I have been so scared about this that I have made myself sick.  I have had 3 ultrasounds and all the measurements

are perfect.  The doctor says everything looks good.  I was alright until I read on another web sight that these women

had perfect ultrasound and still had a ds baby.  That was why my doctor sent me for the ultrasound, a level 2.

I am so stressed.  Can someone please comment on this.  I am feeling so down now.  Thanks

I understand your stress.  I am 39 and the risk was so much higher for d/s, plus I have a girlfriend whose son has DS pretty bad...her tests showed nothing, but she did not have any screens that were above beyond what is given to moms to be under 35.

Because of my age I had an AFP blood test which screens for a few different syndromes, You could ask for that....my test came back normal.  After that I had my Level II, and up unitl the day I would find myself at times crying....but when the time came I was very calm.  The U/S is intense, they measure everything...ankles, elbows, important things like the chambers to the heart, brain lobes all organs, they then flick a switch and show the blood flowing in and out of everywhere....and yes they screen for Downs, Edwards and others.  Both the level II and the AFP are screens only...they are not a 100% grrnty.....if you want that then Amnio is your only option.  Once the doctor did my level II (we were sent to specialist) he said he saw absolutely no reason to take the risk of miscarriage and do Amnio...between both tests he saw a very healthy little girl.  AND YES THAT WAS RELIEF ENOUGH!!!  I understand what you are saying, and watching my girlfriend let me know I will love my child no matter what, but it made me see how much harder life is and how much I just really did not want to have to go thru it....those moms are superheros...no question about it....

From what you have said on the other U/S you will be fine...I also had 3 before the Level II.... go into this one happy..find a way to get calm, because it is intense an 1hr or more, but the detail and the joy coming out of it needs to be experienced so you must relax.  You'll be fine, good luck and let me know what you think.

by the way, on this article you read about the women having normal test results etc...how intense were their screenings...I grrnty most of the them were under 35 and did not get what is offered as AFP and level II because it's thought in the medical field it's an over 35age thing....even though I think it should be the mom's choice and not an age thing....I bet if they had some other screens something may have been found.

Kim

Dear Kim,

     Thanks for the support.  I am 35.  I did not take the AFP test because it has such a high false positive.  My doctor

was alright with it.  I didn't take it with my other two pregnancies.  Well I had the last ultrasound.  The nurse took a

hundred pictures, she said everything was perfect. At my level 2 they found a choroid plexus cyst on the baby. The doctor said

they are common and always go away.  At the ultrsound today it had gone away.  The doctor said everything looks good.

Did your girlfriend have a level 2, your right it is very intense.  They measure every bone, my was perfect.  Do you think

everything is going to be alright.  I have just made myself sick, I hope I make it through this pregnancy.  I have a girl who is 4

and a boy who is 3, please keep in tough.   Shirley 

HI Shirley,

I would say everything is going to be fine.  If noone found any reason for you to do an amnio then you should sit back and relax.  If they found some reason they would have told you and they would have recommended the amnio.  Try not to worry, I know easier said than done.  I agree AFP give many false positives but I felt it would help with the level II....if they found something then they had an area to search during the U/S.  I have many friends who had false positives and they went thru their pregnancy stressing.....it's not worth it....

Glad to hear the cyst has gone away.....most of them do....Did you stress during your first 2 pregnancies or now that the internet is more available you reading more stuff to stress you out.  I had to stop reading...I now have baby books and I read them to my daughter every night..that is my reading...

 RELAX!!  Kim

Kim,

     Thanks for the support again.  I did not stress out with my other two.  My doctors office has a new doctor and

it seems like she upsets me everytime I see her. When I first seen her she said "Oh my you are 35"  At my moms

suggestion I make my appointments around her.  I seen the doctor that devlivered my other two kids last Tuesday

and he said "You are only 35" I wish I would of seen him first.  I think that new doctor just stressed me out,

she just always says that wrong thing..   Thanks for listening, I'll keep in touch.   Shirley

I understand what you are saying about the Dr.  My doctor constantly reminded me I was 39.  Constantly reminded me of the risks for the entire first trimester...he even went as far to tell me my husband about how he had a woman who was 8wks and they lost the heart beat...he kept telling us to always be prepared...at that time I was 7wks and leaving there crying....now he does not say much at all...I think he probably saw a lot of "maternal age mothers" and he wanted them to be aware....this is my first and last, and clearly for the reason of age...I do stressed like you did for this one and all the test and things you read....I will not do it again....

Good luck and relax.....