PREGNANCY-BIRTH Messages for March, 1999: Re: amniocentesis 34 years old vs. 35

Re: amniocentesis 34 years old vs. 35

From: Carolyn (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Wed, 10 Mar 1999 13:39:50 -0600 (CST)

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Having been where you are, I can tell you exactly why 35 is the "magic" age. At 35, the chances of having a baby with DS is approximately the same as the chances of losing a baby due to an amnio...supposedly around 1/200. However, different Drs have different "success" rates. My Dr had been doing amnios for 7 years and said that he had one miscarriage(but the amnio was done at 17 weeks and she miscarried at 22 weeks). I acutally had two amnios, one at 16 weeks which, after two sticks, was unsuccessful (couldn't get a draw) and one at 21 weeks(which was successful).

The triple screen, while being fairly reliable for determining neural tube defects, is less reliable for screening for DS, with a high rate of women put in a "higher than normal" risk category.

I'm interested in hearing what the Drs say about the triple screen and a targeted level 2 as I was told at my level 2 that the 60% of the physical signs of Downs Syndrome are missed in an US. Also, what is thought to be a soft sign (like a shorter than expected femur) could just mean a shorter than expected baby, not a DS baby. So...I'm curious...as always.

-- Carolyn

At Wed, 10 Mar 1999, Nancy wrote: > >I will be 34 at the time of delivery of my second child. There is no >family history of Down's syndrome or Spina bifida. I am interested in >knowning whether there is a major difference in the rates for these >disorders between the ages of 34 and 35 when most Drs. would recommend >amniocentesis. How arbitrary is the 35 age limit? We would not be >interested in having a child with such a defect. Is amniocentesis >advisable at age 34? Is the triple screen test combined with a targeted >ultrasound a good option for a 34 year old woman rather than the more >evasive amniocentesis? >Thank you >Nancy

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