Are you ready for a shocker

[Renee']

So today I went to meet with my specialist. Had an US done. There was a marker that this baby may have Down Syndrome. Yep, I am 36. I have hyperemisis. I have two premies. My chances are now 1:220 that it does. To top it off I have a bicornuate Uterus which is causing my babies to be premature. So THIS one is going to do the same.

I am opting for an amnio although we will keep the baby no matter what. I have been so sick and I need some peace of mind to get ready should we have another stinker with DS.

Say a prayer for me

[Connie]

Renee'

Hugs girlie!!! I will be praying for you and your family.

When I got pregnant with Lauren, I was 34. I was 7.5 weeks before they would tell my I was pregnant. I had positive urine tests and negative blood tests. When they did confirm I was pregnant they told me that what appeared to be the babies head was misshaped and the baby suffered from MASSIVE HYDROCEPHALUS. I could not secheule a level 2 ultra sound or an amnio before I was 16 weeks. Long story short. I had the level 2 ultra sound but the specialist just told me that she sees things like this 3-4 times a year...just a doctor that did not know what he was looking at. I never had the Amnio...and I have a perfect pin headed little girl!!! I would have loved her no matter what but...they worried me for nothing.

I guess what I'm trying to tell you is....Don't worry!!! It's all in God's plan and everything will be ok!!

Connie

[Jessie]

Did you have the nuchal transulescency screening? If so, there are so many factors they put into that I don't know if I would trust that anyway.

But hey, did we even know you were pregnant?! I must have missed that somehow. When are you due??

Congratulations!!!


Jessie

[Pat]

(((HUGS))) Renee! We'll be praying. Connie's right, no need to worry about something you don't know for sure & can't do anything to change it anyhow. I don't even do blood work so I never worried.
Pat

[ALLISA]

Renee...sorry for the stress you must be feeling.....

but remember, those docs are wrong more times than they are right......

When will you do the amnio ?

Hugs to you and family.......

[momofrussell]

What was the marker? I agree.. try not to stress... I know, easier said then done. But just try to take it easy!

A.

[Renee']

It was a Nuchal translucency (NT) scan. Also with my age that increases my chances. My hyperemisis...
I havent convinced myself this baby has Down Syndrome. I have had a lot of problems so that along with these findings don't make me feel all warm and fuzzy. I am going for the Amnio for peace of mind. I would LOVE for just one of my babies to have a normal, fully, full term, healthy birth.

[Renee']

oh and this was the specialist. Had this been my OB I would have laughed at him. This guy was amazing. He is very kind and understanding. I know each pregnancy is independent.

[CC]

CONGRATULATIONS

on the soon to be new addition to your family ;D

Prayers going out from New Jersey for you that ALL is well.

CC ~

[momofrussell]

So.. what all is entaled with the NT scan? Is that where they look at the back of the neck??? Does it mean the neck is thick or what are the kinds or results with this? How accurate is this test anyway?

Do you mind me asking? LOL

A.

[Renee']

No, I don't mind.
Here is a good read on it. www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/antenatalhealth/scans/nuchalscan/
There is a calculation they do. They also have to be certified. So this US Tech was not just your ordinary tech. They do an average and if they can't get exactly what they need it can't be done. It can also be a sign of cardiac defects. It isn't a test that says "Yes, your baby has DS" It is a marker. You can then go on to an Amnio if you meet the criteria. I happen to be old on top of it all. LOL
Back when Lauren was born the guy doing the Amnio measured her neck and told me he didn't think she would have DS. They didn't have this NTS in place back then.
I am not freaking out or anything. I wasnt going to get the amnio but after my 12 weeks of throwing up and being on IVs and IV meds at home I need to know what is going on. It won't change how I feel about it should she one be born with DS.
Also a friend of mine had a daughter with DS. They did all the genetic testing..they carried nothing. The went on to get pregnant again. The second baby has DS. So I know it can happen.

[Jessie]

I'm sure there are statistics out there to answer this question, but it's much easier to ask you guys! What are the chances that you would have a second child with Ds??

A. - it's just a regular ultrasound, but like Renee said, it has to be someone trained to look for what they need and then to pull all the stats together. I had to go to the Perinatologist to get mine done a couple of weeks ago.


Jessie

[Renee']

Jessie
The way he explained it to me is each pregnancy is independent of the other. The fact I have Lauren already does increase it by a small %. However, you just have to look at the age factor.
For me my "odds" are 1:220
then The chances of a parent of a child with Trisomy 21 having another child with Down Syndrome is approximately 1 in 100

I see we are due in the same month. I am due April 27th.

How did your testing go?

[Jessie]

My test came back ok. I am still going to have a Level II ultrasound on December 8. My Perinatologist is awesome too. Last time I was pregnant he said "you know, there are a lot worse things that a baby can be born with than Down syndrome". I told him I couldn't agree with him more!

I'm due April 20. I'm having another ultrasound next Thursday (cervical length thing) so hopefully we will find out the gender then.


Jessie

[Renee']

We are close!
I expect this one to be early so it may be in March.
I am going to have several US in the coming months.