Should I take the AFP test even though I won't have an amnio if anything comes back wrong?

Question

I am thinking about taking the AFP test, but even if the results show there's a chance something is wrong, I won't have an amnio. I am 29 and this is my second baby. I am coming out of a miscarriage from November and just the odds that the amnio carries for miscarriage scares me so I won't have one no matter what. I will get a level 2 ultrasound soon. Should I still take the AFP blood test?

Answer 1

I would. Just the chance that something is wrong is scary - and it is better to be prepared. A level two u/s can pinpoint certain abnormalities. If something is wrong, you can deliver at a hospital that can best care for that condition.
Also, you will probably get good results and be reassured!
Make sure you take the test the week recommended; the results change from week to week.

Answer 2

I am 24 weeks and I did not have the AFP screening done. It is a choice that only you can make. "MY" theory was this, if the test comes back positive for down syndrome, it is only 20% accurate. I thought the same way way you think, I will not have an amnio because of the risk of miscarriage which is said to be only 3%, but someone has to fit that 3% right? Therefore, "if" the AFP showed any problems, the only confirmation of the problem would have been the amnio (which I would reject), and as a result, I would then spend the rest of my pregnancy worried about my baby. And I am already worried enough as it is, the last thing I need is another false worry. I also had the experience that my sister, my cousin, and my friend all three received results indicating the baby could have down syndrome. They all did the amnios, and came back false for down syndrome. Unfortunately, my cousin lost her baby girl at 4 1/2 months, only days after the amnio. I'm not trying to scare you, but when it hits this close to home, you can imagine how afraid I was to go through any of it.
I had the level 2 ultrasound performed. It can tell you if the baby has spina bifida, down syndrome (by the bone structure of the baby), anencephaly, hydrocephaly, if the baby's intestines are inside his/her body, and if he/she has any heart problems, and any other structural defects such as missing limbs, etc. Is it 100%? No, it isn't, but neither is the AFP. In fact, the level 2 is more accurate, (in my opinion) because they are not going by your HCG level and your gestational age (which could be wrong), they are actually looking at your baby.
These are my thoughts on the situation. I did a lot of research on this subject, and everything I included you could find anywhere on the internet and in your pregnancy books.
Congrats on your new little angel, and I wish the best! Hope I helped and did not make this worse for you instead.

Answer 3

I would definatly do the AFP test. I had it done and found out something was wrong. I was told there was no chance for my baby to survive. It would either die in utero or shortly after birth. Needless to say I gave birth to a stillborn baby girl. But not all illnesses that are tested with the AFP will result in death. I say its good to know because then when you deliver there will be no surprises and in the event it needs emergency surgery right after birth they are ready to go. Usually this test is out of pocket but well worth the cost. Also even if you get unfavorable results you dont have to do an amnio. Im against amnio as well for several reasons. Definatly do the level 2 ultra sound, i did that too and it was nice seeing my baby move in me...even if it was for the last time. At any rate, Im sorry for your loss and congrats on the 2nd one. Im sure everything will turn out fine. We are going to start on #2 very soon. Good luck.

Answer 4

With my first son I had the AFP test done to be told that he would most likely be born with down's syndrome, me and his father decided not to get the Amnio done because we didn't want to risk losing him. We decided it wasn't worth the risk of losing him. We waited four more mths for him to be born, mind you stressing the entire time that we was going to have down's syndrome and he didn't have it after all even though they said the chances were good he would. With my second son and my daughter I decided not to get the test done, it was worth the stress and I knew I would not get the amnio. I have talked to tons of mothers, friends, and other people about this test. Including doctors and reading up on it and most say that they were told there would be a pretty good chance that there baby had down's or spina bifida and the baby didn't. It has something to do with the mother and if you don't plan on getting the Amnio, my thought is why bother. You are the only one who can make that decision though. For myself I decided not to bother, because either way I was having my child and it's not worth a miscarriage. Good Luck & Congrats!!!

Answer 5

You should definitely have the AFP test if you don't want the amnio. The risk of miscarriage with an amnio is only 1 in 200 or 1 in 400, depending on the expertise of the doctor performing it. I just read that those risk factors are actually smaller than originally reported because so many doctors have more experience performing them. Anyway, I have had one with both pregnancies because I am over 35. I had no problems. Best wishes.

Answer 6

I didn't. I did some research and false positives are too high. I am already worried because this is my first pregnancy and like you I won't have an amino. So I opted out of it. I didn't want to stress especially if the test came out positive that something was wrong and then it all turned out to be fine. I don't need the added stress. Good luck and congrats!!!

Answer 7

u really dont need to take AFP Test its only if they detect something wrong with your blood or detect something wrong with the ultrasound or if you have any down syndrome in your family