Anyone skip first trimester screening?

I'm seriously considering skipping the first trimester screening. I'm 29, so this risk of downs for my age is 1/1000. And while we are of the ancestry to be at risk for CF, my sister in law was tested last year and is not a carrier, so I assume that reduces the risk of CF for us.

Quite honestly, either way I would continue with this pregnancy. And I know these tests have a decent rate of false positives and can miss some people that are actually carrying babies with these disorders. I don't want to spent the next 7 months worrying about something when there may be nothing wrong.

Am I just crazy, or anyone else do the same thing.

Re: Anyone skip first trimester screening?

I'm glad to see that you and baby are ok. I never saw an update from your last post (spotting and cramping)!

I'm over 35 and although my OB told me based on our medical/family history the chances are slim, I'm still going to go ahead with my NT scan @ 12 weeks.

I think it's a personal choice and only you know what is best for you and your baby.

Message edited 10/13/2011 6:43:02 PM.

Re: Anyone skip first trimester screening?

Re: Anyone skip first trimester screening?

if you dont feel the need for it then dont do it...me personally I just want to go so I can see the baby

Re: Anyone skip first trimester screening?

I opted out of the scan but I knew I was going to have the amnio.

My Dr put it to me this way....if the results won't change a single thing then why bother doing it cause the results may make you worry.

If you just have to know then skip the scan and do the CVS or amnio as the scan will not tell you definitely.

Re: Anyone skip first trimester screening?

I did! For the same reasons you stated I've heard of way too many stories of false positives I just couldn't deal with the worrying for the rest of the pregnancy. I did have to sign a waver stating that I declined the test. Luckily everything thing checked out and ds was born perfectly healthy! I won't be doing it this time around either. So no you are not alone

Re: Anyone skip first trimester screening?

We did. I'm 34, was 33 then, and my OB actually recommended against it. He said unless I was going to terminate, the stress of a false positive, or high percantage, would just stress me out and ruin the excitement of pregnancy. Now, this is also an OB that does sonos (including 3D) throughout the pregnancy. So, a lot of info would be known from that. I also got an anatomy scan at 20 weeks, but that is it. It was a personal decision, that DH felt more strongly about ( he didn't want any testing), but we agreed together.

Re: Anyone skip first trimester screening?

Posted by anewday

if you dont feel the need for it then dont do it...me personally I just want to go so I can see the baby

Re: Anyone skip first trimester screening?

I totally dont wanna do it. I'd rather not know right now (but thats just me). DH was at our appointment and heard about it (he didnt know what it was prior to the appt)...now he is insisting on the screen. I am nervous about it, but excited for the sono we'll get too. God willing, we'll hopefuly have good results.

Re: Anyone skip first trimester screening?

We didn't do the NT for our first and everything was absolutely fine.

For these babies, we didn't do the first trimester blood testing OR the NT.

Re: Anyone skip first trimester screening?

Posted by limommer

I did! For the same reasons you stated I've heard of way too many stories of false positives I just couldn't deal with the worrying for the rest of the pregnancy. I did have to sign a waver stating that I declined the test. Luckily everything thing checked out and ds was born perfectly healthy! I won't be doing it this time around either. So no you are not alone

Re: Anyone skip first trimester screening?

I was like you, questioning it. But my DH heard about it and wanted it done. I agreed thinking only he can know the results and not me but the dr told me before I could stop him. I liked the idea of the sonogram to see baby. We did it. It was normal. However, I didn't know there was a second screen (I forget what week) I was caught off guard then, My NT came back okay so a few weeks later at another apt when they said "We will do this second screen for DS (AFP?)" I hardly thought about it. But the AFP came back abnormal. I redid the test at Dr recommendation. Still abnormal. He sent me to 20 week anatomy sonogram early at 17 weeks to see if there was any early 'markers' there was none but what they found was placenta blood clot issues which started me on baby aspirin. The placenta issue may have been why the numbers were abnormal for developmental problems according to the genetics counselor. I am glad I found out about the placenta issue sooner so I could start the baby aspirin sooner. I suppose I would have found out about the placenta issue at 20 weeks when I did the anatomy scan as scheduled. I had to go back at 20 weeks for another anatomy sonogram. The 20 week scan was at a different office and at 17 weeks and 20 weeks I saw two different drs after the sonogram. the 20 week dr was not as concerned with the placenta as the 17 week dr was so maybe I wouldn't have known about it if I went at 20 weeks. ??? They can tell a lot from sonograms but can't guarantee anything, just like the chance tests, its not a definite answer. The only definite answer is amnio but that does not show the severity of a disability, only that someone has one. There are very capable people living meaningful lives with a disability but you can't tell if that is the case will be with your baby w/ amnio. Also amnio doesn't test for everything - like autism we will not know till later and that chance for everyone is like 1 in 100 these days and there is no screening test for it.

It caused me a lot of stress, my mil doesn't understand the tests causing me a lot of stress trying to explain it to her trying to reassure her when I was only telling her to get reassurance. I didn't tell my mom the results because I knew it would be too stressful for her. Keeping this secret has been stressful for me. What has bothered me from some people that did know the results (my husband, his mom) they were still more focused on the developmental disability chance test than what was actually discovered by sonogram- the placenta issue. I am more concerned about blood clots and the baby not getting nutrients to grow than the rare chance he may have a developmental disability - at least he can have a life this way - if he is not getting nutrients he may not grow/be born! It frustrated me that my family didn't understand this.

anyway, this is long, and rambly and I apologize. I 've given these tests a lot of thought and I still have no answer-I have no idea what I will do when I get pregnant again....

follow your gut. good luck!