is genetic counceling worth it?

Re: is genetic counceling worth it?

I think it depends on what you are doing it for...age, history of m/c's??

Re: is genetic counceling worth it?

Is it the same as genetic testing? I had the testing done.

Re: is genetic counceling worth it?

We found out through an amnio that our baby had D/S. Now we're starting from scratch.
however, my OB told us that it was a fluke and that neither DH nor I are carriers. I just feel we should have all the info becasue we begin TTC again. DH feels a nervous worrier like me does not need any futher additional worrying going on in my head and he feels that counseling will only give us info for me to worry about.
not sure what to do?

Re: is genetic counceling worth it?

We went through genetic testing because my husband is Jewish and there is a whole panel of genetic tests available for people of Jewish descent. Otherwise, we wouldn't have done any testing. My understanding is that Downs can happen to anyone and is not a genetic thing, so if, knowing your history, your doctor doesn't think it's necessary you might skip it.

Re: is genetic counceling worth it?

thanks

Re: is genetic counceling worth it?

Re: is genetic counceling worth it?

I went for genetic counseling twice. (one for each pregnancy) What they do is take a family history from both sides and any possible illness/ailment that any family member had and they discuss your risks for certain things. While D/S can happen to anyone, there are other things that happen to certain ethnic groups (tay sachs, sickle cell anemia, etc.) Usually they do this before you have your amnio to help in the decision making process. If you are already 100% about getting another amnio when the time comes then maybe you might opt for not getting the genetic counseling. It is not that bad at all, but it really comes down to what you and DH want. Good Luck

Re: is genetic counceling worth it?

It was worth it to me for peace of mind but only because of my culture/religion.

My mother had a child with Down Syndrome the year before I was born who passed away at 10 weeks. She had three healthy children before this child and one after (me). Age is generally a factor, but not always as DS happens in younger parents as well.

I too had the Ashkenazi Jewish genetic testing done and Down's is not one of the disorders they test for. It is the result of an extra chromosome. I am pretty sure that Down Syndrome can only be diagnosed after a child is conceived and is not a disorder where a parent is a carrier. There have been studies that say that women who have a child with DS have difficulties in how they metabolize folic acid. My doctor told us that my mother's experience with my brother was irrelevant to my ability to have a healthy child.

This is what my genetic testing looked for:

"Tay-Sachs disease, Canavan disease, familial dysautonomia, Niemann-Pick (type A) disease, Fanconi anemia (group C), Bloom syndrome, Gaucher disease (the non-neuronopathic type), mucolipidosis type IV, and glycogen storage disease type 1. They also test for cystic fibrosis because it is often included in an Ashkenazi heritage screening panel, since it occurs with the same frequency in European Jews as in members of the non-Jewish Caucasian population (approximately 1/3,000)."

If any amount of testing will give you the peace ofm ind you need, Id say go for it.

Message edited 7/13/2006 11:56:47 AM.

Re: is genetic counceling worth it?

Depends on what you would do with the information. Some people know they would have the baby no matter what the tests said, in which case the testing isn't worth it. If you would want the opportunity to prepare for a special needs child in advance or to terminate if the problems would be severe, then counseling makes sense to assess risks.

I found out I was a carrier for cystic fibrosis. We tested my husband, and fortunately he wasn't a carrier so we were safe. (phew, although I'll have to warn my daughter when she is ready to have children, since she has a 50/50 chance of being a carrier).

Re: is genetic counceling worth it?

Your asking about the counseling right? Not the testing part. Or am I confused

Re: is genetic counceling worth it?

Counseling and testing.
DH and I decided we're going to skip it. why makes ourselves worry about an additional thing when I'm SURE we'll worry enough when I do get PG again and we have to get through 9 months.

thanks for the words girls