So I had my first ob appt today, and my doc talked through the screening options for us. With my previous pregnancies, I had gone ahead with the typical blood screens. With both DDs, they were totally normal. With DS, it was a VERY high risk indicator for trisomy, but when we did the ultrasound to prep for the amnio, the baby looked so fine the ob said unless we REALLY wanted the amnio, he did not see a reason for concern. We opted no (I am so scared of needles it isn't funny; I was thinking about asking for a sedative).
So he said that 'mature' women can have some more comprehensive screening early on that combines bloodwork and ultrasounds in first tri with the standard 2nd tri test and scan to give a better indication of risk factor. In order to qualify, your ob has to diagnose you with 'mature pregnancy' or 'advanced age pregnancy' or something like that.
My ob also explained that there is nothing magic about the additional risk at 35 and that the increase in risk just goes up as you get older, but that at 35 its something like 1:200, which is the same as the risk of losing a baby due to amnio so the odds even out. He said for someone right at 35 he neither recommends or dissuades from the extra scanning, but since we had the high risk blood results but such normal scans with my son that it would probably be good for my peace of mind, since it is more effective at ruling out false risks.
At this point I plan on doing it. I would rather do a bunch of scans and bloodwork than have an amnio, but wondered if this is something other moms are thinking about too?
So he said that 'mature' women can have some more comprehensive screening early on that combines bloodwork and ultrasounds in first tri with the standard 2nd tri test and scan to give a better indication of risk factor. In order to qualify, your ob has to diagnose you with 'mature pregnancy' or 'advanced age pregnancy' or something like that.
My ob also explained that there is nothing magic about the additional risk at 35 and that the increase in risk just goes up as you get older, but that at 35 its something like 1:200, which is the same as the risk of losing a baby due to amnio so the odds even out. He said for someone right at 35 he neither recommends or dissuades from the extra scanning, but since we had the high risk blood results but such normal scans with my son that it would probably be good for my peace of mind, since it is more effective at ruling out false risks.
At this point I plan on doing it. I would rather do a bunch of scans and bloodwork than have an amnio, but wondered if this is something other moms are thinking about too?
