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| | | NEXT MESSAGE  | | | | | AUTHOR: | jacksonville_jen | DATE: 09/19/03 7:52am | | SUBJECT: |  Negative AFP, Positive Amnio??? | | | I am 35 years old and 27 weeks pregnant now with my first child. Although we had no history of genetic problems on either side and had a negative AFP, we had decided to go ahead with the amnio because of a few questionable areas that came up during the ultrasound - including a possible heart defect.
The amnio came back positive and we were told that our child will have Downs Syndrome. That was probably the worst day of my life - and my husbands. Making a long store short, after much discussion (keeping in mind that we are both very much pro-choice) we did decide to go ahead with the pregnancy.
Since then, we've had several apts. with a ped. heart specialist who did confirm that our baby boy does in fact have a hole in his heart. However, our apt. yesterday showed that instead of it being what they call a AV septal defect, it's been downgraded to a lesser defect.
Here's my dilemma....other than the heart condition (which happens with non-downs babies as well as downs babies), and a positive amnio - he shows no other signs of downs. His measurements are normal. No other physical signs. Even the other signs they thought they saw during the ultrasound turned out okay.
Since then - just about every person we've talked with knows someone who went through a similar - if not the same situation and the baby turned out just fine. I understand that thanks to the many lawsuits and the high cost of mal-practice insurance, etc. - the Drs. are all tending to err on the side of cautious these days. Guess you're a whole lot less likely to sue if the baby turns out fine, right?
Does anyone have any thoughts on this or experiences? I'd really like to know. Right now - I believe that we are as prepared as we're ever gonna be if he turns out to have Downs, but not wanting to "jinx" my baby - I am trying to think positively. Know that we will love our baby either way - unconditionally. It just makes it really hard to plan for the future right now esp. since my husband is in the military and will be shipping out when the baby is about 7 mths old. Thanks!!! | |  | |
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