amnio- can't decide

I am still torn with having an amnio. My ultra screen came back with 1:1300 chance for downs, and about 1:32,000 chance for the other two. I know these are good numbers, but I am just afraid of making the wrong decision either way.

I am 36. My doctor is not pushing one at all, she really was shocked when I said we were considering getting it done.

Did anyone else go through this? I would have it done next thursday if I decide.

Re: amnio- can't decide

I had lower numbers than you (1/292 for downs) and decided against it. Even those odds are so small that I felt it wasnt worth introducing any risk (no matter how minute) to the baby.

Re: amnio- can't decide

Its a personal decision, the amnio is the only test that will give you a yes/no answer. unfortunately the other tests only give you the "chances" of something being wrong. You have to go with your gut, and find out who would be performing the amnio and how many they have done, etc.
Good luck with your decision

Re: amnio- can't decide

Christine, you know i have no answer for you. I just feel bad that youre still uneasy about it. I hope you reach a decision that youll be ok with.

Re: amnio- can't decide

I chose an amnio for my second DD and this pregnancy as well. I didn't even go for the screenings. I am a worrier by nature and work with disabled children so it's on my mind constantly. Having 1 less thing to worry about made the choice easy for me.

Those are very good numbers though- but I totally understand the "need to know for sure".

Re: amnio- can't decide

It's such a personal decision! I will be 37 when I deliver this baby. From day 1 my OB said he wasn't a fan of the amnio "just because" you hit a certain age. He wanted to see my how my pregnancy progressed and how my ultrascreen came back. The ultrascreen came back 1:1900 for Down's. He said at this point he sees no reason for the amnio, but it is up to me. I'm leaning towards not having it done, unless something comes up in my regular visits.

Re: amnio- can't decide

I was on the fence as well- my OB suggested that I spend a few days as if I had decided not to have the aminio, if I was comfortable with that, then great; if I was doubting the decision, then I would probably be more comfortable having the test. Do you think that approach might help you?

Re: amnio- can't decide

I would encourage everyone to do it. The relief of knowing is worth it. The risk of an amnio are minute as long as you go to someone who is very trained in doing them. You can ask for the doctor's statistics.

Re: amnio- can't decide

I had an amnio done. I will be 39 when is born. I was against it, but my AFP came back elevated and it freaked me out. DH and I decided to have the amnio. I am glad I did. everything is fine and going forward, I would probably have the amnio again. It is a personal choice, but don't stress yourself out over it. Your numbers are great and you shouldn't worry.

Re: amnio- can't decide

Re: amnio- can't decide

i wouldnt. at this point its not like you would terminate the pregnancy so why bother. my friend had it done and lot the baby because of it. not sure what the numbers mean but if others are saying they are good and your ob is not pushing i would leave it alone. thats just my personal opinion.

Re: amnio- can't decide

My tests came back with a chance of Downs also, but I decided against the amnio because I just thought g-d forbid anything ever happened during it i could never live with myself. I knew that I wouldnt terminate the pregnancy regarless so I didnt want to tak the chance, no matter how small.

Re: amnio- can't decide

Only you can decide what you ultimately want to do, it is a decision that you will make based on what you feel comfortable with. My numbers came back 1:9000 for Downs and I have a 1/2 brother with Prader Willi Syndrome.

Because of my family history, I was sent to genetic counseling but DH and I finally decided that we would not get the amnio. I was not comfortable with the idea of getting the procedure done with the risks involved. Also, I knew that even if the results came back abnormal, there was no way we would terminate. This is what made sense for us but everyone is different.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

Re: amnio- can't decide

I am very nervous about all tests this time around, even more than the first time, because I'm 35 which is my mental cut-off age for children, specifically because of that stupid amnio. After my screening results (1 in 5k for downs, 1 in 8k for the other two) I passed on it. I really just can't deal with the added anxiety... I honestly think it would put me over the edge. When I start worrying it becomes an endless loop and I really just can't allow myself to go there.

For me, the screening numbers were good enough and if they were wrong or misleading, well, that's in God's hands.

As it is I'm getting all worked up over my anatomy scan next week because they'll be testing for spina bifida. I know someone who has it so that's also particularly nerve-wracking for me.

I'm a flippin mess this pregnancy!!

Re: amnio- can't decide

I'm in the minority in that I don't even do the ultrascreen tests. I don't do any testing during pregnancy except for the one ultrasound my doctor does at about 20 weeks. My thought is I'm not going to do anything with the information, like terminate the pregnancy, so why do the testing when there are not 100%.

I would pass on the amnio at this point since you ultrascreen numbers are good from what I understand.

Re: amnio- can't decide

Thank you for all your responses. I have to really think about this. It is a very hard decision. I will keep you posted.

Thanks again!

Re: amnio- can't decide

For me it was no question- we needed to have it done.
I'm 35 and skipped the ultrascreen and went right to the amnio.
Our reason was we didn't want percentages- we wanted 100% definitive answers.
But that is our personal choice- we both big worriers and need to have as much information as possible.
Ours is not a popular way of thinking- but it works for us.

It's a personal decison- that only you can make.

FM if you need to talk or want more info!

Re: amnio- can't decide

Re: amnio- can't decide

I was 39 when I had my first. I didn't have one. I did the other screenings and had good numbers and I wasn't going to terminate the pregnancy either way. For me, it wasn't worth the risk.

Another argument I hear is that people have it so they can "prepare" for the disability if it's present. For me, I wanted to enjoy the rest of my pregnancy without worrying about possibilities. I knew nothing would really prepare me for something that the amnio might show, and figured I would just deal with whatever I had to when it presented itself.

Some people need to know before the birth, some don't. I think you just need to figure out which category you fall into. Good luck - it's a tough decision.

Re: amnio- can't decide

Did you have your level II ultrascreen yet? They will check for markers there, and if they see any, you could decide to have the amnio after that to make sure.

If they don't see any markers, I wouldn't do the amnio, I personally wouldn't be comfortable with it. That is why I would do the least invasive testing first.

Re: amnio- can't decide

I completely understand where you are coming from.

When my dr. went through all the options with me, I completely freaked out at the thought of the possibilities.

But, I think a good way to look at is to determine how you are going to use the information.

Are you using it as a basis of determining whether you would terminate/not terminate, or as a basis to prepare yourself for any negative outcomes in the best way possible, or because you feel that you want all information that could possibly be available to you?

For me, it was 2 fold, to see what conditions would cause me to terminate, and to be fully prepared of negative outcomes where I would not terminate.

I'm going to do the ultrascreen and the rest of the sequential screening.

If my numbers come back good, I will not be having the amnio.

I just do not want to risk having a mc, now matter how slight the chances are, and I believe that the other non-invasive testing will give me enough information to be prepared for any negative outcomes.

We also would never terminate if we found out the baby had Down's, only if there was a situation where the baby would not survive after birth at all.

Re: amnio- can't decide