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The forum has a new look and the Fairfax Team is so excited to create the best experience for our users.
To Note:
Private Donor Groups and Private Sibling Connection Groups are now located under the category "Groups". Search the donor number in the search box and you should find exactly what you're looking for!
Questions about your forum access? Email forum@fairfaxcryobank.com
Follow these steps to join a private donor group:
1) Press "Join" at the right of the group
2) Once prompted to confirm your request please list this information so we can verify your information:
Name (under which the vial was purchased)
Clinic Name
Donor number
Child Date of Birth
*If you are looking to start a private group for a PRS donor please email forum@fairfaxcryobank.com with the above information and that you are looking for a PRS group*
If you have any questions about the verification process please email forum@fairfaxcryobank.com
Genetic testing
moewhit25
Senior Member Senior Member
For those of you that have opted for early genetic testing please share your experiences. I am concerned because although the NT measurements were well within range apparently my bloodwork came back for high risk for Downs Syn. Based on my age 42 and whatever markers were in my bloodwork I have a 1 in 41 chance. The norm for my age group is 1 in 45. My OB suggested an aminocentesis but I don't want to jeopardize the pregnancy. She then suggested the materniti21 test which I will have done on Monday. I'm nervous and have started to think about how different things could turn out. Whatever the results it won't change anything but I'm so concerned now....
Comments
I'll keep you all posted. Thanks again!
Moe
My genetic counseling went well today and I had the bloodwork for the Materniti21 test. It takes 10 days to get the results. But I'm not stressed about the outcome. The counselor said that based on my initial NT bloodwork I have 97% chance of a "normal" little one and 2.5% of Downs. That's what 1 in 41 translates to! So I feel better about the results. The good news is that the Materniti21 test yields a negative or positive result instead of those ridiculous numbers. Thanks for sending positive thoughts this way!!
i havent really been on this thread much in the last month or so..it tends to give me anxiety of my situation. I did want to write to you to let you know that i am sure everything is great. you have come this far and overcome so so much. try to just relax and enjoy what you spent so long working so hard for. i have learned in the last month that the struggle is not over once you get the positive or even after your in the "safe zone" 12 weeks. Life with a child is a constant worry weather it is worrying if the baby is healthy in the womb, weather your cervix will protect them, weather the baby is born healthy, worrying about sids after they are born, then every bump, bruise, scratch, heartache etc. We can all choose to let fear consume us or we can look past the fear and enjoy the dream we are all living. we all wanted this for so so long. lets just breathe.
I could spend my days laying in bed wondering what if this..what if that. I choose not to. i am positive, hopeful and dare i even say excited. This attitude has gotten me this far. 31 days into a 43 day journey. Almost at the next goal of 24 weeks. Live life happy. live your life excited and no matter what happens with this test you still haveyour sweet little baby. (my guess is it is a girl)
xoxo
charlotte
I was just wondering if you could explain to me what Genetic Testing involves. Is it just special requested bloodwork asking to check for things or is it something entirely different and much more involved? Is it done through your RE, or does it require a special doctor outside of the practice? Is it something only used for IVF? Is it something everyone of AMA should look into? Right now I am only doing IUIs and have never considered this before, but wonder if I should. Any insight you can share on this subject would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!
Sincerely,
Amber
Hope that everyone is doing well. Welcome back Charlotte. Congrats on having less than 2 weeks before you get to 24 weeks! It's crazy how it's always a waiting game...There are milestones that I've reached that help me slightly exhale but I still don't feel like there's ever a "safe zone". Not to sound negative but it's just the way my brain keeps everything in perspective. We can't stress about things that we have very little control over. Just take things day by day and try to enjoy each week that brings you closer to holding your little bundle of joy. It's funny because most of my friends think I'm having a boy and on some level I feel like I'm going to have one. If I have a girl she will certainly be a diva (based on some of the women in my family) and I'll have my hands full!!! And of course I will be thrilled with a healthy happy baby boy or girl...
To answer your questions Amber, genetic testing is typically suggested to women that have had miscarriages previously and/or who are over 35 years old. You don't have to go through fertility treatments to be offered these tests. They range from non-invasive screenings to invasive tests that provide more accurate outcomes than screenings. OB's typically will refer you for genetic counselling and that practice will conduct the tests. Many tests require an out of pocket expense. The Maternati21 test is not covered by insurance because it's still a new test, so I had to pay a flat rate of $235 despite the insurance being billed $2500 (all denied).
Screenings=Around week 10-13 NT (nuchal translucency) measures the fluid behind the baby's neck via abdominal ultrasound and also looks for the presence of a nasal bone. It also involves a bloodtest that looks for certain levels based on your age. Those two factors will yield a ratio of your "risk" for Downs Syndrome and Trisomy 16, 18. Typically the older you are the more likely you will get a false positive which then the doctor will suggest more definative (invasive) tests.
There's also a quad screen which I'm not familar with...
Invasive tests: CVS offered in first trimester which takes a sample of the placenta or aminocentesis offered in the second trimester. Both carry a risk of miscarriage something like 1/200
The test that I opted for in a non invasive blood test (Maternati21) which has been out less than 2 years. It looks at fetal DNA and is 97% accurate for picking up chromosomal issues. The results are positive vs negative.
These tests are skipped by many moms to be because if the results won't change the outcome of the pregnancy why spend the next 6 months stressing? Others look at the results and want to be prepared in advance for a special needs baby.
My results will be in around mid week and I feel good about it.
Hope this helps....
Moe
Woot! I'm so happy for you! Now, keep your fingers crossed that I get the same good news when my turn rolls around.
Have a great week!
Congrats! So happy for you! another thing down. I know what you mean about milestones and looking ahead! We all thought at one point getting pregnant was going to be the hardest thing! Who knew..... but looking at the positives and enjoying each day is where its at! I still do that and my baby is out and in my arms! There are still moments I worry and I push it aside and tell myself to enjoy just this moment! Especially those 3 am feedings... but when my guy smiles at me my heart melts! Today while driviing into work the song Perfect by Pink was on,
I LOVE that song, as I was singing along I started to cry! that has nr=evered happened, what motherhood does to us. I just kept picturing Maksim and thinking he is perfect to me!
Have a great day!
Robin
Thank you also for explaining my questions about genetic testing. I'll mention it to my RE at my appointment tomorrow just to see what she thinks because of my age . . . but I've never been pregnant before so I don't know if miscariages will end up being an issue for me or not. I just know that the mc rate goes up as you age, so I suppose there is that to consider. I guess it's just a waiting process now to see if my next IUI takes. If it does, I think that at this stage I would be too afraid to risk mc for invasive testing. Although the Maternati21 test sounds like a good option as it's non-invasive and could help me prepare if i were to have a child that required special needs.
Thanks again for all the great info! I hope you continue to have a wonderful and worry-free pregnancy!
My doc is not doing a NT ultrasound since I'm doing the blood test - which is the path that she recommends for someone my age. Gotta love the AMA tag
My next OB appt is 25 September. So weird not to be going every week
Awesome NEWS Anne!!! Enjoy and exhale....