The AFP test....have any moms decided not to take this test?

Question

This is the Alpha-FetaProtein screening that is done from 15-20 weeks. A blood sample is taken, and according to that, they tell you whether or not your baby may have down syndrome, Anencephaly (missing brain), or Spina Bifida. The thing is, even if my baby has any of these "defects", I will not have an abortion. Not to mention that out of 10 people, only one person has accurate results. The worst part, to confirm the test, they perform an amnio. The chances of you losing your baby after the amnio are greater than that of the AFP results being accurate. So, you may be putting a perfectly healthy baby at risk for miscarriage for no reason at all.
Have any other moms decided against this test? I am 15 weeks 5 days pregnant, and I don't want to do it because I will not an abortion even if something is wrong with my baby. Any comments/suggestions? What do you ladies think?

I have not made ANY judgements on anyone. Everyone is completely free to make any and every decision they want to make. I am simply speaking my mind about the subject, last time I checked, that was legal. Either way, I did not say anything about any other moms who have done it, or have not. My sister, my cousin and my close friend all three had this test done and went through the scare of their lives because it came back positive for down syndrome. I think you need to read the question over lady, because I did not even come close to offending anyone, and if I did, then my appologies as those are not my intentions. You do not belong on yahoo answers.

The previous details was for dances

Answer 1

I decided not to have this test done because even if it would have came back that any of these conditions were a possibility I wouldn't do the amnio. 1 in 200 pregnancies miscarry because of an amnio. So there was no point getting worried and stressing myself out for the remainder of my pregnancy. Like you I wouldn't have aborted no matter what the findings were. If someone was willing to also take the chance on the amnio then they could research whatever condition their baby was found to have and be educated on it before he/she were born.

Answer 2

I had this test done with all three of my kids and I feel that if something had shown up I would have chose not to abort. However, some of the things that this test can detect, such as Spina Bifida can be corrected while you are still pregnant without terminating the pregnancy. The only reason that you would need the amnio done is if you showed an elevated risk for one of the conditions tested for. Weather or not to do this test is a personal decision and should be left for each woman to make for herself, but please realize that there are other reasons to find out, other than knowing if there may be a reason to consider an abortion, and sometimes something can be done to positively effect your baby's chances at a "normal" life.

Answer 3

I would say have the test done...I had the AFP and it came out normal...I had another blood test along with a nuchal fold and the blood results came out elevated...I had the amnio (by the way there is less than a 1% chance of miscarriage ) and was told that I had very low odds of having a Downs baby, but I went ahead and had it done anyway...turns out the baby had downs....the baby never made it to my 6 month of pregnancy...dont forget that Downs is not just a mental disorder there is also risk of heart defects bowel defects along with a number of other defects other than mental retardation....you should take the test regardless espc. if you want to keep the baby...because you will need to see a cardiologist so they can check the babys heart and make sure there are no defects because if there are defects there will need to be a pediatric surgeon on call when you deliver in case the baby needs immediate surgery....there are so many things to think about when saying NO to testing...I would defintely without a doubt have the tests done......Good Luck!

Answer 4

I chose not to get the AFP w/ my son after having taken it w/ my daughter.

I found it to be extreamely stressful waiting for the test while I was pregnant w/ my daughter. Some women may be able to be casual, but I tend to be obsessive over tests and such. I knew I would keep my baby no matter what, and that I wasn't open to any further invasive testing (such as amnio). Even though I didn't really believe there was anything wrong w/ my baby, waiting for the test caused me a lot of doubts.

When I was pregnant w/ my son, I decided I would not test. There's no condition I know of that AFP can detect that can be remedied before birth. To my knowledge, any condition which could be treated before birth or would affect the manner of birth would be detected by ultrasound. I knew that amnio was out for me due to the risk involved (just doesn't outweigh the benefits in my opinion unless it's to test for fetal lung maturity when a baby needs to be delivered right away).

