positive Quad

[Nurse Amy Jolie]

Hi to all nurses ,

As Im writing now, I just got a bad news today. My nurse practitioner called today with a positive quad test. She did not tell me the percentage. She only said my baby had a chance of down syndrome. I am only 27. I have been a mess all day. I am scheduled for level 2 ultrasound next week. I just feel that my nurse practitioner should have emphasized the chances that my baby could be down syndrome. She just told me the news on the phone and had her nurse called me to give another Ob number so I can schedule an appointment. For now I dont know what to think. First of all they added 2 weeks to gestational age and twice their ultrasound measurement was weird, more date on Gestational age at each US test. What should I do now/

[LobotRN, BSN, RN]

Dear Amy,

This type of news is no doubt absolutely nerve wracking. The best place to get the information and support for you and your family need is directly from your health care provider. At All Nurses, no medical advice can be given per the terms of service. I wanted you to know that a lack of response does not mean a lack of caring, but that the absolute best place to start on your journey and get guidance for what choices you have on your path is from your health care team.

Thinking of you,

Natalie T. ("LobotRN")

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

There's no way for anyone here to give any medical advice..... but wait until you get more information; this has to be really hard- I can't imagine.

[LouisVRN, RN]

Call and ask more questions of your provider. Unfortunately I can't give you any medical advice. The level 2 ultrasound should be able to give your more accurate chances though combined with your lab results. Obviously any discrepancy between actual and estimated gestational age can cause the test results to be inaccurate.

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

At allnurses.com we cannot give specific medical advice. However, we can offer general information and support for the situation you are facing. For specific medical advice, please see your practitioner.

I googled and found some information that may be of help to you:

http://community.babycenter.com/post/a17424755/quad_screen_positive_for_down_syndrome

http://pregnancy.about.com/cs/afp/a/afptesting.htm

One of my dear friends gave birth to a beautiful baby girl with Down Syndrome 31 years ago. Her daughter with Downs is now a healthy high-functioning and remarkable individual who touches lives wherever she goes. She writes poetry, sings, dances, and has other wonderful gifts that she freely shares with the world. In fact, my friend and her daughter are giving a guest lecture in a pediatric nursing class this morning on the benefits of early intervention in children at risk for developmental delay.

More information concerning this remarkable young woman:

http://www.iahp.org/jp/299%20M50039cec051.html

Sending you positive thoughts and prayers :)

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

This is the blog of a young mother like yourself whose baby was born unexpected with Down Syndrome. It may bring you some comfort.

http://www.kellehampton.com/2010/01/nella-cordelia-birth-story.html

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

I know you are worried and scared at the moment, but I feel you need to wait to see your specialist who will offer you a series of tests which will accurately give you the diagnoses.

It is important for you to remember that the quad screen is a screening test and not a diagnostic test. This test only notes that a mother is at risk of carrying a baby with a genetic disorder. Many women who experience an abnormal test result go on to deliver healthy babies.

Good luck with your tests

[applewhitern, BSN, RN]

Why are you stressing yourself out over this? Won't you keep the baby, even if it has some type of disability? Your baby might be perfectly fine, but if it isn't, you will still love and cherish it!

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

God bless you thru this struggle.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

I hope this will help (do some googling at web md too and they will verify) it is the best test we have, but:

"The controversy in these tests lies in many places. One of which is the accuracy of the screenings. While some claim that they have only a 5% "false positive" rate, most research finds that there are 80+% rate of positive tests while the baby is unaffected. The false positive rates depend on many factors, including appropriate gestational age, maternal age, weight and the presence of diabetes."

Do not stress one bit until you have the US and they look at nuchal folds.

This is not medical advice, but mental health advice......:smokin:

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

Aww hugs. As a mom of a special needs child (who had normal labs), I understand mourning the loss of a 'normal child'. On the other hand, my daughter has blessed me in many ways. I would never change her for me. I love her beyond the moon.

With that being said, take a deep breath. As others said, these results aren't written in stone. I have seen many turn out to be totally negative. I worked with a gal that had an u/s that showed cysts on her babies brain and her labs were wonky. The baby was born a few months later totally fine.

Go to this other dr and get some questions answered. Seek support in your family. Another good place are message boards for special needs children if the need arises.

Big hugs :hug:

[OCNRN63, RN]

Why are you stressing yourself out over this? Won't you keep the baby, even if it has some type of disability? Your baby might be perfectly fine, but if it isn't, you will still love and cherish it!

That's not very helpful. Having a child with Down Syndrome could mean major changes in a family, even though the child may be loved. Pregnancy is an anxious time for a woman. Chastising someone for worrying about a potential abnormality does nothing to reduce her anxiety.