Amnio tests and bleeding

[jellybean21]

I am so upset and distressed. I found out from my NT scan that everything looked normal, but my blood test has come back which places me in a high risk category for my baby to have Downs Syndrome. I saw my OB yesterday who has recommended an amnio, but I can't do this until wk 15 (I am currently 12.5 wks), and to be honest I am still not sure whether I should go through with it (as it has risks of its own). At lunch today I started spot bleeding (only a little) but enough to scare me. I called my OB, she said to rest and if it gets heavier to call her back.

I am so scared, emotional, and afraid for my little one. I am afraid I may be losing her/him.

Has anyone had personal experience with amnio testing? I feel so alone.

[TigerBlueBear]

I have not had an amnio but my tests for my 2nd child showed a higher than my age risk for Downs too.

I found out that the risk of loosing a baby from amnio was roughly 1:200 and the risk of loosing them from CVS was 1:100.

I spoke to a few people about it as DH and I had agreed that if we had a child with DS we would have a termination. However one friend who helped us made two very important points:

1. If the child has DS are you going to do anything? If you will keep the child regardless then why risk loosing it with a test. If you just want to know to prepare, then the test is not necessary because Downs markers are generally very obvious at the 18-20wk scan.

2. Check your own statistics. If your risk is 1:250 this also means that your have a 249:250 chance of having a baby who does not have DS.

As it turned out for us the risk of loosing a healthy baby was higher than the risk of having one with DS. Ultimately we decided we would only go ahead with the test if the risk of having a DS child was greater than the risk of loosing a healthy baby. When we got the combined figures back our risk was 1:265 so we decided not to have the test.

Interestingly enough although he did not have DS he has NF1 which is a condition that cannot be picked up antenatally. So it just goes to show that a clear test is no indicator of a "perfect" baby anyway - although I would not swap him for the world.

My SIL and brother had twins one of whom had DS and all their tests came back perfectly normal, in fact they did not pick up the DS until my nephew was 4mths old!!

If you do want to be tested and want it done earlier then ask for CVS I believe this can be done from 10-14wks.

I hope your bleeding stops, that must be more worrying than anything at the moment.

[aardvark]

I had an amnio with #3 last year, and it was fine. I didn't have the blood work done, I was going to have a CVS done instead of the NT scan, as I was determined to terminate if there was any abnormality. They could not do the CVS as the placenta was on the back wall of the uterus, so it was almost impossible to access for the test, so I was scheduled for an amnio a few weeks later instead.

I had to take the day off work following the amnio, and I had to take it easy for a few days, but otherwise, it wasn't any drama at all.

[*Sparkles*]

First of all, :hugs: to you as this is not a nice situation to be in.
We were concerned initially about DS as I am an older mum so was immediately in a higher risk pregnancy. We had testing for DS and other neural tube defects (eg Spina Bifida). I did alot of research on the internet about DS and me and DH decided that if the baby had this we would not terminate as although it is not a very nice condition, a child can still have a good quality of life and can still integrate into normal schools and society. However, we decided that if the baby had Spina Bifida or something as serious, we would have had an amnio to confirm.
A friend of mine in Perth had an amnio with her first child and everything was fine and the pregnancy was not affected. But as previously mentioned, there is a risk of M/C.
My advice would be to do some research on DS and decided if you would terminate. If not, then wait until your 20 week scan to know for sure so you can be prepared.
:fingerscrossed: hoping it is a false alarm.

[Dannii79]

Sorry to hear about your situation:hugs:

When I was pregnant with DS1, they didn't have the blood tests so it wasn't until our 18 week scan we were told our baby had downs. Sent to Brisbane for more scans in which we were told they were borderline and recommended that we have an amnio done.:crying: The Dr told us that the risk of losing the baby after an amnio was lower then the chances that the baby would have downs. Anyway, test results all came back normal.

If you choose to continue with the pregnancy reguardless of the results, then don't get the amnio done, unless you want to be prepared with an accurate result. (jmo)

[Lunar]

:hugs: to you Jelly Bean!
I had an amnoi with DD1 who has D/S. I was more or less forced to have it done (long story...) but when the results came back positive for d/s I still decided to continue with the pregnancy and keep her no matter what. I was already sooo much in love with her, I'd felt her grow and move inside me. My thoughts were that I loved her before I knew she had Down Syndrome so why shouldn't I love her just the same after finding out..? I did not have an amnio with DD2 just the NT scan and that was all I was ever going to have regardless of that result. Life for someone with D/S is not as bad as what some may tell you. Ppl know what life was like for them 40yrs ago when they didn't have the services and support. My DD is going to a mainstreem school and will complete her HSC and go on play an active role in society. She isn't going to be a scientist or a doctor or Prime minister of Australia, but lets face it.... how many 'normal' kids go on to lead those lives...???
The bottom line is that the decision is all yours to make. I think you have already made up your mind what to do when you said you were very upset when you started bleeding and the thought of losing your baby made you very upset. What does this say??.... that you LOVE your baby and you don't want any harm to come to him/her.
If you want to know anything or just chat PM me anytime.
:hugs:

[jellybean21]

Thankyou to you all for responding. I know I still have to make a decision, and I am still scared and afraid, but to hear your words of encouragement and advice has really helped me. Thank you for taking the time to respond.

[TigerBlueBear]

When I was pregnant with DS1, they didn't have the blood tests (jmo)

Danni I was so surprised to read this. My youngest is the same age as your oldest and we had the blood tests then, but more so I actually had the blood tests with my DS2 who is now 7 - that was back in 1998.

I was up in Townsville with DS2 and they had to send the bloods to Brisbane for testing. That is terrible that you were put through all of that when it probably could have been done local.

[Dannii79]

Danni I was so surprised to read this. My youngest is the same age as your oldest and we had the blood tests then, but more so I actually had the blood tests with my DS2 who is now 7 - that was back in 1998.

I was up in Townsville with DS2 and they had to send the bloods to Brisbane for testing. That is terrible that you were put through all of that when it probably could have been done local.

I hadn't heard about the blood tests until a friend fell pregnant with her 2nd DD who is almost 8mths old. I didn't even have the blood tests with DS2. When she told me about the tests I thought at the time how much easier that would have been for me instead of going through the scans and the amnio. Hmmm now that's got me wondering why my Ob never sent me for the blood tests in the first place, especially when they have been around since BEFORE I even had my first baby.