Guest guest Posted October 2, 2000 Report Share Posted October 2, 2000 Katy, you just told " my " story as well!! The only differences, Tara was born with Ds, not . Tara was 6lbs 12oz, was 6lbs 7oz. Nothing ever showed up on any of the multiple ultrasounds either, and I'm an x-ray technologist, so my ultrasound friends did an even more through " look " while scanning me. I specifically asked about Ds too!! Go figure? I too was 36 while pregnant, and still 36 at delievery. I also didn't have the AFP done for the exact reasons you mentioned! Plus we already have two other children, and just hoping we have the same, two more healthy children. Also, my mother had her last child at 40, my little sister , so I thought that would be in the " cards " for me as well. Also, Tara is enjoying good health, having a twin seems to have been a great strength for her! She is 18 months now, and is cruzing the furniture more and more now, she really is watching s every move! I'm greatful that she is a twin! Thank God the only serious surgery she/we had was insertion of bilateral ear tubes, which really isn't serious stuff at all. Gail.........Bobby 6 1/2, Jillian 4, and Tara {Ds} 18 months > > Torry, > > I had faternal boy/girl twins on 11/11/99. We did not do an AFP test > since it was most likely to come back positive (due to age factor and > because I was carring twins). We also decided not to do an Amio > since the risk of miscarriage with twins was greater than the chance > of one having Down Syndrome. At 20 weeks I had the first sonogram > done, they looked for some markers but did not find anything > noticable. Their weight was with in ounces of each other. Since > twins is concidered high risk, I had sonograms every 4-5 weeks to make > sure they were growing properly. In everyone of these sonograms > except the last one two days before they were born their weight was > within a couple of ounces of each other. On the last sonogram I was > told the weights were 6lbs12ozs and 5lbs7ozs. When they were born > they weighted 6lbs14ozs and 6lbs12ozs, I was later told that they were > off on one due to a shorter femur, that was the one that was born with > DS. Tyler had no other markers that they could find during any of the > sonograms until the last one, and even then then did not suspect it. > In fact all of his physical features are very mild, in fact, many > people don't even realize he has DS unless I tell them since everyone > asks why my son is so much smaller than his twin sister. I have had a > couple of people who either have children or relatives with DS ask me. > I was 36 when I got pregnant and was 37 when they were born. If I had > been a little older I probably would have had an amio, since the risk > of DS is greater than a miscarriage. There is also a new test that > has a lower miscarriage rate and can be done earlier than an > amio called a CVS. Looking back I am not sure if I would have changed > anything about doing the test or not, I think I may have worried more > about health problems the child could be born with thus making the > pregnacy more trying. > > Katy mom to 31/2 and twins and Tyler(DS) > > > > Hi, I'm currently doing research re Down's Syndrome with multiples. > Am pregnant with fraternal twins right now, and looking for > information regarding sonogram markers for Down's Syndrome and other > potential birth defects. > > > > Torry > > > http://DSyndrome.com/Multiples Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 2, 2000 Report Share Posted October 2, 2000 Hi Torry, It is great you are connected with our group--please continue to keep us informed about how your pregnancy is going and when you have your little ones. I have Sara and who are 5-3/4. Sara has Down Syndrome, does not. I became pregnant with them when I was 42 and the doctor I was seeing strongly encouraged amniocentisis--I had also had amniocentisis with my first son, who is now almost 10. It was when I went into have amnio that it was discovered I had twins. The Dr. did not do the amnio test that day because of the position of the twins. ( I was thankful for her decision). Anyway, the next week amnio was successfully performed and I found out the results less than 10 days later. The Dr. reported that I would have a boy and a girl and that the girl would have Down Syndrome. Knowing that terminating the pregnancy was not an option, we then chose to have an inutero echocardiogram to look at our little girl's heart (she did not have a heart defect) and to receive as much information as we could about our baby girl. Because of the information we had received and the time we had to prepare, Sara and 's birth was a great celebration. Sara is a joy to behold--we cannot imagine our lives without her. Marcia Mom to Sara (DS) and (5-3/4) and Lucas (almost 10) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 2, 2000 Report Share Posted October 2, 2000 Torry, the only thing I can add to this is, to ask your Dr for a " level 3 ultrasound " thats what its called here in New Jersey. It is a more sophisticated ultrasound, just to detect intricate " things " in pregnancies. Usually found at a doctor's office who just treats " high risk pregnancies " The ultrasonographer is highly trained as well. I'm sorry, I forgot all your details of your pregnancy, but if you and your dr do suspect, it's another avenue to try, without risk. Good-Luck! Gail........Bobby 6 1/2, Jillian 4, and Tara{Ds} 18 months! > > Thank you, Gail, for your perspective. We also decided against the AFP > because of the false-positive likelihood, and against an amnio because of > the added risk with twins. As I mentioned before, we would not alter our > course even if we are to learn that one of our unborn children has DS, so > we'll just anxiously await their delivery. > > We'll continue to look for markers in our ultrasounds, although we > understand there are many children with markers observed during ultrasounds > who are later born healthy and without DS. As you can see from an earlier > e-mail from Joyce, it seems just as likely to have a child without > ultrasound markers who is found to have DS upon birth, so there is no > " sure-fire " approach -- absent amnio/CVS -- to determine whether the > presence of DS or other chromosomal abnormality prior to birth. We will > just continue to say our prayers, and be thankful for healthy babies, > whatever the outcome may be. > > Torry > > Re: Re: Doing Research > > > Katy, you just told " my " story as well!! The only differences, Tara was > > born with Ds, not . Tara was 6lbs 12oz, was 6lbs 7oz. Nothing > > ever showed up on any of the multiple ultrasounds either, and I'm an > > x-ray technologist, so my ultrasound friends did an even more through > > " look " while scanning me. I specifically asked about Ds too!! Go figure? > > I too was 36 while pregnant, and still 36 at delievery. I also didn't > > have the AFP done for the exact reasons you mentioned! Plus we already > > have two other children, and just hoping we have the same, two more > > healthy children. Also, my mother had her last child at 40, my little > > sister , so I thought that would be in the " cards " for me as > > well. Also, Tara is enjoying good health, having a twin seems to have > > been a great strength for her! She is 18 months now, and is cruzing the > > furniture more and more now, she really is watching s every move! > > I'm greatful that she is a twin! Thank God the only serious surgery > > she/we had was insertion of bilateral ear tubes, which really isn't > > serious stuff at all. > > Gail.........Bobby 6 1/2, Jillian 4, and Tara {Ds} 18 months > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Torry, > > > > > > I had faternal boy/girl twins on 11/11/99. We did not do an AFP test > > > since it was most likely to come back positive (due to age factor and > > > because I was carring twins). We also decided not to do an Amio > > > since the risk of miscarriage with twins was greater than the chance > > > of one having Down Syndrome. At 20 weeks I had the first sonogram > > > done, they looked for some markers but did not find anything > > > noticable. Their weight was with in ounces of each other. Since > > > twins is concidered high risk, I had sonograms every 4-5 weeks to make > > > sure they were growing properly. In everyone of these sonograms > > > except the last one two days before they were born their weight was > > > within a couple of ounces of each other. On the last sonogram I was > > > told the weights were 6lbs12ozs and 5lbs7ozs. When they were born > > > they weighted 6lbs14ozs and 6lbs12ozs, I was later told that they were > > > off on one due to a shorter femur, that was the one that was born with > > > DS. Tyler had no other markers that they could find during any of the > > > sonograms until the last one, and even then then did not suspect it. > > > In fact all of his physical features are very mild, in fact, many > > > people don't even realize he has DS unless I tell them since everyone > > > asks why my son is so much smaller than his twin sister. I have had a > > > couple of people who either have children or relatives with DS ask me. > > > I was 36 when I got pregnant and was 37 when they were born. If I had > > > been a little older I probably would have had an amio, since the risk > > > of DS is greater than a miscarriage. There is also a new test that > > > has a lower miscarriage rate and can be done earlier than an > > > amio called a CVS. Looking back I am not sure if I would have changed > > > anything about doing the test or not, I