Spina Bifida screening

[Jngifford]

Hello Ladies,
I haven't posted in here before but I figured it wouldn't hurt, I need all the prayers I can get.
We found out this morning, at 17.5 weeks with our Rainbow baby (our first child was stillborn in 2011) that our genetic blood results came back with an elevated risk of her developing Spina Bifida. The normal odds are 1/1000 and our odds came back as 1/10. Needless to say, we are scared out of our minds. I have been doing a lot of research and these screening tests can sometimes show a false positive, but not always.
We aren't able to get in for an ultrasound until June 12 and at that time, we will also be meeting with a genetic specialist.
Just curious if anyone else has been in the same situation, and if so, what was the outcome and how do you prepare for something like this?
If you haven't been in this situation, please just pray for us. We have no other option but to pray and hope to God that she is healthy. I can't handle another heartache.

 

[bekkie]

I haven't been in your situation but I wanted to send , keeping you in my thoughts and hope everything comes out clear at the ultrasound.

9/10 chance nothing is wrong

 

[Rainstorm]

oh sweetie sending lots of love hoping everything is ok

 

[oedipamass]

bekkie's right - 90% chance everything will be ok sounds great, but i know it's hard not to dwell on the other 10%.

I don't have any advice for you but didn't want to R&R. You're in our thoughts; keep us updated.

 

[Glitter_berry]

My pregnancies are high risk for spinabifida and I get scans at 16 weeks to check. Because my sister had had 3 pregnancies with spinabifida.
Thankfully everything is fine for me. And I took 5mg if frolic acid till 16 weeks to lower my chances.

My sisters 13 year old boy who they told Wouk never walk. Walks runs and is a very smart young man. He had had a lot of surgeries, including a shunt but he lives very close to normal life for what the doctors first expected of him.
Fingers crossed everything is perfect for you, but also wanted to share our positive as can be spinabifida story. Xxx

 

[whispersof3]

I had the same results with my daughter. They freaked me all out sent me for a special u/s and had to talk to a genetic specialist. The specialist was great and told me about all these options they have now for surgery EVEN including operating on the baby while it is still inside of you. Turns out it was a bunch of worry for no reason because the u/s revealed a perfect spine. She is 5 years old now and not a hint of a problem, she dances, does flips, stands on her head and runs faster then all the other 5 year olds. So I know its extremely scary, believe me I know, but things can turn out just fine! Because of the results of her test I never had them done with my son or with this pregnancy. The worry is just too much to bare.

 

[jammers77]

I understand your concern. This is a worry for my baby, too. My grandfather and mother have spina bifida occulta. Both have had surgeries during their adult years. Physically, they are as able-bodied as anyone else but have restrictions on certain activities. It's a scary thought, and I hope that your baby is perfectly healthy. Keep us updated!

 

[TMonster]

My levels returned as borderline elevated. They were 1:263 which I know sounds fine but its still super scary. It caused a lot of stress between DH and I and was a bunch of drama but in the end it turned out to be okay, or so we think. We went for an early scan at 17 weeks and that showed the baby as perfectly fine and they said if there was anything significant going on they would have seen it but I am going back on Tuesday for a followup just to make sure everything is still okay.

Its always easy to think of yourself as that 1 but chances are it will be fine. I had a lot of bleeding during early pregnancy due to a subchorionic hematoma and I've been told that it often causes false positives.

Did you take prenatal vitamins? Do you have a family history of sb?

Good luck!

I can't imagine how stressed you must be waiting for that scan. I called and called until I got a scan on Tuesday and they called me with the info the previous Friday. I couldnt sleep until I had that scan done. I am sure once you go in it will be fine and you will feel much better. Try and see if you can get in sooner. Not knowing is a killer.

Good luck!!!