The hospital have just called with the triple blood test results.

Because I'm old (just coming up 38), we were automatically put at high risk of neural tube & chromosomal defects, but the 12 wk scan brought us down to borderline high risk, at 1:350.
Now the blood test results are in, our risk is now 1:80

That in itself isn't enough to make me worry hugely, but the hospital suggested I think about having an amnio to get more definitive answers. All I know is that they can cause miscarriages. The hosptial's other suggestion was to wait until our next scan (which isn't until I'm almost 23 wks).

Sorry, this is a bit wobbly, I've only just had the news and am a bit stunned. Husband is at work and I can't discuss with him, so you're getting the brunt of my ramblings

Hi,

This is a worrying time. I was 42 when I conceived my first (43 now and into my 25th week). Hubby and I decided to have the blood tests but had always said we would likely not act on any negative result and that it would just help prepare us. Had 2 anxious weeks waiting for the results. Cut-off point in my area is below 1:250. We came back at 1:870.

It is a very personal decision. Amnio itself carries a small risk of miscarriage. I read a lot about this whilst waiting for our result. You have to try and put the figures into perspective. Speak to your other half later. Try not to worry. Ring and speak to your midwife or someone at the hospital if you have further questions.

I wish you all the best. Whatever decision you take is perfectly fine.

Let me know how you get on.

Julie x

Hi

My triple test came back as 1:240, the cut off point is the same as yours 1:250. I was told that my age wouldn't affect the results (29 yrs).
We were called into the hospital to discuss our "options" and decided not to have the amnio be cause the risk of mc is higher.
However when we had our 20 wk scan we weren't happy with how they performed (checks etc..) we were in and out in less than 10 mins!!!

I was so unhappy that we went for a private scan paid a little extra for them to check all the soft markers etc which the sonographer reported as normal, and are now happily enjoying the rest of the pregnancy.

Maybe you and yr hubby could go for a private one, I have little faith in the nhs in my area LOL.

Good luck

Vicky
21wks

I had to have one as I came back with a risk of less than 1:80 with my last pregnancy. I was then 32yrs. We decided to go for the amnio as I had already had alot of problems with the pregnancy- bleeding, / abruption etc... Also we already had 2 children, so felt that we would need to prepare them.

I discused it with a counsellor at the hospital and they were very reassuring. In our area the risk of miscarriage is less than 1 in 100, but varies in different hospitals depending on the experience or the consultant performing the procedure. I took this a a 1% risk.

I went in on the morning and lay on the Ultrasound table. They scanned my tum to see where the baby was and then painted Iodine solution over my tummy. I was then injected with small amounts of local anaesthetic to numb the area where the amnio needle was to be inserted. This felt like a bee sting, but not too bad.

The scanner was then put back on to watch the baby as the needle was inserted and some of the amniotic fluid was drained off to be sent for testing. When the needle was put in it was uncomfortable and made me gasp, but was not really painful - it was more af a dull sensation.

When they were taking the fluid off the midwife squeeled and laughed and told me to look at the screen.....The baby was swiping at the needle trying to grab it!!!! (he still is an inquisative little monkey!!)

I was then sent off to lie down for 20 mins or so as I had a few strong Braxton Hicks contractions. These soon wore off. I got my first results back @ 5-6days later to say that they were 99% sure all was well, but I had to wait a bit longer for a 100% to allow the cultures to grow. Then 2 weeks later I got the final Great news that we were expecting our first HEALTHY son!!!

For me this was definitely the right decision. This time around (I came back as 1:4700!!!) I would have done it all again. For me I had to know to enable me to deal with it.

23weeks, for me is quite far along to be making decisions. You are going to be feeling alot more emotions towards your baby as there are going to be lots of kicks etc.....Not that I am saying that you would choose a termination or not.

Also the scan will only show up 'markers' as to whether your baby is likely to have a chromasomal abnormality or not- it will not give you a definite answer. So, if you waited for the scan and a marker showed, would you then still want the amnio to be 100% sure???

Please do not think that I am being judgemental etc... I am trying to play devils advocate and throw up all of the questions that were going through my head at the time. You have to make a decision based on what is right for you.

