Hi everyone,
I took the MSAFP screen 10 days ago and the levels were abnormally low, which supposedly indicates the possiblity of increased risk of Down's Syndrome. Went last Wednesday for a basic ultrasound to make sure my due date was correct, since miscalculation can throw it off. Turned out that my due date *is* off by nearly a week, which means that I took the test at 14.9 weeks, not 15.9 like they thought. However, my doctor won't accept that as an explanation. I'm going for the level II ultrasound this coming Wednesday, and will more than likely have an amnio when all is said and done.
I have talked to a few friends who had babies recently, and several of them said that their doctors encouraged them *not* to take the screen--either because they were going to have an amnio anyway or because they didn't fall into a high risk category. I don't fall into a high risk category either, and while I wish my doctor had told me more about this test before encouraging me to take it, my main focus is hoping and praying that this is indeed needless worry and my baby is fine.
Even though I know (now) that the MSAFP has a very high false-positive rate, even though my doctor said, quote, "it is more than likely that your baby is fine," and even though my gem of a husband has been more supportive and positive that one could imagine, I can't help but be scared to death and miserable. I feel and believe in my heart that my baby is fine, but the seeds of doubt have been planted and I'm so very scared.
I know that ths MSAFP is controversial in some ways, and I don't want to start any heated posts. But, I would really appreciate some words of encouragement and/or advice, and especially would appreciate points of view from people who may have been in a similar situation.
Sorry for the long post. Thanks for listening.
--Christine
I took the MSAFP screen 10 days ago and the levels were abnormally low, which supposedly indicates the possiblity of increased risk of Down's Syndrome. Went last Wednesday for a basic ultrasound to make sure my due date was correct, since miscalculation can throw it off. Turned out that my due date *is* off by nearly a week, which means that I took the test at 14.9 weeks, not 15.9 like they thought. However, my doctor won't accept that as an explanation. I'm going for the level II ultrasound this coming Wednesday, and will more than likely have an amnio when all is said and done.
I have talked to a few friends who had babies recently, and several of them said that their doctors encouraged them *not* to take the screen--either because they were going to have an amnio anyway or because they didn't fall into a high risk category. I don't fall into a high risk category either, and while I wish my doctor had told me more about this test before encouraging me to take it, my main focus is hoping and praying that this is indeed needless worry and my baby is fine.
Even though I know (now) that the MSAFP has a very high false-positive rate, even though my doctor said, quote, "it is more than likely that your baby is fine," and even though my gem of a husband has been more supportive and positive that one could imagine, I can't help but be scared to death and miserable. I feel and believe in my heart that my baby is fine, but the seeds of doubt have been planted and I'm so very scared.
I know that ths MSAFP is controversial in some ways, and I don't want to start any heated posts. But, I would really appreciate some words of encouragement and/or advice, and especially would appreciate points of view from people who may have been in a similar situation.
Sorry for the long post. Thanks for listening.
--Christine
