know if I'm growing a baby with a chromosome issue as it would affect my decision to continue with the pregnancy.

 

[Merry]

It's worth remembering it's a screening, not a test, at the 12 week scan - measurements taken from the scan plus blood tests from the mother. It's completely harmless to the baby. The invasive and more risky element is if you get a high risk result and want more information, that's when they take blood or amniotic fluid (with a small risk of miscarriage.) I wouldn't choose this but the screening is perfectly safe.

 

[thea]

I had my booking today and was told to go away and think about the screening if I'd like it before I have my bloods draw in two weeks .. I know with my daughter I had the downs screening and was put at low risk percentage but when my mum was pregnant with me she was told I was high risk of being Down's syndrome .. 1-50 I think ! They sent her away and told her a termination would be best ! Two weeks later they retested and it went to 1-200 and thankfully she didn't abort I was born fully healthy no problems and no Down's syndrome .. something to keep in mind xx

 

[Loopylou1980]

Ive had this screening done in all my pregnancys & i`am having it again this time too, I like to think if i found out i was carrying a child with downs it wouldnt make any difference & i would want to carry on with the pregnancy but you wouldnt know how you would feel in that situation unless you were in it. I think if you dont have the screening there may be a chance they could pick up on some things at the 20 week scan i`am sure ive read that somewhere, These screenings are a very personal choice but i would rather know than not know because at least then we have the choice & you can prepare yourself X

 

[mrs_cookie]

I denied all tests last time round and will again this time. To us,the results wouldn't change our wanting to continue the pregnancy and I thought if I got high risk it would just make me worry and stress the whole pregnancy when it might not even happen anyway as the results are just a chance of it happening. For me as a worrier it was easier to assume all is fine and deal with it if and when it happens xx

 

[Ljd401]

We were given a 1:23 chance of Down's last pregnancy. We then had the Panorama test which came back as low risk.