Originally Posted by
sste
Well, if you would consider terminating then absolutely do the CVS. It gives you more time and it is a less distressing termination because it will be earlier.
If you would not terminate a baby, then the two issues are 1) your mental health; 2) whether you want to know in advance in order to make special plans for health care, delivery, insurance, etc. This is very specific to you! For example, if you would never terminate, are delivery in an acute care delivery center that can handle alot of high-risk, and you are upset about the risk of miscarriage from cvs or amnio, then go with further blood tests . . . these can later be combined with later-stage amnios into another statistical matrix which will give you an even firmer idea. On the other hand, if you need to know to stay calm or feel like it would give your baby a better start health-wise, then go CVS.
If you get a cvs go to a provider who does ALOT of them. For this type of provider, cvs is as safe as amnio. The higher risk of cvs versus amnio appears to derive mainly from some obs who aren't well-trained in it and do it only sporadically.
Last but not least, ASK TO SPEAK TO A GENETIC COUNSELOR! They can help you work through the decisionmaking, some will even set you up with parents to talk to who have a child with the condition.
Good luck OP!!
This. Exactly.
Usually OB's and MFMs are pretty pro-active about scheduling to meet with a genetic counselor in these situations, but if they don't bring it up, make sure to ask about it. As for what tests to consider, it really depends on what you would do with the information. Agree with sste that if you even think termination might remotely be an option, absolutely ask about CVS in detail, and make sure you go to someone who has done a lot.
So sorry you are having to worry about any of this.
DD1 10/2010
DD2 8/2013
And expecting DS1 10/2016