Why Did You or Why Did You Not Do the Quad Screening Test?

I have worked in a NICU since the early 80's. Back then there was only amnio to determine Down's. The big difference I see is that parents who know their baby has Down's prior to birth have mentally worked out what this means for their family prior to the birth. For parents who did not know prior to the birth, it often felt like a death. These parents went on to love their child, but all the expectations they had when the didn't know their child had Down's were now gone. It takes awhile to mentally process this new reality. I think there is benefit to going through this mental process prior to the birth. Down's babies can have intestinal and/or heart problems. There is a benefit to the baby as well as the family to know these things prior to birth. Decisions can be made about where to deliver and which specialists should be available. For example, knowing the baby has a heart defect means you would likely choose to deliver at a hospital that can care for a child with the defect. Otherwise the baby will be transferred to another hospital and the mother remains where she delivered. As I have posted before having an amnio showing a problem with the baby does not mean you have to have an abortion. It may be an option for some families, but not for all. The knowledge allows you to prepare better for the birth.

I felt the same way as you. My only problem of not having it done was that if it was able to detect some abnormality and I could have educated myself on that particular problem. Fortunately, it was never an issue and I have three healthy children!!!

I know too many mothers who had a child born with a birth defect or syndrome. I truly don't think 'ignorance is bliss'; whatever the issue, I would rather be informed.

I know one couple who went the all natural, no testing, no sonograms, deliver at home route. It was their 3rd child. Everything went fine with the delivery except they didn't know the baby was born with a hole in her diaphragm and over the ensuing months, her intestines were being pulled into her chest cavity and putting pressure on her heart.

Seriously, that could have been identified prior to birth. Why put your baby at risk? Some prenatal tests might not be 100% foolproof, but you can always do further testing if there's reason. It doesn't necessarily mean you'll end the pregnancy. Being informed is much better than not.

I wanted to test, because precautions have to be taken directly after birth. If I were to have a DS baby, I wanted the doctors to be prepared for it. Also, I wanted to be able to prepare for the special needs the baby would need.

I have 3 kids I had all tesst done required or not for all 3 pregnancies in my decision I had to know to prepare myself & family of what it could be like get educated before baby prepare myself mentally that it is what it is.Fortunately all mine where negative & I have all 3 kids healthy.

I did the test because after discussing it with my doctor I realized that the real issue is not so much the false positives, but the false negatives. Now, I am not saying it isn't scary and frustrating to get a false positive, and thank goodness I did not with either pregnancy, however, the real info lies in the false negatives...I would rather take a test that has a much lower rate of false negatives so that I don't get surprised even if that results in a false postiive that just turns out to be a scare. Additionally, I don't even think terminating or not terminating the pregnancy should be a factor. If you can find out if your child has a condition that needs treatment, I feel it's better to be prepared and get your ducks in a row before you've been waiting your whole life for a perfect birth and surprise...there's issues. Just my feelings on it! I do hope that the other mother's issues are resolved, though!

My doctor asked if I wanted to do it and I said no. It wont change whether or not I was going to keep the pregnancy, and I didn't want to get a "false" positive and then be worrying the rest of my pregnancy about what was to come. I didn't want a "real" positive either! Just didn't see the point of doing something that is known to give inaccurate readings.
L.

My husband and I decided not to do the tests. I initially wanted to have an amnio (I was over 35) but my husband was very afraid of the risk of miscarriage. I considered the screening test but decided that if it came back positive I would have a really hard time waiting if we weren't going to do the amnio. Also, we would have the baby no matter what. I know that there is value in knowing ahead of time to prepare but I decided that if there was a problem I would have to deal with that for a life time and I wanted to at least have the joy of the pregnancy until that time.

I did not, as it would not change anything. However at our 20 week ultrasound they found 1 possible precurser. So they sent me to a highrisk ob, who did another one and said 98% that it was not.. he was fine.

I had all the tests done with both my pregnancies only because they were recommended by my OB, and also I figured I would rather know about some illness or disorder before the baby was born. It seemed like there were even more tests and screenings the second time around, I didn't even know what I was being tested for most of the time. The only test I declined was the HIV test the second time around only because I had one less than two years before and I wanted to spare myself another needle in the arm (ugh). I felt like I got a lot of attitude about it, at one appointment the nurse I saw said "I see you refused the HIV test, why is that?" When I explained my reasons (my husband and I are monogamous, don't use drugs, and Ihave both been tested recently) she just looked at me like ... ok.... I was honestly trying to spare myself from a blood draw which make me queasy.

