First Screening Test/ NT Scan Results w/in Normal Range but Not Very Good...

[whenismyturn]

Hi Ladies,

This Monday I went to have the NT Scan. I was 13 weeks 1 day and my baby is measuring right on the size. We also got to see our baby moving, stretching and bouncing. The technician was happy to see that we were able to see baby's fingers, brain, tummy, legs, arms etc. too. The neck measurement of my baby is 1.7mm, and the technician and MFM Dr. said that it's totally fine. So it seems like from the scan everything is good and normal.

Then the final report with the blood test results we got. The Dr. told me both my Down Syndrome Risk Ratio and Trismony 18 Ration are w/in normal range (i.e. Negative). BUT my DS Risk Ratio is 1:330. Although the Dr. told me according to my age (I'll just turn 37 when I deliver the baby), the cutoff is 1:100 so I'm fine, I think that number seems a little low...

The Dr. did suggest we can decide if we want to do the amnio. But we decided to wait and see the 2nd blood draw and U/S with the MFM 1st before making the decision. I know there's risk of miscarriage with amnio and I don't want to take the risk. My DH didn't seem to concern at all and he said we don't have to do it. But I don't know...

It took us around 2.5 years to get pregnant (3rd IUI), my big fibriods and mild male factor are the main reason. I'm not young anymore and I think I'll just have this one baby. I know I don't want to terminate the pregnancy even if I found out the baby has DS, BUT at the same time, I don't know if I'm capable of giving the life a baby with special needs will deserve. My family lives aboard, my DH's family isn't supportive, and I'm here all by myself. I'm also worried if the baby does turn out to have DS, it may change the relationship between me and my DH even though he's great. After coming back home, I've been looking into this topic and the accuracy of the screening, and I still can't decide what I should do. There're still weeks before we have the 2nd u/s with the MFM, I feel really down and worried about what it will come out now... I don't know how I can go thru all these, plus my worries with my other problems (SCH + enlarged fibroids)...

Sorry I just want to vent here and hope that I can hear some of your stories and views about this too. Thank you for reading!

[kbhlmh]

Seems to me that that is a pretty good number and since the US didn't indicate any soft markers for DS I think you're good to go!

[whenismyturn]

Thanks for your reply kbhlmh!

I don't know if it's a good enough number. I'm still a bit worried about this. I read about a non-invasive test MaterniT21 last night on a blog written by a sonographer. I contacted her and asked if I can get this test done in the Bay Area. She actually gave me some contact information. I'm going to contact the staff of the MaterniT21 so let's see what will happen. I hope they can help me arrange a test done via my clinic. I really don't want to have the Amnio test... but at the same time I want a more definite answer so I can prepare my next step.

[SC-Sherb]

Whenismyturn, I agree, your numbers look really good. When my sister was pregnant with her last little guy, she was going to be 36 when he was born. Her NT measurement was 1.9mm, and other bloodwork was great but the Down Syndrome wasn't as great as she would have liked it. I think it was 1:700. She agonized about the amnio because she didn't really want to take the risk of something happening to the baby (and I know that amnio's are quite safe), but that small percentage was scary to her. In the end, she decided to wait until her 20 wk u/s (anatomy scan) to see if there were any soft markers and there weren't. He was born perfectly healthy.

There was another member that had that Materni test done you are talking about but I can't remember her name right now. If I can find it, I'll ask her to contact you.

Whatever you decide, it's what's best for you and your family. Hugs.

[SC-Sherb]

Here's the thread:

Just discovered a new non-invasive test by my OB. Try sending her a private message and see if she can offer more insight.

[whenismyturn]

Sherb,

Thanks for sharing with me about your sister's pregnancy! I'm glad to hear that your sister gave birth to a healthy baby boy! I'm worried about the odds and I don't know if I can wait until the scan in 19 weeks. The same as your sister, I don't want to have the Amnio either. So I thought that if I can have the MaterniT21 test done before that at least I'll have a peace of mind. Although still it's not 100% accuracy, it's non-invasive and this one more test can hopefully help ease my mind. I actually just got a reply from the VP of Sales of the MaterniT21 test company. He's transferred my case to the staff who're responsible for the bay area. So I hope I'll hear from them soon.

