AFP Screen Positive

My Tetra came back positive for Downs with my first child and after a very stressful amnio and, like you, a long wait for results, we came back normal. I was so pissed after I read the statistics on the Tetra. It's not very reliable and bottom line, even if she would have been diagnosed with Downs I would have kept her so it didn't matter what that test said. Needless to say, I did not opt to have the Tetra for my second child, I just couldn't bear the thought of the emotional rollercoaster. I wish you the best of luck and please keep us posted.

I have four children and am expecting our fifth in November. I started refusing the AFP test after our third. When I was pregnant with her my AFP came back indicating Down's Syndrome, and since I have a history of that in my family it really stressed me out. When I asked my family practitoner about it he straight out recommended I abort the pregnancy, stating that life was hard enough, no one needed a special needs child to add to life's drama. I was incensed! I refused the Amnio, since it can induce a miscarriage, but went ahead with the sono, which indicated all was fine. She is now four years old, was born without difficulty and is as perfect as can be. Since then I've talked to several moms and doctors and have been told that the AFP is notoriously inacurate. I was told several stories about women being told that their baby was going to die shortly after birth, that they should abort the child, and the pressure that they were put under by the medical community, that one mom stopped going to her appointments until she went into labor. All these women gave birth to healthy, "normal" children. Doctor's are not perfect and are trying to do the best they can, but they need to believe that they do not know everything, and sometimes make mistakes. So now I don't even go down that road. Besides our belief that you take what God gives you, and wouldn't abort the pregnancy even if there was something wrong. Every life has value, and is perfect in God's eyes.

My friend had a positive result as well. Turned out she was having twins! Don't worry until you KNOW you have a reason to worry!

We experienced a simular thing back in 2005. Our AFP was off the charts, ultrasound was normal and Amnio was negitive for any defects. our baby boy was healthy and normal. The problem resulted in me. My placenta was going bad. That can't be picked up on the tests they are running on you. I ended up with sever preclampsia at 25 wks and our son was stillborn. They told us it was a freak thing and that it wouldn't happen again. Got PG again in 07. All tests came back negitive. Ended up with preclampsia again due to my placenta going bad at 33 wks. We have a healthy happy little boy who was 6 wks early.

Good luck with your PG. I hope everything goes normal for you.

I hate the AFP screen test. It has as many false positives as it does negatives. I decided against this one after doing the research. The amnio should let you know what is up, if anything. Try to think positive. I hope the amnio. results are normal. and congrats on your little one on the way!

This is the most inaccurate test out there and should be banned. I was tested positive on my third child. When going to my ob and neonatal specialist, both were talking about abortion. I did have the amnio just to be prepared (we were not going to abort my daughter even if she did have downs/spina bifida) After the amnio which didn't come back for 2 weeks, everything was fine. They took the blood test earlier than what they should have! I had a very healthy girl, now 16 and I share that with moms who are quite upset about learning that their baby "may have it."

My doctor always leaves it up to you. If you decide to do it he makes sure you know it has a high rate of false positives. You most likely have NOTHING to worry about.

My test came back positive too. I hate that test. They are so inaccurate and cause so much worry. My level II sono came back fine so I opted not to do the amnio. I knew I would keep the baby no matter what and I didn't want to risk a miscarriage. Anyways, 3+ years later I have a smart, healthy happy little boy. I am going to pass on it this time around with my 2nd.

My test came back positive and we had the amnio done. It seemed like a long wait, but everything came back normal. My aunt is a nurse and said that they get a lot of positives where she works, but for the most part the only time there is a birth defect is if there is a family history or if the parents are over 35. Try and relax and not stress about it, especially if the sono looks normal.

Hi PK,

Yes, I had this test done! I was a nervous wreck and cried until the test results came back! My son is now 3 going on 4. I know how you feel it is a very stressful test that I don't think that they should be doing. I was older when I had my test performed. talk to the tech that performed the test and they will easy your mind a great deal. they some how calculate your age and put it in this data base and the computer does it for you... it's crazy! you are a little young to be doing an amnio right? what they also will do is a ultrasound that does a full scan on your baby,, and that will easy your mind! god bless you let us know the results please

I know it is hard, but try not to stress. My OB quit doing the AFP almost 10 years ago because there are so many false positives. I'll pray that all is well with your little baby.