I knew that I would NOT terminate a baby's life NO MATTER WHAT. Even if the child would die soon after birth, I would still carry the pregnancy to term and have my child as long as I could. My faith simply does not permit the deliberate direct or indirect taking of innocent life for any reason.

Given all that, I didn't feel the AFP test would have any real value for me. I felt that I would deal w/ anything that came up after birth ad just enjoy my pregnacy. I would rather not know about a birth defect during pregnancy so I can focus on loving my baby and enjoying my pregnancy.

I don't plan to get the AFP w/ any future pregnancies either.

Answer 5

I am 15 weeks and 4 days pregnant. I had my AFP test yesterday. I am not nervous about the results because they are not difinitive. It just shows if you could be at risk. An estimated 80 percent of positive results ended in perfectly healthy babies. The amnio is not a requirement with a positive result. It is completely voluntary. My OB tests ALL patients with an AFP.
,,, and I don't find your question offensive at all

Answer 6

When I was pregnant with my daughter 16 years ago my husband and I decided to pass on the AFP test because, like you, we decided that abortion wasn't an option for us regardless of what the test results were, so why bother having a test, then another test, just to make us worry for the rest of the pregnancy.

I feel that if abortion isn't an option that you are considering, then why take the test? If you are willing to accept and love whatever baby God sends you, then there's no need for tests that only lead to more intrusive and risky tests.

Congratulations on your pregnancy! May you have a healthy and wonderful baby!

Answer 7

I had the test done, even though I knew I would go ahead with the pregnancy no matter what the results were. I think it's important to know because if there is something "wrong" with the baby, you may need more intense prenatal care. It will also help you and your family prepare emotionally if you know ahead of time that your child will have a disability.

Answer 8

Even if you don't intend to abort, it is a good idea, wherever possible, to know if your baby does have any problems so that they can manage your pregnancy more effectively and have a paediatrician or other specialists on standby at the birth if necessary - and if your baby does have any of the congential birth defects you mention this will be necessary.

In addition, if you know your baby and your family are going to be facing any special needs after the birth you can do your research and networking ahead of time to get yourself prepared.

But the choice is yours.

Best of luck.

And by the way - who told you that the results of the AFP test were only accurate one time in ten? This is completely wrong.
And AFP is not a test for a birth defect - it is a screening test, all it does is give in indication of a potential risk, it does not say "your baby has down syndrome" or whatever.

Please do not assume that prenatal testing is always just a way to weed out the perfect babies from the babies that have problems with the intention of aborting the babies who are not perfect. That is a very narrow view indeed. Prenatal tesing can screen for all sorts of things, and as I said, can give parents a good idea of what sorts of things that may be needed if the child does have a special needs issue. Finding out your baby had a problems before it is born, and having all the necessary help on standby at the birth can actually save the child's life. I have been present at many, many births and can testify to this.

Answer 9

never did it, never would.. the vast majority of these "defects" can be determined with an in depth ultrasound. I'm also very against amnios.. being a mom of a preemie due to PPROM (rupture of the membranes), i know many moms who also had PPROM from amnios.. yes its a small percentage but someone has to be that percentage, and they have to live with guilt for the rest of their lives. My last pregnancy i was high risk due to having a preemie the last time, so i saw a perinatologist.. she actually recommended i NOT have the test, b/c i was already very nervous and worried and she said it would just cause me unnecessary worry and to just have a good ultrasound instead.

Answer 10

I turned down all those tests.

Re. "Even if you don't intend to abort, it is a good idea, wherever possible, to know if your baby does have any problems so that they can manage your pregnancy more effectively and have a paediatrician or other specialists on standby at the birth if necessary"...

...uh huh.

The last thing I want is a "managed" pregnancy, thanks

It's quite the fantasy to think doctors can do much about the sorts of things those tests detect, or about much at all in utero, really. (Oh, wait. They can abort...)

The whole thing has more than a whiff of eugenics about it.