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Triple Test For Pregnant Woman And Ladies
My 1st pregnancy, my 1st baby meant a lot more to me...
I never forget the mixed feelings I had to carry along through out the whole pregnancy. Many thanks to my husband and my family who supported me along the pregnancy journey. Every woman in the beginning of pregnancy will always have this doubt: will my baby be healthy? This anxiety is common for those who conceive at the age of 30 and above. Besides carrying out regular gynecological examinations, several screening and diagnosis have become a must for most reproductive woman.
I had my first pregnancy at the age of 29. Without any specific medical history or reason, I accepted the suggestion of my gynecologist to have a “Triple Test” screening. Before I had my “Triple Test”, I know nothing about it. After I had the “Triple Test”, I also do not bother to know what test it is. However, the eagerness to know further existed when I was told my result is not favorable. It is 1/200 which is 5 times higher risk for those in the same age group with me. I have gone mad...I cried for many nights...sleepless night...
What is TRIPLE-TEST?
It is also called triple screen, the Kettering test or the Bart's test. TRIPLE-TEST is a screening performed in the second trimester of pregnancy. It is based on the computerized analysis of four elements: the maternal age and three (3) fetus origin serum levels (serum levels of AFP, estriol, and beta-hCG). It individualizes 70% of the Trisomia 21 (Down Syndrome) but also Edwards Syndrome and Spina Bifida. With 5% false-positive rate. These tests classify a patient as either high-risk or low-risk for chromosomal abnormalities (and neural tube defects).
The test, however cannot confirm that the baby is affected but it does indicate whether further tests are required. High-risk patients are then referred for an invasive procedure such as an amniocentesis to receive a definitive diagnosis. Not all hospital or clinic use the triple test; some offer the double test, where two substances are measured; other hospitals don't offer the test at all, but you can have it done privately.
FINALLY.....
After several surveys and much consideration, with the support from my husband and family, we decided to hope for the best and not proceed with further tests. A point to note, further tests also involved risks. I prayed hard along my pregnancy. Thank God, my little Keith is healthy.
Keith... I love you.
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Comments
- Author
Agree with you belleburke.. we are planning for a second baby. Will not take the test this time.
i totatally agree with you, the test is nothing more than a joke. with my third child i had and the test indicated she was a high risk for downs. she was born perfect. she is the only one i had the test with. i had some more children after her and refused the test. no matter how my child will be born, i would still love them.
- Author
Yeah she did. I didn't expect it. Can never fully understand a woman. :(
Thank God all was good.
wow, thats amazing that she stood up to the doctors! most women don't and they have to live with getting the dreaded Cesarean! i'm impressed. :)
- Author
Regret Mom, the risk of miscarriage may be higher than the risk of having a special needs baby since all these tests are not accurate. I feel its better to avoid all the tests, amnio inclusive.
- Author
double_frick, i definitely agree that terminating a baby just based on these tests results is insane. your boyfriend's mom did the right thing.
Yes, doctors nowadays just want you to pay. Agnes wanted to deliver naturally but our doc told us that the baby's head is large and not engaged and urged us to do a cesarean. Fortunately Agnes insisted she wanted to try natural and everything was just fine and it costs only half the price!
well, doctors don't tell you that regardless of the results there is nothing to be done except termination...they just want you to pay for the test.
amnio scares me. and again, any problems they may find are only solved through termination...all it can do is relieve worry given to a mother by the AFP screening! you can't do surgery in-utero to cure down syndrome, or at any other time. i actually heard that they began these tests to try to prevent special needs children from being born.
i've even heard of parents who had questionable results be encouraged to terminate pregnancy...and my boyfriends' little sister is PERFECTLY FINE! and the doctors wanted his mom to terminate a healthy baby just due to some iffy test results.
not all doctors are this bad.
but there are a good amount of them that are taught unfortunate things. :/
I agreed it is waste of time and money to have the triple test since it can not produce accurate result. If we want the define result, just opt for a diagnostic test, such as amniocentesis. But of course it also carries a small risk of miscarriage.
- Author
yeah.. totally agree with you. also there are some religion that do not allow termination of pregnancy.. so why bother taking these tests.
i regret getting that afp test, seems like such a waste now. i insist that only women who are wanting to terminate pregnancy (if baby isn't 'perfect') should get those kinds of tests since that is the only real value(i don't think that's valuable, to terminate a special needs child)...they are not very accurate and they scare women into thinking they may have a special needs child, it takes excitement away from the baby when often the baby is perfectly fine. :)
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