High Alpha-Fetoprotein - Freaking out!

[TMonster]

I just had my quad screen on Tuesday and the doctor called me today to tell me that my AFP levels were high and that there is a 1:263 chance that there is some sort of neural tube defect.

I am getting a total runaround. He told me I can either have an amnio or a special ultrasound to look for markers. I am opting for the ultrasound. He told me to call and speak with a genetic counselor to schedule. I called genetic counseling and they told me I need an ultrasound first before I can see them but the doctor insists I consult with them first before getting this ultrasound.

I feel like no one is telling me what is going on and I just want to get this ultrasound done with! Now I am going to have to wait till Tuesday to speak with a genetic counselor that doesnt want to speak with me until after I have an ultrasound so I can go back to the doctor who has to order the ultrasound so that I can finally get a freaking ultrasound and see if there is anything wrong.

I am stressing out and in tears and the doctor is telling me its probably nothing and not to worry. Getting me in for a freaking ultrasound today would help me not worry!

Has anyone else had high AFP levels? How did it turn out?

 

[bekkie]

Just wanted to send you a big I'm still waiting for my quad screen results as baby has a possible VSD so they made me get checked. The waiting is the worst... we had our ultrasound on the 2nd and have been waiting since then for the fetal echocardiogram... I hope you get your answers soon, and that baby is healthy!

 

[25weeker]

In my last pregnancy my afp came back high. I was called in for an ultrasound the next day. They didn't see any issues but said they would check again at the 20 week scan. Both my girls didn't have any neural tube defects.

I have since read that bleeding in the first trimester can cause it to go high and I think there is a few other things.

I hope you get a scan sorted ASAP.

Good luck

X

 

[TMonster]

I had a lot of bleeding in first tri due to the subchorionic hematoma. I hope thats it but I am so stressed and I don't feel like waiting. I just want them to give me the scan now and ease my mind. I don't know if I want to eat a gallon of ice cream or vomit. I keep pacing back and forth and I can't relax.

I tend to have vitamin malabsorption issues but I had my vitamin levels tested and my folic acid was high in Jan and I continued to take B complex during my pregnancy but I worry it wasnt enough.

 

[TMonster]

I just found out that with high afp levels I may need to be induced at 38 or 39 weeks. I just want this stress to end and I can't reach the doctor. I know that the odds of everything being fine are 99.62 but I would feel sooo much better after a scan. Does it really need to take this long?

 

[CaptainMummy]

I had high AFP my Last pregnancy. I got the letter throuh on a thursday and had to go bCk for a scan on the tuesday. Longest weekend ever! I now have a perfectly healthy and beautiful 2 year old.

Apparently they get alot of false 'positives' and the cHnces of your baby having a NTD are still really low. I wod say try not to worry, but I wont... I know how horrible it is to wait and I hope time flies for you and you learn your baby is just perfect which Im sure it is

 

[TMonster]

The worst part is I have 2 parties this weekend and the NY Baby show and an overnight house guest on Sunday. I don't want to do anything! I am gonna see my entire family for the first time pregnant and I don't think I can handle it emotionally given how stressed I am and he has a work party as well where everyone is going to bombard me with questions about the baby and its just not what I want.
I want to just hide in my Apt until I can get this scan done.

I know its super low risk but I can't help but not worry about it. MIL called DH and told him I am insane if I want to keep a spina bifida baby which I found to be very offensive. I mean I love her and I hardly think spina bifida is the end of the world and there is a very small chance that she would have it anyway.

I know that I've been very dehydrated lately. I am wondering if my dehydration has any impact on the test result. Like maybe there are lower than normal amniotic fluid levels due to my dehydration thus the higher level of AFP? I dunno but I will start drinking more. The problem is water has been making me gag lately, even if its ice cold I just find I need some flavoring and I am trying not to consume too much diet soda or crystal light which leaves me with stuff like juice or vitamin water etc. which has a ton of sugar in it. I water the juice down quite a bit but I still have been trying to not drink 500 calories a day.

