1St Trimester Screening

I believe there is such thing as over testing and over scaring the parents. I only had 2 ultrasounds with both my girls showing nothing and even though the doctors wanted me to have all kinds of other tests I chose not to. I have 2 beautful girls both healthy and have Down syndrome. My oldest did have an enlarged bladder and at age 4 had a couple bladder infections but then it has since not been a concern. Put your trust in God and believe that there are so many things that do show up in some of these tests that don't actually materialize. Good Luck with you baby and God Bless your family K.

Marci In my first trimester with my first child I had all the ususal tests and every test was skewed slightly and they would then offer another test and it was my 1st child so I thought they knew best. When I was at 34 weeks routine testing continued to be off slightly. I was in for a regular ultra sound and the tech asked has there been conversation about this baby being small~NO. That day I ended up having an emergency C and my son was born with who what is called Failure to Progress and he was born at 3lbs 10oz. He stayed in ICU before we could bring him home and no one knew if he was going to have complications. I am so proud to say he is a bright healthy 13YO now and perfectly normal. Though there was never an explaination if the abnormal tests were related to him and the Failure to Progress it was the extra watch and attention that got him out of the womb early. It doesn't matter and I don't think if I knew more it would have changed anything. Every day I look at him I feel lucky he is here.

My mother tells the story of my youngest sister who had abnormal Chromosome test in the womb and they warned my mother of everything she was very worried. My youngest sister was born with club foot. Definately an explaination for the odd chromosome tests. She is Practially Perfect in my book and a wonderful sister!

I think it also important to know the medical professionals don't know everything for sure they deal in much speculation. I really think things are in Gods hands and you need to do what is best for you. Good luck and I wish you much strength through your pregnancy.

The new blood screen/ultrasound combo is supposed to be more accurate than previous prenatal testing but NONE of these tests is 100% accurate (with the exception maybe of amnio for chromosome testing). That said, here are some examples. I have a friend who was told the ultrasound showed her son had no gallbladder and had a cyst that could possibly be of great concern. They stressed her out greatly by telling her the baby would need immediate surgery when born. They lined up all the specialists, gave her all the info. When he was born, not only was his gallbladder actually there, the cyst was nothing of concern.

With my first son, all my testing came back normal except an ultrasound that said his one arm could be shorter than the other and his kidneys were dialated. The Dr said that could be normal considering he may have been laying on one arm during the test and they would check the kidneys later. (Kidney check later was fine.) So at delivery I'm thinking there's a possibility he may have physical disabilities. In actuality, my son has nothing wrong with his arms but does have Down Syndrome which went undetected. I was told by a ultrasound tech they only see Down Syndrome about 1/2 the time via ultrasound. The quad screen I had is notorious for being inaccurate.

I would take the test results with a grain of salt especially if they tell you it could resolve. They are sooo worried about being sued they will tell you every little thing that may or may not be wrong just so they cover their bases. I have heard SO many stories of women who were told there was something wrong and had perfectly healthy babies. I used to be on a Down Syndrome online board where pregnant women showed up all the time freaked out about test results when they were just fine.

Stand your ground. If you don't want the tests don't do them. I told my OB straight out the next time I was pregnant I didn't want any testing. We did a couple ultrasounds just to have pictures for the scrapbook. My next son was perfectly healthy.

My story is similar to yours but with a different "concern" raised for the baby. I had an ultrasound at 12 weeks and was told that from the measurements they took, my baby had an increased risk of having downs syndrome. They said my chances were 100 times greater than someone of my age would normally have. This news was devastating to me and I was told to come back a week later to talk about my "options". I was given a leaflet and sent away. After reading the leaflet thoroughly, which told me about all the invasive tests I could have done, I decided I would not have the tests done because they would actually risk the life of my baby. If he had Down's Syndrome I would not have ended the pregnancy so I didn't see the point in risking the pregnancy in the first place.
When I told my doctor my decision he said I was "burying my head in the sand, not having the tests done". I stood firm and carried on with the pregnancy, had a second ultrasound at 20 weeks which more promising, and gave birth to a perfectly healthy boy (who is now 6 years old).
If you do not want further testing that is your right and just be prepared that they may try to pressure you.
I just wanted write and say they do get it wrong sometimes, try not to worry too much, and wait and see what happens next week. I prayed a lot with my first pregnancy and that helped.
Good luck, and God Bless your family.

I had a rollercoaster ride of ultrasounds with my 2nd son where they told me all the same things as you and more. At his 1st ultrasound at 15 weeks his bladder and kidneys were enlarged. So we had a ultrasound every month after that. They said I could have to abort (NO WAY!!!), have surgery before he was born (YIKES!!), have problems all his life etc... It was the scariest time and each month we would get on the rollercoaster of emothions again. I have family history of kidney problems BUT they still said it could be chromosome abnormality etc... Near the end of my pregnancy they finally convienced me (against my better judgement) to induce him so it wouldn't "get worse". My son was born and the hospital staff couldn't even tell, not even the peditritian that checked his kidneys. Of course I made them do an ultrasound and then they could see that his kidneys were still enlarged but he was fine other wise. We did have to do a surgery at 3 months and at 11 months but he has never had any infections etc... with his kidneys.

I was glad to know that they needed some attention BUT I should have stopped getting ultrasounds after the first one and just let GOD take care of me and him.

The stress that the ultrasound techs and staff put on us was HUGE and my husband will not go through that EVERY AGAIN. I didn't do an ambio since it does have great risk involved and it wouldn't have changed anything, even though they PRESSURED us to do it. I was having my baby no matter what! He is now 3 and no one can tell he ever had anything wrong.

Since I had some family history (my sister and myself had kidney problems as kids) you would think that they would just say that was it and go on but they didn't. So see if you have any family history of badder issues, if so, that is it, if not... don't worry (easier to say then do) and don't let them pressure you in to ANYTHING you don't want to do.

GOD bless.

Dear Marci,
I could just scream when I hear about all of these early ultrasounds being done- just leave the child alone! In Texas, my daughter was told that her 1st child had serious problems (at 10 weeks)and they should consider aborting the fetus. Of course, they would not do that and my grandson was born perfectly normal and is above average (of course!).;-) But for 2 months, my daughter was so upset, she could hardly eat and we were all so worried about it. She has had other false ultrasound readings with her other pregnancies, too. Please relax and take care of yourself and take comfort that your child is most likely perfectly normal. I have heard so many stories about this type of thing- the doctors are only doing this to cover their butts! Best Wishes to you, M.

I had some done and a heart issue showed up which they said could be genetic defect( chromosomal)and/ or a common condition that resolves itself. I was tested 4 weeks after and came back normal.
Unfortunately our son was born with down Syndrome ,which we were not aware of and whhen i think back, i guess that is what showed ( the only indicator) but it rectified itself.
I wish you go luck but i wish i had tested more to at least prepare myself and avoid the agony that had accompanied his birth.