Amnio Tests

A few days ago, I went to my monthly exam and my doc told me to think about having an amnio to test for spine deformations and downs syndrome. She explained it's just routine and it's my choice whether to have it done.

She would do bloodwork first and then, only if that came back positive, would we have to do an amnio. If the amnio was positive, there was still only a 2/1000 chance the baby would be born w/ a defect.

(Sorry if I'm repeating myself if people already know this!)

My question is, has anyone done this? What do you think of it?

I am 25 years old, great health, all my initial bloodwork came back perfect. My DH and I are in the mindframe of "God won't give us more than we can handle". And even if we did find out there was something wrong, there's nothing to be done about it until baby is born anyway.

What do you all think? Would you have the test?

Re: Amnio Tests

Personally I wouldn't because an amnio has a risk of miscarriage with it.

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I asked my doctor what can really be learned from an amnio, and what difference will it make to know these things, if I know that I will not terminate the pregnancy based on the results. He said that if they did find anything, it's good to know ahead of time b/c they would probably schedule a c-section to deliver the baby in a sterile environment, and they could have spinal surgeons ready when the baby was born.

Luckily my blood test results came back fine and an amnio is not needed. But it's good to know what can be done.

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Personally I didnt want it done too - if you see my other post here we decided to have the Ultrascreen, AFP and Level II sono...all those tests came back fine so we decided we didn't need the sono.

Since you're 25 and healthy I would seriously think about having the above 3 tests before you decide to have an amnio.

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We weren't offered one and when we asked my midwife if I had to get one she said not unless we really wanted it. She felt all was looking good, all my tests came back great so there was no need to.

We have the same mindset as you, it is in God's hands no matter what and glad we chose not to have one Best of luck to you in whatever you decide.

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with this pregnancy so far i have elected not to have one. i am 32 and the ultrascreen plus AFP came back normal and i have no known history of downs or any other defects in the family.

i hope to go for #2 which would place me around 35 at which point i probably will have one.

if you are 25, passed the ultrascreen and AFP and don't have any family history that would be of concerns then personally i would not do it. a friend of ours is 27 but has a history on both sides of the family so she elected to have it even though all tests came back okay. if i was in her shoes, i would have done the same.

it's a very personal decision...

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I'm suprised that at your age unless you had a family history that your doc would even suggest it.

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I didn't have an amnio either time -and I was 32 & 35 when I delivered.

If it were me, I would opt out of the test because of the risks.

Message edited 1/14/2006 6:04:31 PM.

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Re: Amnio Tests

Thanks for all your help!