CVS/Amnio testing?????

[Mrs_P]

Well it depends on just one thing. Would you really, and you might have to do some soul searching here, REALLY consider termination an option if there was a problem?

If you wouldn't, then it's easy to not test. Testing carries risks too, and if you'd never end the pregnancy based on the results of that test then it makes no sense to risk it.

With DS3 we had a thickened nuchal scan come back from the standard first tri screening test (bloodwork and u/s) indicating possible Downs. Scared the bejeebus out of us, had a genetic counselling session which scared the crap out of us even more. We were scheduled for an amnio and everything, but then decided we'd never ever terminate no matter what. So we ended up cancelling the amnio and let what may, may....and figured if the baby had Downs it was meant to be and God's will and found peace in that decision. Turns out DS3 was just fine anyways, but we wouldn't have regretted it even if he was not.

So I guess you have to really really figure out if you would ever actually make the decision to terminate, and if you wouldn't then the tests aren't worth the potential risk they can cause since they ARE invasive.

In previous pregnancies it would have been a no - flat outright no i'd love my baby no matter what and i couldn't have done it. This time around (although you never know until your faced with the reality) i would say yes (if it was around 12 weeks - no later) for all the reasons i stated earlier and particularly the wellbeing of my sons in general and my son with SEN i could not handle a child with that severe type of special needs in addition to all the others and my own health issues (I have ME so when i'm ill - not that i have been for 8 years now - i'm really ill). It would not be fair to that baby or my others.

Shame there is no less invasive way to tell early on, its amazing what doctors and technology can do yet this seems so barbaric, maybe i will have to wait until i have a midwife and taker her opinion (i don't get to see someone til 9 to 10 weeks around here so i wanted to have a plan beforehand)

[Sugaree]

I had the CVS done with my last pregnancy. It was done at 11 weeks 2 days and I got preliminary results in one day. I would absolutely do it with future pregnancies. I already have a special needs child and it's very hard. I don't know if I would tx but I would want to be prepared for any serious issues.

CVS and amnio carry risks but they are very, very small. Most of the studies done on the risks were done when ultrasounds were new, like 30 years ago. As the technology has improved the risks have gone down. The risk of miscarriage is between 1 and 200 and 1 in 400. The better experienced the doctor, the lower the risk.