I had a positive result with the AFP... though the percentage they gave me was .05%... very low, but they still thought I should have the amnio. I refused, as the amnio had greater risk than my AFP result! Just didn't make sense in my situation. Did a level 3 sono and all looked fine. I ended up switching doctors over this, because my first doctor put so much weight on the AFP even though everything else indicated things were fine. I did not need that stress! I was 32 and had a healthy son and daughter, so this was a bit unnerving.
My new doctor monitored me & the baby more closely in the last trimester. Apparently there is a correlation between a positive AFP result and problems late in pregnancy. Bottom line, my baby was fine - he's now 9 years old. I would not do the AFP again if I were to have more children. It is just not accurate ennough and causes more worry than anything.
If your sono came back normal, I would think that is a better indicator. Try not to worry. I wish you and your baby all the best!

Hi!

Just like everyone else is saying, these tests are known to be false positives. My test came back positive with my first son. We had a level 2 sono performed with him and everything was normal so we decided not to do the amnio....He is now a bouncing healthy 2 yr old!

I just had my second baby. I didn't even have the AFP done with him. I remember the worry and I just didn't feel like going through that again. He is a healthy, chunky little boy. =)

Good luck! I'm sure everything will be ok!

Mine came back as a 1/48 chance and all was fine!! I know what you are going through, and the wait is excruciating!! My 2nd pg I asked for the amnio 1st and didn't want the results of the AFP until I knew for sure. My dr uses the AFP to indicate other things so opting out of that was not an option. Keep in mind what my dr told me...1/37 is just a little less than 3% chance, pretty good odds!!

Hang in there!! I will keep you in my prayers!!

I think that this test should be handled differently. When I was pregnant with my 3 year old his AFP test came back positive. I worried for days, only to have them go oops sorry we screwed up the test. I refused to have it with my following pregnancies. I am sure everything will be ok!

I recall during my second pregnancy my OB saying there are so many false positives with this test that he wouldn't mind not performing it at all.

Both of my kids had positive AFPs, one with a very high chance of problems and both were fine.

Some studies are showing a possible link between spina bifida & scoliosis so the theory is that the AFP may indicate a chance of scoliosis down the line. Both of mine do have scoliosis but neither is severe. They just don't know enough yet but it is unfortunate that these tests stress us.

All you can do is keep doing what you're doing...take good care of yourself and the little one! =)

There tend to be tons of false positives with this test just go to babycenter or webMd and you'll see. I occasionally wonder why they do it since all it does is stress mamas out. Especially when they can tell a whole lot of info from sonograms that they never used to perform but are routine now. If your perinatologist says everything is normal then I wouldn't worry. My SIL came up with a number similar to yours (she's 30) and while her little girl was 4 weeks early due to Vasa Previa she is healthy and thriving and has no birth defects whatsoever.

I know what you're going through. I had a high AFP test (actually, two blood tests) with my second pregnancy 20 years ago, so had to have the amnio. Waiting for the results of the amnio was the hardest thing I have ever gone through! But, we were lucky . . . our son was born in January of 1990 with no problems whatsoever, other than jaundice. So, think positive . . . I went through it and mine was a false positive.

Hugs,
A.

This test has a high incidence of false positives! I hate this test also! The stress ruined my pregnancy! I was a wreck until all further testing was completed, and even then, I was upset until his birth. I just didn't believe all the doctors (neonatologist, radiologist, pediatric neurologist, etc.) and kept thinking something was wrong with my baby boy. I have pics (over 75!) of every organ in his body, brain stem, spinal column, etc. But everything was fine...and he was a healthy, happy boy with no issues! Easier said than done, but try to focus on something else until all your testing is complete. Good Luck!

I was adviced by my doctor all 3 times not to have the tri screen done. The reasoning was because of too many false postives. I had several friends who had that happen to them and they adviced against it too.

More than likely it is a false positive it everything else checks out. Relax and enjoy your pregnancy! Good luck and I hope the amnio comes back fine.

Please don't worry to much. I had the same thing happening to me and I cried for days. These tests are NOT accurate and I don't even know why they are done. Just wait on your Amnio because that is the only test that will show you if something is going on. I now have a healthy baby girl ...... I wish you the very best on the amnio outcome.