Has any pregnant women had the screening for birth defects?

Question

I am 10 weeks pregnant, and my doctor said that at about 15 weeks they do an optional birth defects screening. The way she made it seem was that it's better not to get the test. Has anyone gotten or not gotten this test? And why or why not? My doctor said sometimes it comes out as a false positive and then you stress yourself out for your whole pregnancy for nothing.

I am 24 years old.

Answer 1

I chose not to have the test done for several reasons. First of all I work with children with special needs, and I have 2 children with Downs Syndrome where the test came out negative, so we know for those mothers it was incorrect. There are also false positives. The follow up to that test is an amnio. which I would never do because it has a small chance of miscarriage, and it wasn't worth it to me. The important things to me were spinabifida, and the heart defect that usually goes with Downs. because of the medical needs right after birth. Both are also detected on an ultrasound so I knew I didn't have to worry about that. The only thing I didn't know for sure was if my baby would have Downs Syndrome, without the heart defect that usually goes with it. Like I said I before the only way to have known that for sure would be with the amnio, so since I wouldn't have gotten it, if I had a positive result. I would have gone throughout my pregnancy being worried but not knowing for sure. I would never have an abortion so that wasn't an issue. Everything was fine with my daughter, and I plan to skip the test next time too.

My doctor was totally supportive of me not doing it. He said the important things to him are the medical issues that are detected by sonogram, so the test isn't helpful at all to him. I have several friends who skipped the test as well.

Answer 2

You should certainly consider doing this testing. What your doctor is offering you is likely called the AFP test of the triple screen. This test looks at levels of 3 or 4 hormones and proteins in your blood. Based on these levels, the test will predict the likelihood that this baby has Down syndrome, spina bifida or trisomy 18 (Edward syndrome). The results come in a ratio format eg. 1/10, 1/50, 1/365, 1/1200, etc. Anyone who scores greater than ~1/200 typically is called 'screen positive' and further testing is warranted, including a good level 2 ultrasound and perhaps an amnio. However, please understand that even if the result is "screen positive" with a 1/100 ratio, it is still 99/100 that the baby is healthy. 99%!!

Bottom line, if you hope to avoid an amnio (assuming you're over 35 yrs old), do the AFP test - just a screen. Unless you would not want this info b/c you plan on continuing the pregnancy either way. I think that there is such a thing as too much info available to pregnant women.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

I had the screening with one and not the other. Unless you have a reason for thinking there maybe defects (inherited traits, exposed to measles, etc.) then I wouldn't have it done. I believe that if its the same test that I had done, the doctor uses a needle to extract a little fluid from the area that the baby is in then tests that fluid for irregularities. I don't remember it hurting, its been 6 years though, if I remember I think it just felt like a lot of pressure, everyone is different though. But like I said unless your doctor or you suspect an defects (heartbeat iregular, size iregular for time of pregnancy, irregular ultrasound, etc.) I wouldn't take the test. The extra stress of a false positive is not worth it. There are other tests I believe throughout your pregnancy that doctors can run to keep an eye on your baby's health. Just talk to your doctor about it in detail. Congratulations on your baby. Good Luck. Children are great!

Answer 4

I chose not to do mine. I asked my doctor if anything could be done if the tests cam back positive and he told me no, so I didn't see the reason to do it. Also, the tests are not 100% accurate, so I didn't want to take it, have a chance of wrong results and then worry about it for the rest of my pregnancy. I just figured than if something was wrong, but nothing could be done anyway, I would just wait and then love my child no matter what. He came out fine, by the way...

Answer 5

I am 34 and had one done with this pregnancy. It was an option but I chose to have to done even though I was not worried about the outcome. Now I know they say if you are over 35 then they will screen you because at that age there are chances of birth defects but I know women over 35 who have delivered healthy babies.

Answer 6

I'm not doing any of them, I will be 37 upon my child's arrival. I don't know if the outcome would change my mind as to whether or not to continue the pregnancy. And I certainly don't want to put my pregnancy at any higher risks. I tried 14 years to get pregnant and gave up last year when the docs told me there was no hope.

Answer 7

I go today actually for mine! I am 38 and my Dr said it's routine for women over 35 now..... he said these tests are to help determine if there is any problem......and to decided whether or not an amnio should be done or not.....I am at 13 1/2 weeks......I wasn't sure I was even going to do it....but I decided that my Dr has the experience and I trust him....so I am going, Wish me luck!

Answer 8

I think most women have this testing. It is not big deal. Get it done. Chances are it will confirm that all is normal and you can have peace of mind for the remaining 25 weeks.

Answer 9

No, I did not care of the outcome b/c no matter what I was going to have my baby whether she was perfect or not and love her uncoditionally. Why add worry during your pregnancy when it's not even 100% accurate?