I turned down the Downs test!!!

[tung]

When I was carrying my son, I took the downs test. But after taking it... I thought to myself... what's the point? Even if I found out my child had down syndrome, I wouldn't abort him/her. It would only help prepare me for what the road ahead. But at the same time.. if it came back positive that he had down... the next 7-8 months of my pregnancy wouldn't be as happy and joyful as it could have been - because I know this.

Down or no down syndrome - my baby is my baby...

If this pregnancy goes smoothly, I am not going to get the downs test. So I don't think you are mad...

 

[Sienna47]

Hey hun

I did exactly the same thing. Even though I was told by my midwife that now they can just do a blood test instead of the amniocentesis which they offered me when I was pregnant with my daughter. I refused the test with my daughter and I refused it this time too because the test doesnt actually tell you whether your baby has downs syndrome, only what percentage risk there is of it having it, so I dont see the point in getting the test done and worrying about it if it comes back as high risk.

Also - my fiancee says even if it turned out that our baby did have downs syndrome it wouldnt make a difference, we would still keep and love our baby.

Your midwife should respect your disicion because it is entirley up to you and no one else.

xx

 

[MonkeyFeet]

I declined yesterday. I know they test for more than downs but I didn't want an amnio because of the risk factor considering all the difficulties we went through to actually conceive in the first place.

 

[Takara]

I only turned down the extra downs blood test none of the others. Not that I would abort for any disability that was present (a few exceptions obviously like everyone) but I really don't feel that downs is something I needed to spend my pregnancy worrying about.

Xx

 

[Glowstar]

My husband and I decided not to have the NT test since we knew we'd not have the amnio due to the risk of miscarriage. The NT has a high rate of false positives so there's every chance we'd have been worrying over nothing. Both our MWs (1 NHS, 1 independent) totally agreed that if you won't have the amnio then it's best not to have the NT test - in fact when she asked whether we wanted the NT and DH and I looked at each other, MW asked if we'd risk the amnio and when we said no since we'd not abort no matter what she told us not to have the NT then. I think you've just got a daft MW OP!

That's pretty much the exact conversation I had with my Midwife I declined because I don't want an amnio. I was high risk for Spina Bifida 13 years ago and it caused no end of stress.
I also know someone personally who lost their baby girl 2 days after an amnio after being told they were high risk for downs....baby was PERFECT, such a sad loss.

 

[AngelUK]

Oh gosh Glowstar how dreadful that must have been! Did you have tests done for Spina Bifida 13 years ago then? I am terrified of something like this and trisomies 13 and 18.

 

[Hooblet]

We have decided to turn down the test - even with very high odds I would never do an amnio because of the risk of miscarriage. It would be absolutely my worst nightmare to miscarry because of an amnio. We'd only get a rough percentage with the non-invasive test, and they seem to be wrong an awful lot, so I think it would cause more stress to me (and therefore bubs) than its worth. I'm sure we will cope with whatever comes along when baby's born. I don't think you're mad at all, it's your body, your baby, your choice. Your midwife has got nothing to do with it and shouldn't push her personal opinions onto you, she's just there to let you know how processes work and it's up to you to choose what you want. xx

 

[libbylou]

We will likely be declining as well.
My midwife was very good at our first appt - gave us all the info on the testing and told us it is 100% our choice

My line of thinking is that I would not abort even if the testing determined something was wrong.
Here they do a 2-part blood test (you don't get results until after the 2nd part is done) and it basically comes back with a postive or negative for risk.
25% of tests done come back positive. However, only 1 in 10 of those is a true positive.
If I did the blood test and got a positive, I would decline an amnio. A 1 in 200 risk of miscarriage is way too high for me to even consider, especially considering my low risk of DS, Trisomy 18 and neural tube defects.

 

[mamaduke]

We declined the tests, but we weren't given weird looks for it. My OB talked with us at the first appointment to let us know which tests were out there and that we didn't have to take any of them but she still had to tell us what was out there. She mentioned though that only we could make the decision of what's right for us and that some couples opt out of the tests because they don't want extra worry. So it helps to have an OB who sees both sides and makes sure we don't feel pressured either way.

