Unexpected anxiety

[powerlovesoundmind]

For some reason, the stats on genetic anomalies didn’t phase me one bit (honestly, didn’t even look at any #s) before getting pregnant. Which probably sounds irresponsible but it seems so commonplace to wait until later to become parents these days. BUT , Now that we are well into our first trimester, I have freaked myself out by googling the odds of DS etc. and it seems much higher than I would have thought. Suddenly, I can’t stop worrying about all the “what ifs” associated with advanced maternal age. I know this is my last pregnancy and really want to just enjoy it. Instead I feel paranoid.
Hubs thinks it’s my hormones and doesn’t want 1st trimester screening incase it’s a false positive and we end up harming an otherwise healthy baby with diagnostic testing in search of answers. (Which we would definitely want).

Anyone have insight on the stats (especially for genetic abnormalities) being out-dated for 35+ age range? I’ll be almost 37 at delivery …should I push to get 1st trimester screenings even though there are many cases of false positive flags?

I am just so worried I might have messed things up for my two healthy children.

 

[jl090812]

@powerlovesoundmind We were both over 40 at conception and did the NIPT. We were able to do it through Labcorp for $299 and it was worth it for us for the peace of mind

 

[hopeatl]

@jl090812 Yeah I definitely recommend getting the NIPT. It’s 100% worth it

 

[behindcrossroads]

@hopeatl What is NIPT?

 

[jl090812]

@behindcrossroads Non-Invasive Prenatal Test, also known as Cell Free DNA. It’s a blood draw from mom when the fetus is 10-12 weeks. Fetal DNA can be pulled out of mom’s blood and checked for chromosomal abnormalities. It’s a screening test rather than diagnostic like amniocentesis, but it is HIGHLY accurate.

 

[behindcrossroads]

@jl090812 Thank you

 

[rauch]

@powerlovesoundmind I’m 43, and our DS NIPT test came in at a 1/10,000 chance. Our baby was born without any issues.

 

[angir]

@powerlovesoundmind It honestly put my mind and heart at ease once the genetic testing came back and everything was good. I was worried sick about it, being 39, and was able to breathe and enjoy my pregnancy after knowing all was well. The stats are still very much on your side-but I know how scary it is. Whichever way you chose is the right way

 

[sheviree]

@powerlovesoundmind I had the nipt test, it helped some. But I worried the entire pregnancy and she is perfect. I was 38 when I had her.

 

[conner007]

@powerlovesoundmind You should totally do NIPT testing. At your age, as long as it’s pre-authorized, most insurance will cover it. It’s not positive/negative, it gives you a risk score. You then use that to determine if you want to do more invasive testing such as amniocentesis. So your husband doesn’t need to be concerned about “false positives”.

 

[huskeyboy]

@conner007 I did the qnatal nipt and it didn't give me a risk score. It just came back negative for each one. What lab was yours through?

 

[conner007]

@huskeyboy Natera and last pregnancy I did Myriad.

 

[scrooge]

@powerlovesoundmind I’ll be 38 when I give birth , genetic testing all came back low risk, but I still lay in bed very anxious that I’m having this baby later in life thinking of things like developmental delays and other things that come up with maternal age that cannot be picked up in pregnancy tests.

 

[wendylu4u]

@powerlovesoundmind I was 37 at delivery of my first and she is perfect! We did NIPT at 10 weeks to screen for genetic abnormalities.

 

[ipancake]

@powerlovesoundmind I am 38, and did the NIPT, with no anomalies.