RE: Triple Screen Results - not the greatest news

[Guest guest]

Elle,

I know you were able to make the decision and honestly if were more supportive of the decision I would already be signed up for one. I don't think I can make it through the next 4 1/2 months not knowing. But the whole risk of losing the baby is all she can focus on and so she is very opposed to the test. It's a terrrible time to be honest. We are going up to the lake this weekend and hopefully we will be able to talk more about it (calmly) instead of fighting about it. Who knew that perfect bliss could be so quickly shattered??

Dana

[Guest guest]

Elle,

I know you were able to make the decision and honestly if were more supportive of the decision I would already be signed up for one. I don't think I can make it through the next 4 1/2 months not knowing. But the whole risk of losing the baby is all she can focus on and so she is very opposed to the test. It's a terrrible time to be honest. We are going up to the lake this weekend and hopefully we will be able to talk more about it (calmly) instead of fighting about it. Who knew that perfect bliss could be so quickly shattered??

Dana

[Guest guest]

,

Please let know what she finds out from the level II u/s.

Dana

[Guest guest]

Vicki,

I don't know if we will go with the amnio or not. If I had it my way I think we probably would. However is completely against it at this point so I don't know. It's a scary time for us both.

Dana

[Guest guest]

Oh my Dana,

You, little one, and will definately be in my thoughts and prayers!! Please keep us posted!!

{{{{HUGS to the 3 of you}}}}

e

>From: gradstu12@... >Reply-To: PregnancyBabiesAfterEctopic >To: PregnancyBabiesAfterEctopic >Subject: Triple Screen Results - not the greatest news >Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 21:50:48 EDT > >Hey all, > >OK for the first time since I found out we were pg I am completely bummed. I >have been crying for about the last 3 hours and I am not sure how to get >through this. OK, let me start at the beginning. I had my Triple Screen Test >last Wednesday, and my doctor called me today to say that the test was >negative for neural tube defects, but did show an elevated risk for Down's >Syndrome. Now I know he told me before I took the test that since I was 36, >that the equation used to figure my results would skew it, and I was prepared >(or so I thought) to handle this. Now I am not so sure. I was dead set >against Amnio before the test, and even this morning when my OB offered it I >still said no. > >I wasn't prepared at all for this possibility and I am afraid that now I am >going to be completely obsessed with the idea the baby has Down's and not be >able to enjoy this pg anymore. I can't believe this has thrown my whole world >upside down. Please pray our little one will be healthy. > >Dana >16 weeks 6 days > Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

[Guest guest]

Oh my Dana,

You, little one, and will definately be in my thoughts and prayers!! Please keep us posted!!

{{{{HUGS to the 3 of you}}}}

e

>From: gradstu12@... >Reply-To: PregnancyBabiesAfterEctopic >To: PregnancyBabiesAfterEctopic >Subject: Triple Screen Results - not the greatest news >Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 21:50:48 EDT > >Hey all, > >OK for the first time since I found out we were pg I am completely bummed. I >have been crying for about the last 3 hours and I am not sure how to get >through this. OK, let me start at the beginning. I had my Triple Screen Test >last Wednesday, and my doctor called me today to say that the test was >negative for neural tube defects, but did show an elevated risk for Down's >Syndrome. Now I know he told me before I took the test that since I was 36, >that the equation used to figure my results would skew it, and I was prepared >(or so I thought) to handle this. Now I am not so sure. I was dead set >against Amnio before the test, and even this morning when my OB offered it I >still said no. > >I wasn't prepared at all for this possibility and I am afraid that now I am >going to be completely obsessed with the idea the baby has Down's and not be >able to enjoy this pg anymore. I can't believe this has thrown my whole world >upside down. Please pray our little one will be healthy. > >Dana >16 weeks 6 days > Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

[Guest guest]

Dana,

Oh sweetie, I feel so horrible for you. I can feel the pain and sorrow you are feeling through your email. I can completely understand your feelings. When the triple screen came back high with Casey and I was afraid something might be wrong, I too wanted to know so I could at least be prepared. The risks of amnio are very minimal, although present, as I am a excellent example of something going wrong. I at least have a good outcome. My thoughts on the subject is you can't spend the rest of this pg worrying and crying something might be wrong. Maybe you should sit down with and your dr and explain this to them. All the stress that this can cause isn't good for you or the baby!