think I may have worried more > > > about health problems the child could be born with thus making the > > > pregnacy more trying. > > > > > > Katy mom to 31/2 and twins and Tyler(DS) > > > > > > > > > > Hi, I'm currently doing research re Down's Syndrome with multiples. > > > Am pregnant with fraternal twins right now, and looking for > > > information regarding sonogram markers for Down's Syndrome and other > > > potential birth defects. > > > > > > > > Torry > > > > > > > > > http://DSyndrome.com/Multiples > > > > > > http://DSyndrome.com/Multiples > > > > > http://DSyndrome.com/Multiples Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 2, 2000 Report Share Posted October 2, 2000 Thank you so much for the informative response. If you had known through an amnio that Tyler had DS, would you have altered your course at all? Torry Re: Doing Research > Torry, > > I had faternal boy/girl twins on 11/11/99. We did not do an AFP test > since it was most likely to come back positive (due to age factor and > because I was carring twins). We also decided not to do an Amio > since the risk of miscarriage with twins was greater than the chance > of one having Down Syndrome. At 20 weeks I had the first sonogram > done, they looked for some markers but did not find anything > noticable. Their weight was with in ounces of each other. Since > twins is concidered high risk, I had sonograms every 4-5 weeks to make > sure they were growing properly. In everyone of these sonograms > except the last one two days before they were born their weight was > within a couple of ounces of each other. On the last sonogram I was > told the weights were 6lbs12ozs and 5lbs7ozs. When they were born > they weighted 6lbs14ozs and 6lbs12ozs, I was later told that they were > off on one due to a shorter femur, that was the one that was born with > DS. Tyler had no other markers that they could find during any of the > sonograms until the last one, and even then then did not suspect it. > In fact all of his physical features are very mild, in fact, many > people don't even realize he has DS unless I tell them since everyone > asks why my son is so much smaller than his twin sister. I have had a > couple of people who either have children or relatives with DS ask me. > I was 36 when I got pregnant and was 37 when they were born. If I had > been a little older I probably would have had an amio, since the risk > of DS is greater than a miscarriage. There is also a new test that > has a lower miscarriage rate and can be done earlier than an > amio called a CVS. Looking back I am not sure if I would have changed > anything about doing the test or not, I think I may have worried more > about health problems the child could be born with thus making the > pregnacy more trying. > > Katy mom to 31/2 and twins and Tyler(DS) > > > > > Hi, I'm currently doing research re Down's Syndrome with multiples. > Am pregnant with fraternal twins right now, and looking for > information regarding sonogram markers for Down's Syndrome and other > potential birth defects. > > > > Torry > > > > http://DSyndrome.com/Multiples > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 2, 2000 Report Share Posted October 2, 2000 Thank you, Gail, for your perspective. We also decided against the AFP because of the false-positive likelihood, and against an amnio because of the added risk with twins. As I mentioned before, we would not alter our course even if we are to learn that one of our unborn children has DS, so we'll just anxiously await their delivery. We'll continue to look for markers in our ultrasounds, although we understand there are many children with markers observed during ultrasounds who are later born healthy and without DS. As you can see from an earlier e-mail from Joyce, it seems just as likely to have a child without ultrasound markers who is found to have DS upon birth, so there is no " sure-fire " approach -- absent amnio/CVS -- to determine whether the presence of DS or other chromosomal abnormality prior to birth. We will just continue to say our prayers, and be thankful for healthy babies, whatever the outcome may be. Torry Re: Re: Doing Research > Katy, you just told " my " story as well!! The only differences, Tara was > born with Ds, not . Tara was 6lbs 12oz, was 6lbs 7oz. Nothing > ever showed up on any of the multiple ultrasounds either, and I'm an > x-ray technologist, so my ultrasound friends did an even more through > " look " while scanning me. I specifically asked about Ds too!! Go figure? > I too was 36 while pregnant, and still 36 at delievery. I also didn't > have the AFP done for the exact reasons you mentioned! Plus we already > have two other children, and just hoping we have the same, two more > healthy children. Also, my mother had her last child