Genetic Screening
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Genetic Screening
| Tue, 08-18-2009 - 7:50pm |
I'm posting this in part to Ashley's post over at the old board and just to open up the conversation.
Today was my first appointment, and my doctor did a very quick "genetic counseling" with us. He basically told us the risk factors, determined that we didn't have any of them, and then asked if we wanted any of the screening tests. He said that the blood test is not incredibly reliable and often causes undue worry, and that the only way to test for sure (at least for Downs) was the amniocentesis.
We ended up declining all of the screening just b/c I don't think that I would terminate, regardless of the outcome of the test. And...that giant need terrifies me!
Has anyone had an amnio?
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DH and I chose to not do the blood test. Mostly because we looked at the facts that we do not have any occurances on either side of the family and that our age is still in the low risk category. I know that even with those two things it could happen, but we decided that it looked like the numbers would be in our favor and did not want to sit and worry about a blood test that could "possibly" show a problem only to go through everything else and find out it was nothing.
If we had been in a higher risk category we might have been more likly to consider it more. However, we are happy with our decision and have just put it in the Lords hands.
Cassie
Melissa
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I had the 12 week u/s where they measure the back of the baby´s neck and it´s supposed to be one of the many screenimgs for Downs´s. I know it´s not 100% sure, but we were willing to go that far. We had
Well this is what I wrote on the other board before I realized we have a new board!
As for testing, it's a tough question. The needle test is Amniocentesis (amnio for short). Basically you have to decide if it's worth the stress & anxiety of possibly finding a marker & then having to go through further testing to see whether it is anything or not. With my other PG's I skipped the testing & went on faith that things would work out, but I also knew I wouldn't consent to an amnio bc of the slightly increased risk of MCing, and that I wouldn't be likely to choose to terminate a PG for something like Downs. So look at how you feel about what comes next & decide what's going to be the best choice for you. I know plenty of people who would rather go through the stress
I did a presentation on the ethics of fetal genetic testing back when I was in grad school.