As for what your family is saying or is going to say - tell them where to go and how do get there! This could happen to any woman. The method of conception has nothing to do with the outcome. My whole family thought I was batty when I wanted to get pg again after Casey, because of the problems I had and the risk of it happening again. And then when I had the ep and wanted to try again, they thought I had completely lost my mind. But if I set my mind something there is no stopping me. And through it all I have told them that it's really none of their business and that I don't need or want their opinions. Look at me sweetie I'm 37 with four children and I'm considering one more - now who is the nut!

I'm sending you huge hugs and letting you know that I'm here no matter what you decide. If you would like I could even discuss it with , it might help. But that is completely up to you. If you thought about waiting for another 6 weeks or so to do the amnio? I've heard the further into the pg, the less likely of something going wrong. Please keep me updated - you have me so worried! You are all in my thoughts and prayers.

Love & hugs,

Jo-Ann

Re: Triple Screen Results - not the greatest news

Jo-Ann, You know I always considered myself able to handle whatever God throws my way, and if this baby does indeed have Down's I know we will love it and cherish it just the same, but the worry factor is in the red zone and I can't stop crying. When my OB called and gave me the results, I just said OK, well you told me they would probably come back abnormal. And that was that, but then throughout the day it began to sink in as did the fear. I need to be prepared. I need to deal with the fallout before the baby is born. I just don't know what to do. I talked at length before we did this frigging test, and was wholeheartedly against amnio, and now it seems I have made a 180 degree turn. However, is against amnio and feels that we shouldn't risk the life of our baby for peace of mind and that everything will be fine however it turns out. I could just scream. Suddenly I have gone from 'Look what we made:)" to "What have we done " I mean I was warned by my family I was too old, and then there's the whole "unnatural" part of the conception that I won't even go into what will be said if something is wrong. I don't know what to do. Dana

[Guest guest]

Dana -

You are NOT too old, and there was nothing unnatural about the little

one's conception! Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise. Everything

you had to go through to get this baby just shows how special and

loved it is and will be. The age thing - I am 34, not far behind you.

Elle is 37, Pam is 33, of the top of my head - there are a few

youngsters among us who are expecting #1, but also many women in their

mid-30's. It's the choices we made in life, to get our professinal

lives going, to find the right partner, that delayed the childbearing,

but ultimately these choices are in the child's best interest!

Thousands and thousands of women get false positive AFP test - they

never have to think about being too old or getting IUI, and you

shouldn't either. Please be kind to yourself.

Hugs,

a

> Jo-Ann,

>

> You know I always considered myself able to handle whatever God

throws my

> way, and if this baby does indeed have Down's I know we will love it

and

> cherish it just the same, but the worry factor is in the red zone

and I can't

> stop crying. When my OB called and gave me the results, I just said

OK, well

> you told me they would probably come back abnormal. And that was

that, but

> then throughout the day it began to sink in as did the fear. I need

to be

> prepared. I need to deal with the fallout before the baby is born. I

just

> don't know what to do. I talked at length before we did this

frigging test,

> and was wholeheartedly against amnio, and now it seems I have made a

180

> degree turn. However, is against amnio and feels that we

shouldn't risk

> the life of our baby for peace of mind and that everything will be

fine

> however it turns out. I could just scream. Suddenly I have gone from

'Look

> what we made:) " to " What have we done " I mean I was warned by my

family I

> was too old, and then there's the whole " unnatural " part of the

conception

> that I won't even go into what will be said if something is wrong. I

don't

> know what to do.