I really wish you the best of luck, I really do know how you feel. You spend your pregnancy trying to do everything you can to protect your baby and this one decision could change everything or make it all OK.

Good luck with whatever choice you make ((hugs))
Caz xxxxxx

Forgot to say, dont forget to let us know how you get on xxxx

I'm younger than you (25) so I'm not considered high risk. However we opted not to have the triple test because if it came back with a worrying result I would have then been encouraged to have further investigations like you have been. The % of miscarriage was enough to put us off having the Amniocentesis without needing to discuss it further. Sorry I'm rambling but what I'm saying is if you aren't going to terminate the pregnancy than why put yourself and your baby at risk of miscarriage when it is quite possible that you are not that 1:80 person....

However on the other hand are you able to put that result to the back of your mind and continue to enjoy your pregnancy without worrying about what may be?

Good luck in deciding, hope everything turns out ok xxx

So sorry to hear you are going throught the stress of this. I had an amnio about 4 weeks ago after my 16 wk blood tests showed a 1:130 chance of Downs. We already have a little boy, and so far I am not having an enjoyable pregnancy (lots of sickness) so wasnt feeling very bonded to this one at all. I felt that I was going to be even more stressed through the rest of the pregnancy living with the worry, and being from a family with disabled members, didnt want to put a child through that life if I could avoid it. So, the next day I had the test. It isnt pleasant, but they do a full scan to see if there are physical markers first (about 85% of Downs babies show physical markers) and then they ask if you still want to go ahead. You see the needle on the screen as they scan you throughout, and that it isnt touching your baby, and it is all over pretty quickly, then they suggest resting for 24 hours. I didnt have any cramps or contractions, just my tummy felt like your arm does after injections, quite uncomfortable. I was lucky and everything is fine, but it was a very stressful few days, with the initial results after 3 days, the full ones after two weeks. And we havent asked the sex so that will still be a suprise!

Overall I am glad I had the test, it has given me peace of mind, and I now feel much more bonded with my baby. I do think that being prepared can make things much easier, and a midwife friend has told me that a lot of mums can end up hysterical with worry near their due date if they havent investigated further. However, make the choice that feels right for you, there is no clearcut right or wrong with these things.

Best wishes, Jen x

Thank you so much, everyone, for taking the time and trouble to reply.

We've decided to definitely go ahead with the amnio, it's not until 14th August, so still a while to wait. I'm a bit of a worrier at the best of times, and I would spend the next six months in a constant tizzy if I didn't find out one way or t'other.

But, until I know differently, am carrying on as before, assuming everything is just fine

Our results came back as 1:25 for downs, edwards and pataus so we decided to go ahead with the Amnio. It wasnt bad, just like having a needle in your arm, no worse.

I had no cramps or anything afterwards but didnt do anything at all for 24 hours.

We paid to have the FISH test so got the results back within 24 hours and fortunately everything came back clear.

Our thoughts on having the amnio were that the miscarriage risk was far lower than the downs etc. It was still long odds though.

Good luck with your test and i hope your results are as great as ours were.

Oh, i had just turned 33 when we had the test done 6 weeks ago.

i just had one done a few weeks ago...it was scary for me and my boyfriend since we are very young and they told us there were alot of risks to the test..but we went ahead with it. it wasnt bad at all. the waiting part is horrible though.

Hi hun, I had one a couple of weeks ago. I'm 29 and it was the blood tests that put us at a 1:40 risk. It annoys me that they give a ratio and not a percentage because the percentages sound so less scary than the ratios. We were told that the risk of miscarriage from an amnio is 1:100 or 1% your chances of having a baby with downs is 1:80 or 1.25% so compare the 2 figures. Only you can really decide whether you would be happy to take a chance on the amnio. We chose to have the amnio simply so we would know one way or the other and decided that we would keep the baby no matter what. Our results were clear and our baby is healthy and I'm sure yours will be too. In terms of what an amnio is like, it felt like a blood test in your tummy and was pretty painless, afterwards it felt like a mild insect bite but only for a couple of days. I had mine on a tuesday morning and then took the rest of the week off work so that I would rest but was told i only really needed to rest for 24 hours.
Good luck with what you decide hun and I hope everything works out ok.
Xxx