1st trimester screening

I had it done because both my fertility doctor and OB thought it was wise due to my age. It would have never changed anything and I explained to everyone I wouldn't be having an amnio. For me, I was screened for several things at my high risk OB at my first appt. My ob wanted me followed due to my age 35, three loses before the pregnancy.

We were not going to do the screening but then we did.  We had already decided that the baby is sticking around, no matter what, so it is more of a tool to prepare in case the child has special needs.

When my sister-in-law had hers done with her first baby, the NT (the measuring test at the base of the neck) was reportedly on the high level and she was informed immediately.  Her blood test results, however, cancelled the NT result out so if she had received all of the information at the same time, she would not have had any cause for concern.  Instead, she spent 2 weeks waiting for the blood work and worrying needlessly about what she and my brother were going to do given the possibility of a child with CF, SB, or DS.  All this to say, make sure that they give you ALL OF THE RESULTS AT THE SAME TIME.

Good luck.

Jenn

Thank you everyone for the honest responses. I am still leaning toward no but am glad I'm not the only one who feels this way.

I declined them both times. I kinda don't understand how they get away with selling this as an actual medical test. With only a 70% accuracy rate, tarot cards seem more accurate to me. I just can't understand how they get away with causing women so much unnecessary stress. I told my OB I would rather him plan for the worst and then not need it than know. So that's what we did. Plus, physical abnormalities that are linked to disorders like down's and spina bifida can show during the anatomy scan when they examine the heart, brain, and spine.

I refused to have it with both and during Keiran's anatomy scan they couldn't see all of the spine properly... we went back 3 times... I just told myself that it was the way he was positioned and nothing else. I actually managed not to stress over it. (my OB didn't act too concerned either which helped). Then Keiran was born with a "sacral dimple" which can be an indicator of spina bifida and we had to have a ultrasound done of his bum to look at the spine. Turns out he's fine... he just has a funny dimple on his bum, and I got to stress out about it for a couple of HOURS not months... and the stress in no way affected him.

Just an example. :)

I had the quad marker screening done. I would want to prepare myself and educate myself on whatever issues my child might be faced with before they were born.

with my son I had it done.  It came back saying he had a 10% chance of Trisomy 18.  I stressed about it most of my pregnancy.  If I get pregnant again.. I won't be having it done.  I won't do anything with the results so I won't be adding that worry and just enjoy each moment of my pregnancy.  Just my two cents but you have to decide what you think is best for you and your personality.

I didn't have it done either...I will love this baby no matter what and I know that God will prepare me for whatever happens.

It's just a matter of personal choice.  I did it.  I turned 35 while I was pregnant so I was considered of advanced maternal age.  I was a nervous nelly the whole pregnancy so it gave me some reassurance.  We decided that if someting came back "off" we would opt for an Amnio.  Fortunately, everything looked great.  It was also the first Ultrasound where we got to see LO really jumping around which was awesome!

It really just depends on your own personality.  I knew that even if my baby had DS I was going to keep her and love her but I would want to be prepared for something like that.

We decided not to have any of the testing done... 60% of the time the results are incorrect. We loved the baby no matter what. My next baby we won't have it done either!

No matter what I would loves these babies but I only did mine because Im having twins and want to know what to expect when they come other wise I wouldn't of did it.