>

> Dana

[Guest guest]

Dana -

You are NOT too old, and there was nothing unnatural about the little

one's conception! Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise. Everything

you had to go through to get this baby just shows how special and

loved it is and will be. The age thing - I am 34, not far behind you.

Elle is 37, Pam is 33, of the top of my head - there are a few

youngsters among us who are expecting #1, but also many women in their

mid-30's. It's the choices we made in life, to get our professinal

lives going, to find the right partner, that delayed the childbearing,

but ultimately these choices are in the child's best interest!

Thousands and thousands of women get false positive AFP test - they

never have to think about being too old or getting IUI, and you

shouldn't either. Please be kind to yourself.

Hugs,

a

> Jo-Ann,

>

> You know I always considered myself able to handle whatever God

throws my

> way, and if this baby does indeed have Down's I know we will love it

and

> cherish it just the same, but the worry factor is in the red zone

and I can't

> stop crying. When my OB called and gave me the results, I just said

OK, well

> you told me they would probably come back abnormal. And that was

that, but

> then throughout the day it began to sink in as did the fear. I need

to be

> prepared. I need to deal with the fallout before the baby is born. I

just

> don't know what to do. I talked at length before we did this

frigging test,

> and was wholeheartedly against amnio, and now it seems I have made a

180

> degree turn. However, is against amnio and feels that we

shouldn't risk

> the life of our baby for peace of mind and that everything will be

fine

> however it turns out. I could just scream. Suddenly I have gone from

'Look

> what we made:) " to " What have we done " I mean I was warned by my

family I

> was too old, and then there's the whole " unnatural " part of the

conception

> that I won't even go into what will be said if something is wrong. I

don't

> know what to do.

>

> Dana

[Guest guest]

Jo-Ann,

I think we might both need to hear more about it. Actually, brought home a bunch of articles she printed off the web about amnio and had a discussion with a friend who had one and miraculously seems to be leaning towards going with the amnio. She said we would talk more about it this weekend but she said she couldn't imagine us going through the hell of worrying for 4 1/2 months. SOOO, now I have to think about the possibility of something going wrong and losing the baby and later finding out it was perfectly healthy and wondering how high the risks really are. I know my OB refers out to specialists, so I feel OK about that. You know, somehow just knowing she is researching and thinking about it makes me feel so much better. I couldn't have felt any worse. It has been a miserable 3 days and I can't tell you how much your support has meant to me, in fact everyone here has been supportive. It's funny, cause out of all my friends who know I'm pg, not a one knows the triple screen came back with a positive for Down's. And forget me bringing up the possibility of an amnio. I don't know what I would do without you all (probably be locked up in some mental ward). (((HUGS))) Jo-Ann, you're the best (in more ways than one).

Dana

[Guest guest]

Jo-Ann,

I think we might both need to hear more about it. Actually, brought home a bunch of articles she printed off the web about amnio and had a discussion with a friend who had one and miraculously seems to be leaning towards going with the amnio. She said we would talk more about it this weekend but she said she couldn't imagine us going through the hell of worrying for 4 1/2 months. SOOO, now I have to think about the possibility of something going wrong and losing the baby and later finding out it was perfectly healthy and wondering how high the risks really are. I know my OB refers out to specialists, so I feel OK about that. You know, somehow just knowing she is researching and thinking about it makes me feel so much better. I couldn't have felt any worse. It has been a miserable 3 days and I can't tell you how much your support has meant to me, in fact everyone here has been supportive. It's funny, cause out of all my friends who know I'm pg, not a one knows the triple screen came back with a positive for Down's. And forget me bringing up the possibility of an amnio. I don't know what I would do without you all (probably be locked up in some mental ward). (((HUGS))) Jo-Ann, you're the best (in more ways than one).