 

[babyblog]

Hiya, i'm not in the high risk catergory but i didn't have the DS test last time and we won't be doing it this time either. i don't think you're mad

 

[mummymarsh]

Everyone seems to only concentrate on Downs but there are other chromosomal abnormalities and genetic illnesses that are quite horrific. Have you looked up Trisomies 13 and 18? I do believe that it children with certain abnormalities and genetic illnesses are born into nothing but suffering. Don't get me wrong, though I am pro choice, I do not think abortions are no big deal. I would break my heart if I had to have one. But there are certain conditions where an abortion would be kinder than giving birth.
Saying that, I respect every one's opinion and choice here and I am not trying to sway you into another decision. Just trying to explain that I will definitely have the further testing if I turned out high risk. Wishing you all a h&h 9 months.

i have to agree with this too..... my son was stillborn in March, due to an infection i picked up at work......

i had a test similar to amnio but it was slighlty more dangerous on 10th March we had to make the awful decision to end the pregnancy if our Charlie was as seriously ill as they said he looked on the scans.... but by 14th march his heart had stopped.... i believe the amnio caused this, but i wouldnt change anything because the god awful decision to terminate was taken out of our hands and on 16th march 2011 at 24+3 weeks my gorgeous son was born.....

 

[bubbles123]

No you're not mad. I turned down all tests too. I was willing to take my chances if he had a condition that they could not pick up on the scan. Downs is not an issue for me, I used to work with Downs children and they were some of the most happy, lovely children I had ever worked with. I do understand why people choose to test though and I think it's a very personal decision.

 

[Novbaby08]

Ive never done the downs test because in the end it will still be my baby and I wont love them any less

 

[Vickie]

I turned it down as well with my first and got some grief from my OB. I'll be turning it down with these two as well. I mean the first two tests wouldn't bother me but I refuse to consent to an amnio (just for me personally it's not something I'm willing to risk).

 

[lori]

I turned it down with my son and I plan on doing the same this time around. I don't want an amnio and I don't plan to terminate, so why do testing that may make us anxious? If I have a baby with Downs, I will adapt and we will be ok.

I guess the real question a person has to ask themselves is what they will do if the results come back high-risk? I can see the value of testing if you really don't want a baby with Downs, but if you don't plan to terminate, then why go through testing?

 

[AliciaDA]

Sorry for the dumb question, but what puts you at high risk for having a child with downs and other issues? First pregnancy so I'm clueless with this type of stuff. I think I'm going to decline as well because I don't want to chance it with having a miscarriage.

 

[amjon]

I turned down the blood tests, but did have the U/S. I wasn't really all that worried about Down's, but it did give me a chance to see the LO again.

 

[Tegans Mama]

Nope you're not mad. My daughter has Spina Bifida and I won't be having screening for that either. I know that if our next child has the same (or any) condition, we would continue with the pregnancy regardless.

 

[Lisa2701]

I refused it with my son as I wouldn't terminate no matter the results anyway so why worry myself over it. I will do the same this time round too.

I will accept and love any baby no matter their needs. My son was born looking like your average baby, at 18 months old his development regressed, at 4 years old he was diagnosed with Classic Autism and Sensory Hypersensitivity, at 6 (1 month ago) he was diagnosed with Hyperacusis. My husband and i have had to learn new ways to communicate, new ways of thinking, and change our lives to fit in with our sons special needs.... would I have him any other way? Absolutely NOT! The same little boy who can't make eye contact with strangers, doesn't understand the concept of two way conversation, and doesn't know how to play with other children, can read ANYTHING you put in front of him, is top of his class at 'most' subjects (he doesn't like writing), copes with mainstream school, wears his heart on his sleeve, is loving and loyal and speaks nothing but the truth as he doesn't know how to lie, and can even beat his computer crazy dad at computer games... he is an AMAZING little boy.

If baby could be tested for Autism, i wouldn't want to be tested. My son has taught me that different isn't something to be scared of...its just different!

 

[libbylou]

Sorry for the dumb question, but what puts you at high risk for having a child with downs and other issues? First pregnancy so I'm clueless with this type of stuff. I think I'm going to decline as well because I don't want to chance it with having a miscarriage.

Generally your age. Once a woman hits 35 and then 40 her changes of having a DS baby significantly increase