 

[laila 44]

Don't panic Hun chances are its nothing at all! My dr said that they now have a fantastic genetic blood test that can screen for certain disorders if the quad screening comes back high risk. This blood test is available for those who don't want to risk an amino. However it is very very expensive. Maybe inquire if your dr has it available where you are. It's supposed to be 100 percent accurate.

 

[TMonster]

I think the blood test is only for Downs not NTD
I would get and pay for a blood test in a heartbeat if it could ease my mind.

I know that statistically everything should be fine and I shouldnt worry and there is a super high false positive rate etc. but I can't help it. I have this full weekend where everyone is going to ask me about my pregnancy for the first time and I just want to break down in tears.

 

[TMonster]

I know I need to relax but I can't eat or sleep or do much of anything. I can't relax. I am so stressed and so upset that they called me with this information on a Friday when I can't go in for scans or call doctors or make appointments or do anything. All I have to do is sit and wait and google. I don't care what events I need to go to this weekend. I am not up for doing anything or seeing anyone today. I just want to stay home and cry. Would it have really been that hard to wait until monday to call me? Or to schedule a fucking ultrasound for me on the same day or over the weekend or even on monday so I don't have to start calling first thing monday morning trying to get this taken care of?

I know many people have to wait much longer but I am not a patient person and I keep feeling like I did something wrong. I took my vitamins and my folate levels were tested the month before I got pregnant and looked great but I am still worried it wasnt enough due to my issues with vitamins. I was so worried about vitamin A toxicity that I cut back on some of my supplements.

I know chances are everything will be fine but I am totally falling apart. This entire pregnancy has been so stressful. First with the bleeding and bed rest in the first tri, then finding out I have an anterior placenta which isnt a bad thing but it means I wont feel kicks as early so I wont be as aware of how the baby is doing and then getting the abnormal reading now and feeling like there is nothing I can do. To top it all off DH and I are having serious issues. I found out on Tuesday that I have protein in my urine and I need to do a 24 hour urine test.

I was just hoping that this test will come back fine, that I will have a normal 20 week scan and that I can just relax and finally enjoy the remainder of my pregnancy. This is my first pregnancy and already the thought of doing this again makes me want to smash my head into a wall.

I don't even glow or look better. Instead I've gained massive amounts of weight and feel like a whale and everyone telling me I barely show and still look the same doesnt make me feel better about the 20 pounds I put on and I am breaking out worse than I did at 16.

I keep telling myself that one day I can look back at all of this and look at my beautiful Zoe and think of how it was all worth it but right now its really hard to see that and my raging hormones dont make it any easier!

 

[Foxy37]

Its awfull and so stressfull . My hcg came back high so put me at 1 in 137
I declinded an amnio and bless my mum as she said well if anything was wrong your still young enough to try again . I had 2 days in limbo and a few days thinking shall i have amnio or not then i just thought No i dont want it . My obstetrition said 1 in 137 isnt much to worry about so now i just think what will be will be . I am still worried and cant wait for my 20 weeks scan to see if they find markers xx

 

[Jessica0907]

This is exactly why I opted out of the blood screening... Unnecessary worry over something I have no control over. I think you honestly need to get out this weekend and see people. You need to get your mind off that. Let people congratulate you on your pregnancy but don't tell people about the results for now. Why? Because you need a weekend to be excited about pregnancy. Your chances of something wrong are so very low. Worrying will not at all help the situation. A little worry is natural but making yourself feel sick is not good for the baby either. You need to change your frame of mind. You need to tell yourself that you will be calm and patient because that's what is good for the baby. Mind over matter. I worried a lot with my first pregnancy because I have a sensory disorder that I haven't been able to overcome. It causes extreme pickiness with foods. I couldn't keep the prenatals down as I was throwing up almost constantly. I realized though what I did have control over was my attitude. I may be still captured by my eating disorder but I wouldn't be a slave to worry. I'm now pregnant with my third and all my kids are healthy. I don't tell you all this to beat you down or make you feel ridiculous (honestly pregnancy does that to us enough) but rather to encourage you to free yourself from the bondage of worry and have a little fun this weekend.

 

[Foxy37]

good words x