at 40, my little > sister , so I thought that would be in the " cards " for me as > well. Also, Tara is enjoying good health, having a twin seems to have > been a great strength for her! She is 18 months now, and is cruzing the > furniture more and more now, she really is watching s every move! > I'm greatful that she is a twin! Thank God the only serious surgery > she/we had was insertion of bilateral ear tubes, which really isn't > serious stuff at all. > Gail.........Bobby 6 1/2, Jillian 4, and Tara {Ds} 18 months > > > > > > > > > > Torry, > > > > I had faternal boy/girl twins on 11/11/99. We did not do an AFP test > > since it was most likely to come back positive (due to age factor and > > because I was carring twins). We also decided not to do an Amio > > since the risk of miscarriage with twins was greater than the chance > > of one having Down Syndrome. At 20 weeks I had the first sonogram > > done, they looked for some markers but did not find anything > > noticable. Their weight was with in ounces of each other. Since > > twins is concidered high risk, I had sonograms every 4-5 weeks to make > > sure they were growing properly. In everyone of these sonograms > > except the last one two days before they were born their weight was > > within a couple of ounces of each other. On the last sonogram I was > > told the weights were 6lbs12ozs and 5lbs7ozs. When they were born > > they weighted 6lbs14ozs and 6lbs12ozs, I was later told that they were > > off on one due to a shorter femur, that was the one that was born with > > DS. Tyler had no other markers that they could find during any of the > > sonograms until the last one, and even then then did not suspect it. > > In fact all of his physical features are very mild, in fact, many > > people don't even realize he has DS unless I tell them since everyone > > asks why my son is so much smaller than his twin sister. I have had a > > couple of people who either have children or relatives with DS ask me. > > I was 36 when I got pregnant and was 37 when they were born. If I had > > been a little older I probably would have had an amio, since the risk > > of DS is greater than a miscarriage. There is also a new test that > > has a lower miscarriage rate and can be done earlier than an > > amio called a CVS. Looking back I am not sure if I would have changed > > anything about doing the test or not, I think I may have worried more > > about health problems the child could be born with thus making the > > pregnacy more trying. > > > > Katy mom to 31/2 and twins and Tyler(DS) > > > > > > > Hi, I'm currently doing research re Down's Syndrome with multiples. > > Am pregnant with fraternal twins right now, and looking for > > information regarding sonogram markers for Down's Syndrome and other > > potential birth defects. > > > > > > Torry > > > > > > http://DSyndrome.com/Multiples > > > http://DSyndrome.com/Multiples > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 2, 2000 Report Share Posted October 2, 2000 thank you, Gail. I will bring this info to our perinatologist, and see if it's available. I know they had 3-D ultrasounds, but had problems with the equipment so they sent it back for repair. Hopefully it'll be back up and running by the time of our next sonogram on 10/12. Torry Re: Re: Doing Research > > > > > Katy, you just told " my " story as well!! The only differences, Tara was > > > born with Ds, not . Tara was 6lbs 12oz, was 6lbs 7oz. Nothing > > > ever showed up on any of the multiple ultrasounds either, and I'm an > > > x-ray technologist, so my ultrasound friends did an even more through > > > " look " while scanning me. I specifically asked about Ds too!! Go figure? > > > I too was 36 while pregnant, and still 36 at delievery. I also didn't > > > have the AFP done for the exact reasons you mentioned! Plus we already > > > have two other children, and just hoping we have the same, two more > > > healthy children. Also, my mother had her last child at 40, my little > > > sister , so I thought that would be in the " cards " for me as > > > well. Also, Tara is enjoying good health, having a twin seems to have > > > been a great strength for her! She is 18 months now, and is cruzing the > > > furniture more and more now, she really is watching s every move! > > > I'm greatful that she is a twin! Thank God the only serious surgery > > > she/we had was insertion of bilateral ear tubes, which really isn't > > > serious stuff at all. > > > Gail.........Bobby 6 1/2, Jillian 4, and Tara {Ds} 18 months > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Torry, > > > > > > > > I had faternal boy/girl twins on 11/11/99. We did not do an AFP test > > > > since it was most likely to come back positive (due to age factor and > > > > because I was carring twins). We