Re: . Possible Down syndrome - reply to Lisa
From: M. Kelly Shanahan, MD, (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sat, 12 May 2001 00:40:14 -0500 (CDT)
At Fri, 11 May 2001, Sarah wrote:
>
>Thank you so much for sharing your story. The first time I had an amnio
>I was under the impression that it was something I had to do. Only
>after I almost lost the baby afterwards (spotting and lots of
>contractions) did I realize that the only reason to have one was if you
>had to know for sure to terminate the pregnancy.
actully, some women choose an amnio even if they wouldn't terminate, so
they have the knowledge to prepare themselves for a child with special
needs, before birth
I decided not to have
>an amnio this time (I will be 39 when I deliver) and have just planned
>to have level 2 u/s to pick up any abnormalities which may need
>immediate attention after birth. I also decided against the AFP3
>because it is only a SCREENING test and only gives risk not a yes/no -
>and due to my age it would probably come back with a risk recommending
>an amnio anyway (I think if your risk is greater than 1:250 you are
>recommended for amnio). By the way, an L&D nurse at the hospital told
>me that while the actual losses from amnio are something like 1-2%, the
>complication rate must be higher because they frequently see women on
>the floor with bleeding, cramping, leaking amnio fluid from the
>procedure.
>
>Here are some other things I have learned. My sister-in-law's 1st was a
>premie and is mostly deaf, her second (which 4 u/s indicated was a girl)
>turned out to be a boy with some sort of (as yet) undiagnosed behaviour
>problem first thought to be autism, and her third turned out to have a
>severe heart defect (hypoplastic left heart syndrome) which was not
>detected by the amnio she had done or the ultrsounds. Makes one realize
>that there are absolutely no guarantees that a baby will be perfect even
>with all the prenatal testing and care available.
amen
My husband and I
>decided that whatever the outcome with our little one (a boy who looks
>good on u/s so far) we would make the best of it for him and our family.
and that is a very healthy attitude that works for you and your family
>
--
M. Kelly Shanahan, MD, FACOG
South Lake Tahoe, CA
author, Your Over-35 Week-by-Week Pregnancy Guide
available in all major bookstores and on-line at amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0761526986/o/qid˜6597740/sr=8-1/ref=aps_sr_b_1_1/103-7407404-7691069http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0761526986/o/qid˜6597740http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0761526986/o/qid˜6597740/sr=8-1/ref=aps_sr_b_1_1/103-7407404-7691069http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0761526986/o/qid˜6597740/sr=8-1/ref=aps_sr_b_1_1/103-7407404-7691069
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