Last week we went in for our 1st trimester screening. For those of you unfamiliar with this testing it includes a blood test for Trisomy 13 & 18 as well as Down's Syndrome and an ultrasound to check the fluid in the back of the neck. Increased fluid can indicate a neural defect. The ultrasound results were great! Today we received the results of the blood tests. According to the age of the embryo donor the chances of the baby having Trisomy 13 or 18 was 1 in 1000. The blood tests said that the risks were now 1 in 10,000. Very good results!!!! The Down's results was not as good, though. For the age of the donor the risks should be 1 in 900. The blood test showed that we are at an increased risk of 1 in 400, or about .25%. Still not a high risk, but higher than we had hoped.
While on the phone with the genetic counselor she asked if we had any questions and I told her no. Regardless of the results I will carry this baby to term and love him or her with all of my heart. After I hung up I began to think about the results and I must say that is bothered me a bit. No one wants to hear that anything could possibly be wrong with their baby. Considering that it would not change the outcome, why then would we consider further testing? Well, here is why: I like to be prepared. If our baby is going to have special needs I am not equipped to handle them. But I can learn. And if I know now I can grieve now and then begin preparing for the baby. I could set up a support system and join a support group. We were leaning towards further testing.
The results of this particular test are not conclusive and the only way to know for sure is to have further testing done, either an amnio or CVS. So my hubby and I discussed the pros and cons of further testing. There is no way that I would undergo and amnio as the risk for miscarraige is too high. I had always heard that CVS has less of a risk so we were leaning towards that one. Then I searched the internet (what did we do before the world wide web???) and found on several sites that the risks are the same for the amnio as well as CVS. Both carry about a 1 in 400 chance of miscarriage. I could live with having a child with Down's Syndrome, but I could not live with my myself doing something to cause a miscarriage.
So at this time we are resting in Him. There is nothing that we can do to change anything. Yes, I would still like to be prepared. And yes, I hate wondering about the unknown. But He knows exactly what is going to happen. There are no surprises with God. If He will includes us having a baby with Down's Syndrome then that is what we will have. His will is perfect and we trust Him to do what is best.
I admire you for your clear thinking through of all of this- I can imagine its all very stressful. A friend of mine had similar results and her daughter is completely healthy- but the waiting is very scary. *hugs*
ReplyDeleteICLW
That is what I plan on doing. You are brave woman. Know that God will not give you and Dh anything that you cannot handle.
ReplyDelete((((Jess)))), sorry you did not get the results you had hoped for. I can imagine the waiting is stressful, but like you said God's will is perfect even if we don't understand the journey.
ReplyDeleteI had an amnio done to confirm the presence of Turner's Syndrome, but aside from that I would not recommend it unless it is needed. Not a pleasant test I must say. But YAY for the good results!!!
ReplyDeleteJess, will there be further blood tests done later on that could show that Down's is no longer a risk factor?
ReplyDeleteChristy
That is a good question, Christy. I have another ultrasound in April and I will ask them about it then. I think that the problem is that the blood test is never conclusive. The only way to know for sure is an amnio or CVS and both carry a risk of miscarriage. But I will be sure to ask at my next appointment.
ReplyDeleteWishing you the best of luck and praying for perfect health for your baby.
ReplyDelete~ICLW
Thank you for stopping by my blog and for your very sweet, compassionate comment. I meant a lot to me.
ReplyDeleteI am so excited to read you are realizing your dream after so much heartache. I love hearing success stories like yours because it gives hope to those who are still struggling. It also provides hope that there are more options than the ones that are currently before them.
I'm glad so much of your testing came back with such positive results. I don't blame you for wanting further testing to determine what you might be up against. Who wouldn't want to be prepared?
I wish you all the very best of luck. Please give your baby a little extra hug from me.
*big hugs*
We did the NT Scan, too, but I couldn't find comfort with the CVS. I have friends that have done it and all have healthy babies now. But a 1 in 300-400 chance of miscarriage was just WAY too high for us when the results had no bearing on our love for our baby. You're not alone in that conclusion!
ReplyDeleteGlad the results were good...praying they continue to be!!
ICLW
First of all Congrats on your pregnancy. Wishing you a safe pregnancy. GL with everything and I would also want to be prepared.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog
:) Congrats so much on your pregnancy!
ReplyDeleteJess, I am feeling the anxiety you must be having over this. I'm praying for you.
ReplyDelete