also decided not to do an Amio > > > > since the risk of miscarriage with twins was greater than the chance > > > > of one having Down Syndrome. At 20 weeks I had the first sonogram > > > > done, they looked for some markers but did not find anything > > > > noticable. Their weight was with in ounces of each other. Since > > > > twins is concidered high risk, I had sonograms every 4-5 weeks to make > > > > sure they were growing properly. In everyone of these sonograms > > > > except the last one two days before they were born their weight was > > > > within a couple of ounces of each other. On the last sonogram I was > > > > told the weights were 6lbs12ozs and 5lbs7ozs. When they were born > > > > they weighted 6lbs14ozs and 6lbs12ozs, I was later told that they were > > > > off on one due to a shorter femur, that was the one that was born with > > > > DS. Tyler had no other markers that they could find during any of the > > > > sonograms until the last one, and even then then did not suspect it. > > > > In fact all of his physical features are very mild, in fact, many > > > > people don't even realize he has DS unless I tell them since everyone > > > > asks why my son is so much smaller than his twin sister. I have had a > > > > couple of people who either have children or relatives with DS ask me. > > > > I was 36 when I got pregnant and was 37 when they were born. If I had > > > > been a little older I probably would have had an amio, since the risk > > > > of DS is greater than a miscarriage. There is also a new test that > > > > has a lower miscarriage rate and can be done earlier than an > > > > amio called a CVS. Looking back I am not sure if I would have changed > > > > anything about doing the test or not, I think I may have worried more > > > > about health problems the child could be born with thus making the > > > > pregnacy more trying. > > > > > > > > Katy mom to 31/2 and twins and Tyler(DS) > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hi, I'm currently doing research re Down's Syndrome with multiples. > > > > Am pregnant with fraternal twins right now, and looking for > > > > information regarding sonogram markers for Down's Syndrome and other > > > > potential birth defects. > > > > > > > > > > Torry > > > > > > > > > > > > http://DSyndrome.com/Multiples > > > > > > > > > http://DSyndrome.com/Multiples > > > > > > > > > http://DSyndrome.com/Multiples > > > http://DSyndrome.com/Multiples > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 3, 2000 Report Share Posted October 3, 2000 Hi Torry, The echocardiogram was similar to ultrasound, so they moved a doppler (is that what it is called--I've kind of forgotten all the language) around your tummy--I just remember having to drink a ton of water before...that was the only uncomfortableness associated with it. Let us know how things go on the 12th. Marcia Mom to Sara (DS) and 5-3/4 and Lucas 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 3, 2000 Report Share Posted October 3, 2000 Thank you, Marcia, for your e-mail. How intrusive was the in-utero echocardiogram? Depending on the findings (again, preliminary, I presume, since it appears nothing is certain until birth anyway) we receive at our 10/12 ultrasound, perhaps we will suggest that procedure for our son. Torry Re: Re: Doing Research > Hi Torry, > > It is great you are connected with our group--please continue to keep us > informed about how your pregnancy is going and when you have your little ones. > > I have Sara and who are 5-3/4. Sara has Down Syndrome, does > not. > I became pregnant with them when I was 42 and the doctor I was seeing > strongly encouraged amniocentisis--I had also had amniocentisis with my first > son, who is now almost 10. > > It was when I went into have amnio that it was discovered I had twins. The > Dr. did not do the amnio test that day because of the position of the twins. > ( I was thankful for her decision). Anyway, the next week amnio was > successfully performed and I found out the results less than 10 days later. > The Dr. reported that I would have a boy and a girl and that the girl would > have Down Syndrome. Knowing that terminating the pregnancy was not an > option, we then chose to have an inutero echocardiogram to look at our little > girl's heart (she did not have a heart defect) and to receive as much > information as we could about our baby girl. > > Because of the information we had received and the time we had to prepare, > Sara and 's birth was a great celebration. > > Sara is a joy to behold--we cannot imagine our lives without her. > > Marcia > Mom to Sara (DS) and (5-3/4) and Lucas (almost 10) > > > http://DSyndrome.com/Multiples > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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