Dana

[Guest guest]

Jo-Ann,

I think we might both need to hear more about it. Actually, brought home a bunch of articles she printed off the web about amnio and had a discussion with a friend who had one and miraculously seems to be leaning towards going with the amnio. She said we would talk more about it this weekend but she said she couldn't imagine us going through the hell of worrying for 4 1/2 months. SOOO, now I have to think about the possibility of something going wrong and losing the baby and later finding out it was perfectly healthy and wondering how high the risks really are. I know my OB refers out to specialists, so I feel OK about that. You know, somehow just knowing she is researching and thinking about it makes me feel so much better. I couldn't have felt any worse. It has been a miserable 3 days and I can't tell you how much your support has meant to me, in fact everyone here has been supportive. It's funny, cause out of all my friends who know I'm pg, not a one knows the triple screen came back with a positive for Down's. And forget me bringing up the possibility of an amnio. I don't know what I would do without you all (probably be locked up in some mental ward). (((HUGS))) Jo-Ann, you're the best (in more ways than one).

Dana

[Guest guest]

Dana, I hope you and can work things ok. I know you are scared and so is she. She knows it will not be healthy for you to be stresses out the next 4 1/ months and you did some reassurance. I know right now it feels your happiness is shattered but you will be joyful again. I will keep the 3 of you in my prayers. Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com

[Guest guest]

Dana,

That is wonderful news, it sounds like is coming around! I can't imagine worrying about for the next four and a half months either. Let me know if I can be of any help!

Love & hugs,

Jo-Ann

Re: Triple Screen Results - not the greatest news

Jo-Ann, I think we might both need to hear more about it. Actually, brought home a bunch of articles she printed off the web about amnio and had a discussion with a friend who had one and miraculously seems to be leaning towards going with the amnio. She said we would talk more about it this weekend but she said she couldn't imagine us going through the hell of worrying for 4 1/2 months. SOOO, now I have to think about the possibility of something going wrong and losing the baby and later finding out it was perfectly healthy and wondering how high the risks really are. I know my OB refers out to specialists, so I feel OK about that. You know, somehow just knowing she is researching and thinking about it makes me feel so much better. I couldn't have felt any worse. It has been a miserable 3 days and I can't tell you how much your support has meant to me, in fact everyone here has been supportive. It's funny, cause out of all my friends who know I'm pg, not a one knows the triple screen came back with a positive for Down's. And forget me bringing up the possibility of an amnio. I don't know what I would do without you all (probably be locked up in some mental ward). (((HUGS))) Jo-Ann, you're the best (in more ways than one). Dana

[Guest guest]

Dana,

That is wonderful news, it sounds like is coming around! I can't imagine worrying about for the next four and a half months either. Let me know if I can be of any help!

Love & hugs,

Jo-Ann

Re: Triple Screen Results - not the greatest news

Jo-Ann, I think we might both need to hear more about it. Actually, brought home a bunch of articles she printed off the web about amnio and had a discussion with a friend who had one and miraculously seems to be leaning towards going with the amnio. She said we would talk more about it this weekend but she said she couldn't imagine us going through the hell of worrying for 4 1/2 months. SOOO, now I have to think about the possibility of something going wrong and losing the baby and later finding out it was perfectly healthy and wondering how high the risks really are. I know my OB refers out to specialists, so I feel OK about that. You know, somehow just knowing she is researching and thinking about it makes me feel so much better. I couldn't have felt any worse. It has been a miserable 3 days and I can't tell you how much your support has meant to me, in fact everyone here has been supportive. It's funny, cause out of all my friends who know I'm pg, not a one knows the triple screen came back with a positive for Down's. And forget me bringing up the possibility of an amnio. I don't know what I would do without you all (probably be locked up in some mental ward). (((HUGS))) Jo-Ann, you're the best (in more ways than one). Dana

[Guest guest]

Jo-Ann,

Could you tell us more about what the actual procedure is like. Did you have to go first for counseling and then go back for the amnio or did you just have the amnio? How long did it take? What happened first? What did they say about the risk factors? How bad did it hurt/ (I think you answered this before but I have to ask again)? How long did it take to get the results back? Oh just whatever you can think of.