In my 2nd pregnancy I failed the glucose screening and had to go back, sit in the hospital for FOUR hours having my blood taken once an hour. I couldn't eat or drink anything. It was awful, and you know what, the test came back fine, I was not even diabetic or anything. It was a nightmare having my blood taken repeatedly even in the same arm, I'm not sure how I didn't end up flat on the floor.

If I get pregnant again I'm going to refuse all tests and screeenings unless there is some reason I have a higher chance of having a problem. It would be easier to know beforehand about something like downs syndrome just to prepare myself. However I never realized that these tests aren't always accurate and only indicate a possibility of a problem. That doens't even seem worth it.

My answer is the same as some of the other responses. I wanted to prepare.

I declined everything that wasn't directly linked to managing my pregnancy in a healthy way. I even would have forgone the ultrasound if my ex-husband hadn't been so adamant about knowing the gender.

After a number of miscarriages, I had to give over control of the process to my body and trust in the knowledge of my midwife. There is nothing that any screening or test could tell me that would change the outcome.

Despite having trouble staying pregnant myself, and being told that I may never have a child of my own, I don't believe in interfering with the process of conception. That is right...no IVF, AI, etc. My beliefs have no basis in religion, just how I believe our bodies are meant to work.

I also don't believe in extroardinary measures to save life at any age.

Nope, haven't always felt this way and may develop and mature into something else in the future. I just believe that some things are better left to a natural course.

I personally find it a little silly if someone is willing to have the screenings, but not go through with the amnio. You are asking to worry through the rest of your pregnancy if you're not willing to do the test that would confirm or deny the test results.

I know this can sound a little harsh when it is on the computer screen. The bottom line is...make the decision you can live with. Whatever the consequences of that decision...you're the one who will have to live with it for the rest of your life.

I wanted to know so I could prepare accordingly. I think having a child with a disability would be less shocking if you know and are prepared for it. I had a false positive, and had the amnio. I think if I had another child I would get the screening again, just to put my mind at ease. But that is just me :)

I was 39 when I delivered my son. When they told me a positive result might be nothing and a negative result couldn't guarantee anything, I figured what the heck was the use of getting it? I put it into God's hands and prayed for a healthy child.

I have never done any screening other than the ultrasound, which is not really screening in the same sense. I never saw any reason for it. The only thing I would want to know about would be something that needed immediate treatment at birth, which is often something that can be seen from an ultrasound, or something that has to be treated by in-utero surgery, which I think is just an amazing thing that medical science can do these days. I used to think the screening was more for women who were considering abortion, but I'm sure that is not the case. It would be interesting to see why other people do have screening done, though.

I decided against any test that were invasive because either way I knew the results wouldn't change whether or not I would have our babies. However, I also decided to do some research... just in case when I came across this story... http://www.kellehampton.com/2010/01/nella-cordelia-birth-...

After reading this story, I stopped doing research because I knew we do what we needed to do to make sure our LOs are healthy and happy no matter what. I'm at 30 wks and I have no regrets or apprehension. But I really think this is a personal decision - you have to know your strengths and limitations to make the best decision and no couple/woman/baby is the same.

As an older mom, I wanted the reassurance that the Quad screening would give me. I don't believe there is such a thing as a positive or a negative result. It's just percentages. I was told I had the same risk as an 18 year old. That means my baby still had a chance of having a problem, but the likelihood was low. Anyway, I wanted to have that worry off my plate while I was pregnant.

I didn't do it with this time around because I'd had the first trimester screen, which is more accurate, and my doctor said I really didn't need the quad screen. I wonder if this is offered to everyone now or just to those over 35? The only thing this screen doesn't test for are neural tube defects. However, these can be seen on ultrasound. And, the ultrasound IS a very important screening test. My neice has spina bifida that would not have been discovered on the quad screen OR an amnio, because the defect was closed (covered with skin). However, the bubble of spinal fluid on her back was very obvious on an ultrasound. Without the ultrasound, the doctors would not have known to perform a c-section. In this situation, a vaginal birth would have been very dangerous for the baby.