Thursday, October 28, 2010

A Phone Call...

So today, I got a phone call. It was the Dr who analyzes the First Trimester Screen tests for my OBGYN group. She proceeded to tell me that me test showed an increased risk for Down's Syndrome, normally for my age it would be 1:500, and mine came back increased to 1:150. This didn't concern me a whole lot because this test can have a lot of false positives and the odds were still in my favor especially since the ultrasound looked great. She offered to do a amniocentesis, but I declined since the risk of miscarriage was almost as much as the risk for Down's! Jason and I made the decision long ago that we would not terminate any pregnancy for any birth defect. We will instead bring our baby into this world, and lovingly see it into the next with no medical interventions. After I explained this to her, and she agreed, she proceeded to tell me that I had another abnormal marker. This one is basically a precursor of things to come. It is just an indicator that things might go badly, something they have seen in mothers with Pre-eclampsia, preterm labor, inter-uterine growth retardation, and still birth. Since they aren't sure what, if anything will happen, they just want to watch us both. More blood tests for me, and frequent ultrasounds for the baby. I really wish I had just decided not to get the test in the first place. There is essentially nothing you can do to prevent any of these things from occurring and knowing that these things might happen is so depressing. Ignorance is bliss. So I have another blood test on the 12th, an ultrasound on the 19th, and another one 3 weeks after that. Then they will reevaluate and we will decide what comes next. Hopefully nothing....hopefully little bean will just keep growing normally and I will keep truckin' along, and we won't need anymore testing.....

2 comments:

Little Blessings said...

Oh Kelly! I am so sorry that the test results weren't more encouraging. I totally agree that they are usually overly cautious and sometimes do no good other than to give mom's to be anxiety. I will be praying. Did you have pre-eclampsia with your last pregnancy? At least you will get frequent ultrasounds.

I will be praying.

Waxing and Waning said...

I agree, I would look at the extra ultrasounds as a blessing. Those were some of my favorite times during pregnancy.

You are right about ignorance being bliss. I wish there was a way you could just let it all go and move forward without this added stress. I am so sorry you are going through this. I am keeping you and Jason and William in my thoughts.