Are you under 30, healthy, but still want to get tested for birth defects?

Question

I'm under 30 first time mother and deciding whether or not to test my baby at 12 weeks for possible birth defects. It's an optional test, but I'm scared to take it because what if I don't like the outcome ? Does anyone else have this fear?? How do I cope ?

Answer

I'm 27, and I didn't have any testing done. Why? Because it wouldn't change anything for me. My son is my son and I would love him no matter what.

Answer

I'm 27, opted for the testing. I'd rather find out so that I can better prepare than be completely surprised and feel overwhelmed later on. I did two separate tests: one that tested for 4 different things and then a cystic fibrosis test. Both were blood tests.

Answer

It's a personal choice. I'm 26 having my first baby and decided to go ahead and get the blood test to determine my risk of having a child with Down syndrome or spina bifida. The only reason I did was because I'm a planner and I would rather have all my facts up front before being blindsided with someone major at the birth. No matter what I was going to love my daughter the way she is and take care of her regardless. Just wanted to know what I could possibly be dealing with. It's a personal choice and I would never begrudge someone of wanting to know or not know. It's something everyone should discuss on what they want to do 😃

Answer

I had the usual nuchal translucency screen at 12 weeks and blood taken then but nothing else... It's not routine in the UK with a low risk pregnancy. Whatever decision you make will be the right one for you :)

Answer

I'm 29 will be 30 when I deliver and we decided not to do any testing. It is what it is, avoiding any unnecessary stress for tests that could be wrong anyway. 💕💕

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We advise our patients, and also made this personal choice for myself, that if the genetic screening won't change the outcome of your pregnancy, meaning you wouldn't terminate, and knowing you're at higher risk will only cause you to be upset and worried, then don't do the testing.
I am going to love my baby no matter what. Yes, knowing I'm at higher risk could give me more time to prepare,but as much as I like to think I would handle bad news well, it would just cause me unnecessary stress, so I chose not to do the testing.

Answer

In the UK you get offered it at 12 weeks and they tell you whether you are low risk or high risk. Then if you ate high risk you may choose to have an amnio to find out for sure if there is anything wrong but that comes with a 10% chance of miscarriage. I chose to have it with my last and will to again. I think I would want to know if anything was wrong do I could prepare my self and family and friends. I think it's unlikely I'd decide to abort it would just mean I'd be prepared for what was in store and could read up on whatever was wrong x x

Answer

I'm 30 and the tests were still optional until 35. I was paranoid and wanted to make sure I got the tests done. It helped calm my mind when they said everything was fine. But I also figure I would rather know ahead of time and figure out and decide my options and plan before it was a surprise on the day of delivery. I think more info is better but I know a lot of people get false positives for things too so it can be more stressful.

Answer

I am 24 and declined the testing even with a previous pregnancy with birth defect (anencephaly) it wouldn't change how I felt about the baby or this pregnancy but understand why some would want that piece of mind although when birth defect was noticed last pregnancy it was still a shock and nothing could have prepared us for it if the baby would have survived we would have cared for it with everything we could x

Answer

80 percent of babies born with trisomy such as down syndrome are born to women under the age of 35, I think it's because more babies are born to younger women and so the statistics are a bit scewed.  Just think about what you would do if the test were to come back positive.  For me personally I just wanted to more prepared and had Harmony done, I however declined the quad screen because that has a higher false positive rate. Whatever you decide to do is ok because it is a very personal choice, to me personally I felt that knowledge is power.

Are you under 30, healthy, but still want to get tested for birth defects?

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