First Trimester Screening

I almost didn't do this test this time around and now I wish I hadn't done it.

Yesterday wasn't the day I was hoping for.  With Eric, and both kids, we made the trip to the Maternal Fetal Medicine office for our ultrasound to go with the blood test I had taken at home about 2 weeks ago.

The ultrasound was great, both kids loved it, the baby looked great and the tech gave us some pictures to take home.  She looked in the computer and they had received my blood work.  She typed it all up and had to go print it off so that we could go over it.  I should have known something was up when I was coming back from the bathroom and she said she would be back in a minute with the doctor.  I don't remember there being a doctor last time.

My results came back at an increased risk of Down Syndrome.  My blood work, put me at the risk level of a 40yr old.   Free beta hCG was 0.95 MoM, 50th percentile (normal), PAPP-A 0.15 MoM, 1st percentile (extremely low), NT 2.2mm, +.59 Delta (normal range).  Basically this PAPP-A number is what is throwing all of my numbers off.  It was low with Brandon, it was .33 MoM, and my risk with him was 1 in greater than 10,000 for DS.  This time around, my risk is considered 1-73, still only 1% chance of DS but is considered higher risk.

PAPP-A is a hormone that is produced by the placenta, so if it isn't  DS, it could mean the placenta isn't working as well as it should be, which brings a whole other lot of risks.  At higher risk for IUGR, pre-e, placenta abruption, stillbirth, low birth weight, premature delivery.

At this point the placenta issues scare me more than DS.  Eric and I already decided that we are not doing a CVS or an amnio to confirm DS or not.  The risk of miscarriage really isn't worth it, because even if the test were to come back positive for DS, we wouldn't terminate anyway.

So here we are, nervous, googling, scared, hoping, and scheduled to see a genetic counselor today.  After today we will have a better idea of what our other options are, quad screen, more blood tests, level 11 ultrasound, baby asprin to help placenta function....we aren't really sure.  We already know that because of the risk of IUGR, we will have growth ultrasounds at 26weeks, 30weeks and 34weeks (which I also had with Brandon, that came back fine).

I guess we will know more after today.