On monday when I went to the Dr. They
gave me a slip to go to the hospital to
get that one test where they test for down
syndrome....What kind of test is it and
what do they do?? I can't go yet,
because it's still too early, but I forgot
the date they told me to go! I have to
call back and find out, but noones
anwering...Blah....I forget if they told
me an exact date, or just by a certian
time....
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Princess385
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 03 Dec 2004 Posts: 407 Location: Wisconsin
Posted: 02-10-05 15:42pm
Did you have the blood test one done? If
it's not the one where they just draw
blood, if it's the one where they go into
the placenta to check? Then they use a
really long needle to do this with and I
believe they take the fluid and test that.
I'm not really sure. You do have a
chance of miscarriage witht his though.
:( a friend of ours was 6 months pregnant
and had that test done and she ended up
losing the baby a few weeks later. I'd
personally never have it done, but then
that's a personal choice. To me it
woudln't matter to me if my child had some
disorder or not, simply because I wouldn't
abort because of it!!
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BrianBaby
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 19 Jan 2005 Posts: 1383
Posted: 02-10-05 15:45pm
I think it's just the blood test one....I
hope so!
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Princess385
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 03 Dec 2004 Posts: 407 Location: Wisconsin
Posted: 02-10-05 15:47pm
Yeah then they just take blood like they
would any other time. :) I didn't even
have that one done, but was explained it.
:) they didn't explain it to you at
all???
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BrianBaby
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 19 Jan 2005 Posts: 1383
Posted: 02-10-05 15:54pm
Well I don't get it done at the Dr. I
have to go to the hospital to get
bloodwork done....They told me when to go,
but my health question forgot when they
told me, so....
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MissChicopea
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 19 Jan 2005 Posts: 21 Location: Allston, MA
Posted: 02-10-05 15:59pm
It all depends on what test they were
recommending. There are several that
check for down syndrome. They include:
maternal serum screening:
when- between 15 and 20 weeks, ideally 16
to 18 weeks.
Purpose- also called triple screen or
multiple marker, this checks your levels
of alpha fetoprotein, human chorionic
gonadoptropin and estriol. These three
tests along with the mother's age are used
to estimate the possible risk of down
syndrome and neural tube defects.
Method- blood drawn
note- false positives are common. Only 1
or 2 women in 100 who have abnormal levels
will actually be carrying a baby with down
syndrome.
Amniocentesis:
when-betwen 15 and 20 weeks
purpose- to detect down syndrome, neural
tube defects and a number of genetic and
chomosomal disorders. Also confirms
baby's gender.
Method- a long, thin needle is guided
through the abdomen with the help of
ultrasound. A small sample of amniotic
fluid is then removed and tested.
Note- between 1 in 200 amniocentesis
procedures may result in miscarriage.
Chorionic villus sampling:
when - between 10 and 12 weeks
purpose - to detect chromosomal disorders,
such as down syndrome.
Method - a sample of chorionic villi the
tiny fingerlike tissues of the placenta is
obtained in either two ways: through a
tube inserted into the vagina and cervix
or a needle guided into the abdomne with
the help of an ultrasound.
Note- 1 in 100 women may suffer a
miscarriage that would otherwise not
occur. There is also a very rare chance
of limb abnormalities, particularly if the
test is performed earlier than ten weeks
gestation.
Yes, it's optional and I opted not to have
it. The test is done so you have the
option to abort if something is wrong and
also some prep at the birth if something
is wrong, if applicable. There really
isn't much prep they can/will do so I
didn't do it. No sense in me worrying
about that the whole time if baby did have
downs or anything else. But some women
may deal better if they know ahead of
time. They def wouldn't give you an
amnio. That's most common for moms over
35.
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jessamyn
Moderator
Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 4116 Location: San Diego, CA