[kbhlmh]

The test you're talking about is fairly new so I am not sure if all insurance companies cover it. I probably should have mentioned that I had my son when I was 44. I think that at the time I had a 1:10 chance of having a baby with DS just because of my age. I didn't bother to have the blood test that you had (AFP?) because the older you get the more schewed the results are. Plus I knew I was going to have the amino anyway. He is a perfectly healthy 6 year old.

[WhitneyAtFertilityAuthority]

whenismyturn: So fortunate that BC Sherb was able to hook you up here. I know the amnio is such a tough decision. When is your materni? Please keep us posted. All positive thoughts your way.

[whenismyturn]

Thanks for your replies and support ladies!

kbhlmh,

Thanks for your sharing again. 1:10 risk ratio is really scary. I understand why you don't even want to go thru the 2nd screening. I actually don't know how they come up with such a number. I know age is one of the factors. But aren't they just scaring the hell out of all more "mature" pregnant women? I hope that they can come up with something better than this kind of screening. My DH asked his co-worker who has a toddler yesterday (yes we finally told a few people and 2 of our good friends!). She told him when she got her 1st screening test result, hers was 1:200. Then it's until the 2nd one it became 1:xxxx (4 digits anyways) so she decided not to have the Amnio. But it's scary to see 1:200 too. Besides, she's younger than me. Wow... what a test!

UPDATE:

I have heard back from the lady who's responsible for N California sales yesterday. She told me my clinic does offer the MaterniT21 test. It's weird why no one has ever mentioned about this. The lady also told me how much it'd be with the different kinds of insurance. So it turns out with PPO insurance, we will pay the max of $235 no matter how much the insurance covers, or even if they don't cover at all. We have to pay for this cost upfront. I think we can deal with this. And then either we can ask our midwife to order the test for me, or she can help me call the midwife with the arrangements. Then supposedly my clinic will give me the details about the test. But it seems like I'm NOT going to have the blood draw at my clinic, it's another location nearby.

We haven't told the lady whether we want her to contact the midwife about this or we contact her ourselves. Probably we'll have her to contact the midwife cuz she may know how to proceed. I'm just afraid the midwife will have no clue or won't allow me to have the test in the end. Or she'll still push me to have the Amnio instead.

Anyways, that's my update. I'm glad that we're one step further. It seems like I'll be able to have the Maternit21 test instead. I'm glad that I don't need to undergo the invasive procedure to hopefully have a peace of mind. I'll keep you updated.

Oh btw, I don't know if you ladies have ever heard of another similar non-invasive test called Verifi Test? I read about this test on another forum and went to their website. The company is located in the Bay Area but I think this test is very new. So I saw that they have a contact form on their website and I asked them about the details. Hm... I got their response yesterday but I don't think I'll go for it anyways. This test seems to be more expensive ($495) and the answer the rep gave me has no details whatsoever. He even spelt my name wrong (and it's a VERY common name!). I know maybe it's just the rep. But anyways, I just want to share with you that there is another non-invasive test out there available other than the MaterniT21.

Thanks again ladies and have a great weekend!

[whenismyturn]

Hi again ladies,

I have the lady helped me call my OB office to arrange for the test. She said she contacted them yesterday and they're suppose to contact me with the arrangement/ instructions but I haven't heard from them yet. I just hope to hear from them asap. My OB office is quite hard to reach, and not necessarily efficient. Besides, I don't think there's really any work for them. They just need to order the test for me and give me the instructions for the blood draw etc. in ANOTHER location, not at their clinic. Oh well... I'm so worried here and I just want to know for sure I can have the test done...

BTW, HAPPY JULY 4TH LADIES!!!