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Diann: I noticed in your posting that you have a austic child. Where you conserned about having another austic child? My husband has an mildly austic son from a previous marriage. I have two healthy boys. I would love to have another child, "our child", but he is "totally freaked" with the idea that he may have another austic child. Any ideas for me? Thanks

Diann, just wanted to congratulate you it sounds as though your little boy is normal and healthy, usually they can tell by the ultrasound looking at the nape of the neck etc. So happy for you, love the part were you said he turned his back on the us tech..hilarious.

I am in the same situation. I had my quad screen done last Friday and I was supposed to get the results today. So the nurse calls and tells me the Dr wants to see me in person. I know that means that the test came back positive. Now I have to wait 2 days to talk to the Dr and it's going to drive me crazy. The only thing keeping me somewhat sane is that I had an u/s today and everything looked perfect. The spine and brain and heart and kidneys were fine. Also the eye sockets weren't too close together which is a sign of DS and there's a nose bone there, etc. I don't know what my ratio will be when I go in, but I'm still really scared. It doesn't matter how many people say not to worry. I'm still going to. I don't know if I will have an amnio test done. I think I'll just get the other u/s, but I wish I would have never gotten the test in the first place. My Dr told me there are a lot of false positives and only once in his 13 yrs of practice did a baby actually have DS. But I'm 37 yrs old and I know I'm at a much higher risk. I'll say a prayer for both of us and just hope that our babies come out healthy. I'm 18 weeks and 2 days along now. I just hope everything is okay. I mean, they would have just told me on the phone if everything was alright, that's how I know the test came back positive.

Thanks everyone for your kind thoughs. Tammie your question on austim. i was told that because this baby does not have the same father as the first that chances are slim. If it was that same father i was told by the genetic dr that the chance was like 15%. Cyle is also high functioning

So glad to see this post, I'm new to this board and got a 1:20 chance of DS from the integrated test, I'm 36. I went in yesterday for the u/s and all was normal, which changed my odds to 1:40, but I went with the amnio anyway. I'm at risk for preterm birth and have a cerclage in place with this pregnancy so they were willing to do the FISH(?) test which means I should get results back tonight or Monday. I am so scared. I looked over the results yesterday with the genetic counselor but that didn't help much other than no single number was really off, just all the little numbers added up to that high risk. I wish I knew more about the way they calculate it. And I saw the post about heavier moms, which would be me, about 25 lbs overweight right now.

Jiljoh......to answer your question on how do they get these answers, I found this....... The test measures three components: AFP (alpha-fetoprotein), hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) and estriol. These are made by the baby or placenta and can be found in the mother’s blood. Two results are given; one for AFP alone and one for all three together. (This is called a triple test). In a computer program they put in the results of the AFP, HCG and ESTRIAL and they also figure out what your age is at the time of birth to give the screening results. In my search for answers it was made clear that this is just a possiblility and NOT 100%. my genetics dr said that the amnio could only lower the risks (change the number ratio) I didn't do the amnio, so i comend you on your strength to do so. take care

Tests, screens, takes the joy out of pregnancy. As an older mom i had all the tests offered (at 45 i think they gave me 1:16 chance of ds) but only did the nuchal fold scan which brought my odds to a healthy 1:60. I was offered the quad screen but laughed.... this test is so unreliable ..... I think with ds it is a good idea to first decide if you would terminate, i felt if i was to terminate on results i would have to go for CVS as it is done much earlier but decided i would not terminate as i like to live life on the edge so opted out of the test. Baby did turn out fine but i imagine she would have been just as cute and lovable even if she had ds, and i did worry a bit but decided if baby had ds i would buy a pony so all the children could all have a shared interest not dependant on intellectual ability. May still get the pony anyway. Good luck with your baby Diann.

I am 37, will be 38 when I deliver, and I was told my AFP showed a 1:10 risk of having a DS infant. I had my level 2 us yesterday and there were no markers for DS and everything looks normal. The nuchal thickness was normal, there was a nasal bone present, and the femurs and humerii did not appear shortened compared to the other measurements. I am 19 weeks and opted not the have the amnio done. I would not terminate regardless of the outcome, but I decided against the amnio because of the risk of miscarriage and did not feel it was warranted as there were no markers for DS seen and everything so far looks normal. I do have to have the US repeated in 4 weeks because she (it's a girl!) would not cooperate very well for views of the spine - she actually kicked the transducer once! Although I would certainly like to know if I was carrying a child with DS, I wish I hadn't had the screening completed ( I had the quad screen). It was just 2 weeks of worrying for nothing. Even though I did extensive research on the AFP testing and realized that there was a high liklihood of a false positive result, I could not help but worry until my us appt.

Good News Diann, I had a feeling you and baby were gonna be fine. Im 12wks, 42yrs old and am NOT having an of the screening tests done, other than a lev 2 u/s. I think the serums/afp screenings are BULLCARP, personally. I had my first child at 38, and there was all this hoopla about my age and seeing the "genetic counselor". We went and after all these inane questions, we were told we were low risk, BUT b/c my age it was highly suggested I get an amnio. I DID NOT. I would not risk m/c a healthy baby. I opted for just getting the level 2...and similar to your experience Dian, they were not specific but did indicate my baby was normal and a boy. BTW he is 4 now, and healthy and smart and an absolute joy. SOOO, again I will not agree to any screening or testing. Our odds are SO low ladies...even those of us in our 40's. Dont look at 1:13 look at pctages...92% is d__n good...so is 94, 98 etc... There is a big liability concern for the docs and the hospitals if they deliver a less than normal baby and the parents do not feel they were advised of all options. That and the fact that each of these screenings and amnios are extra $$ for the hospitals. I hate to be so blunt, but why the heck else would they be doing those innacurate serum and afp tests at all. All ive heard is false positves. I just get really heated about this b/c I share w/all of you the emotions and the love and concern we have for our sweet unborn children. Go w/your guns...and dont let them talk you into any proceedure or test that you feel uncomfortable with. Or just plain dont want. My doc and the counselor were kinda freaked that they couldnt sway me. Im that confident. And if I do have a Downs child, well than God bless it...b/c they are absolutely the sweetest little beings on this earth.

And let me say also for those moms that prefer and chose to do the tests and screenings, I do no critisize you at all...I just dont want moms to feel bullied into them. Healthy baby wishes!

Thanks ladies for your thoughts. Dec 14 I had another u/s they checked Kael's Heart , his nasal and neck folds. Apparently d/s babies have an abnormal heart rate and heart size. Baby Kael is doing Great! My risk is now super low. I did read a post by another lady who had the amnio and at 7 mths she went into preterm labor and lost her little girl apparently she got an infection from the amnio. I know these test are /should be safe but HOLY WOW! All the best ladies

I find MANY of the nurses in OB offices absolute effing beeyatches - I have had nothing but att_tude and snide remarks and c___p from OB nurses and staff - TELL your doctor about it. You can even write a letter to the head of the hospital - and name names, if you say nothing she can keep on with her horrific bedside manner, put a stop to it. You have every right to be concerned regardless - a baby is an emotional time if that nurse has issue with emotional needs and concerns of the mainstay of the clientele she best be heading back to the burger king where no one cares if she is a b*tch.

ITA lainy! I had one horrible labor/delivery nurse and one bad floor nurse... i did say something about the L&D nurse . Thx goodness she was only w/me for a few hourse. But beotchy she was!