Dana

17 weeks 2 days

[Guest guest]

Jo-Ann,

Could you tell us more about what the actual procedure is like. Did you have to go first for counseling and then go back for the amnio or did you just have the amnio? How long did it take? What happened first? What did they say about the risk factors? How bad did it hurt/ (I think you answered this before but I have to ask again)? How long did it take to get the results back? Oh just whatever you can think of.

Dana

17 weeks 2 days

[Guest guest]

Jo-Ann,

Could you tell us more about what the actual procedure is like. Did you have to go first for counseling and then go back for the amnio or did you just have the amnio? How long did it take? What happened first? What did they say about the risk factors? How bad did it hurt/ (I think you answered this before but I have to ask again)? How long did it take to get the results back? Oh just whatever you can think of.

Dana

17 weeks 2 days

[Guest guest]

Dana, I am sure is just afraid too, I think you two will be able to work things out. You are already on the right track, you both just want the best for the baby and to know he/she is ok. It does sound like she is coming around some. Good luck. Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com

[Guest guest]

Dana, I am sure is just afraid too, I think you two will be able to work things out. You are already on the right track, you both just want the best for the baby and to know he/she is ok. It does sound like she is coming around some. Good luck. Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com

[Guest guest]

Dana, I am sure is just afraid too, I think you two will be able to work things out. You are already on the right track, you both just want the best for the baby and to know he/she is ok. It does sound like she is coming around some. Good luck. Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com

[Guest guest]

Dana,

Could you tell us more about what the actual procedure is like.

The procedure itself isn't bad at all. I think the hardest part is not knowing what to expect. I hope this will help to allevate some of that fear. For me it went like this: I came into the hospital (daycare unit), I was told to put on a gown and was told to lay up on a stretcher. My dr came in said his hellos and asked me how I was feeling. My reply of course was "scared". Of course you get the reassuring smile and the pat on the belly with the standard reply "It's not so bad". And to be honest he was right.

He then does an u/s to check for the position of the baby, pokes around and such. Behind him the nurse is getting the rest of the things ready for the procedure. He then washed down my belly with idoine and told me we were ready to start. My girlfriend was there with me (Wally has at work, as per usual) so she took my hand and I literally held my breath. I couldn't look at the needle I thought that would freak me out and send me running from the room. I believe each dr has different ways of inserting the needle. Some do it slow, some do it very fast. My dr did it very quickly. Kind of like dart. Some drs use the u/s to help guide the needle in, my dr didn't. The most pain you will feel is as the needle puntures the skin (which isn't bad at all) and there was some burning (probably from the idione on my belly). It takes approximately 30 seconds to a minute (feel like an externity) to withdraw the amnio fluid. Then the dr removes the needle (doesn't hurt at all) and immediately applies pressure to the area with a piece of gauze. I was told to lay there for 30 minutes to make sure I was fine to walk I think. But all in all it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. The hardest part was when the needle in my belly, that scared me for me, but not painful.

Did you have to go first for counseling and then go back for the amnio or did you just have the amnio?

I was offered the genic counseling, but to be honest, I heard most of the fact from my dr and decided that no matter what they said we would be doing the amnio anyway. I figured it would be a waste of time, so I just had the amnio.

How long did it take?

The whole procedure including laying there for 30 minutes didn't take more than 45 minutes.

What did they say about the risk factors?

My dr told me that the risk of something going wrong was 1 in 200 pregnancy. But that isn't necessarily for a total loss of the pregnancy. That could include something going wrong like what happened to me (PROM - premature rupture of the membrances). With a skilled dr, the risks go way down. I can tell you if I ever had to have another amnio, my dr wouldn't be doing it. While he is a skilled physican, he doesn't specialize in amnios and there a plenty of drs that do.

How bad did it hurt/ (I think you answered this before but I have to ask again)?

On a scale of 1-10 I would rate it at a 2 - not bad at all - the ep was far worse.

How long did it take to get the results back?

It took three weeks to get the results back. I've heard that the results are coming back quicker now.If you have any other questions, I'll be happy to answer them for you.

Love & hugs,

Jo-Ann