i'm pregnant & i wanted some opinions

Hi!
I'm due in August & was told my chances of having a baby with down syndrome is high & she may have a minor heart condition. So I could use some advice from the experts (you ladies )

I always thought I would never want to go for an amniocentesis because it wouldn't change my decision about having the baby (just my feeling on it)
Also, I don't want to worry about things that haven't happened & may never happen.
On the other hand, maybe it is better to be prepared.
So, I was wondering, looking back, would you have liked to know if there was a problem (if you didn't know) or would you have wished you didn't know because it caused more anxiety?
I know it's a tough one & each situation is different but I could just use some opponions if you wouldn't mind & if you got through all this

Re: i'm pregnant & i wanted some opinions

I personally wouldn't want to know for sure until the birth, and would just accept what I was blessed with when he/she arrives. On the other hand, it would be advantageous to know because you can research, etc. but I suppose you could just do that anyway to prepare yourself just in case.

..and I commend you for being okay with raising a special needs child because so many terminate when they hear downs.

Re: i'm pregnant & i wanted some opinions

AJs numbers came back very high for down syndrome and a hole in the heart too... i knew that regardless i would not terminate the pregnancy but i felt i needed to know so i could prepare.

i had the amnio, it came back perfectly normal, so of course we were relieved. but on the flip side, he is autistic and that is something we didnt prepare for. (sorry OT)

also remember it is very hard to get life insurance for DS children.

Re: i'm pregnant & i wanted some opinions

I haven't been in this situation but my thoughts were very similar to yours-I know I would never terminate a pregnancy and any baby I had would be a complete blessing.

My friend found out while pregnant that the chances were high that her child would have Down Syndrome. She said she didn't want to have the amnio for the same reasons I had. Her doctor convinced her to because if the baby were to be born with a heart defect or other medical issues that might go along with Down Syndrome, it would be best to have a team in place and ready to go in the event they were needed right after birth.

Good luck in your decision and congratulations on your pregnancy!!

Re: i'm pregnant & i wanted some opinions

I don't have direct experience, but stories of friends

1. a friend was told her dd had a 1:20 chance of DS. She had the amnio and found out that the baby didn't have it. She was very happy she had the test, so she didn't have to worry for the remainder of the pregnancy.

2. a friend had a baby with a heart valve issue and she decided to deliver at a specific hospital so she could get the best care and could be with the baby after delivery at the same hospital.

3. My cousin is a neonatalogist and she maintains that it's best to have the right doctors and specialists in the waiting room at delivery. Rather than finding out after birth and waiting to get a team together.


It's a lot of food for thought. Did you have a full anatomy scan? That might help you make/feel good about your decision.

Re: i'm pregnant & i wanted some opinions

I'm not sure what I would do.

Re: i'm pregnant & i wanted some opinions

Thanks for the advice. We are going for a fetal echocardiogram next week so when we get the results I guess we can decide if we want to do the amnio or not

Re: i'm pregnant & i wanted some opinions

I was 40 when I had my DS. I chose not to have an amnio. I knew I wouldn't terminate and didn't want even the small risk of miscarriage that an amnio might bring.

I did have pretty good ultrascreen results, however, so I wasn't really worried.

I am not sure in your position what I would do. I think if the risk was just for Down's Syndrome, I might not have an amnio, but if there was a risk of something that could be treated in utero or that I would want specialists at the birth, I would consider it.

Re: i'm pregnant & i wanted some opinions

Re: i'm pregnant & i wanted some opinions

I would have the amnio.
When I was pregnant with my son, I had a 1 in 10 chance he would have trisomy 13/18. If you're not familiar with that, the baby usually doesn't survive past the first month.
I had an amnio because I was going to terminate the pregnancy if it was positive for trisomy 13/18. It's not a bad experience and I preferred knowing what I was up against. Thankfully, he was healthy!
It's such a personal choice but for me, I was stressed out beyond imagination until I got that call he was fine.
Best of luck!!

Re: i'm pregnant & i wanted some opinions

I went through an amnio with #2. I wouldn't terminate a pregnancy, but I needed to have time to prepare myself if it was going to be that way.