I went for my obs/gyn check up last Wednesday. Baby is moving (swimming) while my doc doing the ultrasound scan. It is very cute. Doc said it is still too early to tell the gender but everything looks fine until he asked me: -
Doc: Do you know what is Down Syndrome? Me: Yes. Is there a concern? Doc: (Quick and firmly) No. But I have to show you this chart. Because you are 32 now, out of every 461 babies, there will be one baby with Down Syndrome. We can’t detect that from normal ultrasound. The normal procedure is do a blood test first and if it does show there is a risk then you have to do the ammonia fluid test. Me: Okay. Doc: So do you what to do the test? Me: Let’s do the blood test first. Doc: Okay. It’s need to be done on Week 15. So I shall see you in 3 weeks time.The whole conversation makes me worried after I left his office. If there is a risk, I’ll hate to make the decision. Keep or not keeping the baby? Can you imagine a pregnant women have to make such decision. It is torturing. Worst than given birth. Everything should be okay cause both families history does not have down syndrome babies. But again you never know.
April 1, 2008 at 8:18 am
Over here it is mandatory to do the triple h test when the mother is 36 yo. for my last two pregnancies i opted not to test for it.
April 1, 2008 at 8:48 am
It is totally up to your preference. I did amnio test for my previous two pregnancies because of the complications I had previously.
Just take the blood test first and see how it goes from there.
April 1, 2008 at 4:37 pm
no worries lah…take the blood test then results see how. maybe he wanna make some money out of u oni
April 1, 2008 at 4:43 pm
u went FMGC izit?
My gynea told me the exact thing. And it made me gila for 2 weeks. First by looking at the scan she said the fluid at the neck is abit thick. Then after day okay edi. but still need to do blood test. And the test came up to RM635. My husband nearly pengsan!
April 1, 2008 at 10:37 pm
I dont remember the test being so expensive, but then it is better to take the test just for our peace of minds.
April 4, 2008 at 5:58 am
it is compulsory here to take the blood test, and I took it. and if the mother is above 36 when the baby is conceived, it is highly recommended to do the amnio test but i think can opt not to do it if the parents decide.
April 6, 2008 at 5:23 am
oh…good luck….i’m sure the baby is healthy..
April 7, 2008 at 3:02 pm
In any case, I’d say the test acts a precautionary measure for the parents to prepare well in advance. But ultimately the child is still yours. Take care
April 7, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Jessie, we are both in the same age!! NOw there is a detail scan to measure the neck, but i missed it since it shud be performed before week16
Hey, i got the list of the herbs. Din buy them from the shop where i got the list but instead asked nanny’s relative to go to a trusted shop to have them packed for me (more premium herbs). If u want the herbs list, let me know yeah….
April 8, 2008 at 2:10 pm
oh dear.. in sg we are only given this option at age 36. before that the gynae don’t even ask. even my girlfriend who was 36 when she had her third child said, she didn’t take the test cos she will accept the consequence anyway.. but if you feel comfortable doing it, go ahead. don’t feel obligated.
April 9, 2008 at 5:34 pm
ai yo…better take the test and confirm early….better early than later i suppose..good luck!
April 14, 2008 at 1:20 am
Don’t be worried. My sister had her first baby at 33. My eldest sister’s friend decided to start a family at 38 and both girls are healthy and smart.
Nowadays, due to so many law suits against gynaes, they take precautions by telling you everything and making sure you go through all tests avaiable to protect themselves.
April 15, 2008 at 10:16 am
You can go ahead with the blood test, which by the way is not very accurate. I have many friends who had a false positive, which made them go ahead with the Amnio. You can also have a Nuchal Translucency scan done between weeks 11-13. Your gynae shd be able to tell you whether you need to do an Amnio or not after the 2 tests are done, coupled with other factors. There is a way to calculate your risk of having a DS baby. You can go to FMGC to see Dr Raman or Dr Patrick to do the tests as they are one of the best gynaes / fetal specialist around and they have one of the best scanners around too.
BTW, I did an Amnio and thank God, everything turned out well.
April 19, 2008 at 10:53 pm
hmmm..that’s why i opted not to do the test,,dont wanna think too much..but anyway,,32 is still so young ler,,,
April 23, 2008 at 12:00 pm
I was asked the same Q when I had Darrius when I was 32 but I did not take the test… you should be fine.