SIL and the Baby.

[miss kiki]

as i've mentioned before, my SIL just found out that she's going to have a baby boy. :)

she got a sonogram done and one of her blood levels are a bit high..
then the baby's bladder was a shade of white, meaning there's a risk for cystic fibrosis?!
and then the baby is also a risk of downes syndrome..1 out of 384.

so, the doctor's are scaring her..figures, right?! she was crying and was so upset, even though there's not a HUGE risk, so i guess that's a good thing.

the doctor that did her sonogram isn't her regular OBGYN doctor..she had to go to another place to get it done, not sure why..and this doctor told her that she should get an amniocentesis done. i know a few of you have gotten it done..she's pretty worried about the procedure.

my mom went with me to my doctor's appointment today and asked my doctor what all this means and my doctor said that she's only 22, shouldn't get the amnio done, because she's so young! ladies over the age of 35 or that has genetic disorders in their family history are usually the ones that get it done. also, that a needle or anything shouldn't go into the placenta, because it can perferate it and the placenta can pretty much break and she can lose the baby..supposedly that happened to one of her close friends..also, that if she is at a risk, would she want to abort the baby or keep it? (a long time ago me and my sister were talking to her about our abortions and my SIL said that the only way she would go through with it is if she found out that the baby was really sick and has some kind of problem that would last a lifetime.)

so my mom called my SIL and they called her regular doctor who said that she should get it done..so hopefully everything will be fine with the baby and all. my sister also asked the doctors she works with (OBGYN office) about the whole bladder thing, and they said it's nothing to worry about-the organs and all are still developing and the color should appear normal in a months time.

did anyone have these complications or anything similar happen to them? i'm a bit worried with her and her risks and whatnot..thanks! :)

[Rachel]

Kiki I know a couple of people who were told they were high risk after their 12 week scan and they ended up with perfectly healthy babies.
Another person I know was told shortly before the birth of her baby that it appeared the baby was underweight.. she went on to have a big, healthy 10 pound baby!
I'm not saying that there is no cause for concern but I think quite often doctors do give a worst case scerario!! Just remember that the worst thing she can do right now is worry... I know it is easier said than done but your SIL needs to know it is important just relax for now and take each thing as it comes as it may be well nothing. Good luck :hug:

[Naomi]

1 out of 384 chance of a trisomy means 383 chances that it isn't. My caregiver told me they wouldn't recommend an amnio unless the risk was 1:150 or more.

To be honest it sounds like the Obgyn who did the tests is being overly cautious (but then, I am not a doctor and my only experience has been my own when I was pregnant). The triple test is hardly definitive so it definitely isn't worth her getting worked up about. If she is going to worry about this for the rest of her pregnancy then she should look into having an amnio done. There is a small risk to the baby, but I'm sure her Dr would discuss this with her.

Good luck to her, especially during the first pregnancy, it's hard not to worry.

[miss kiki]

rach-i just don't understand why doctor's really scare the hell out of their patients-especially the pregnant ones! i really hope everything does go well and yes, she's been scared since she found out about the baby-haven't seen her even hold my baby cousin, so i know she's going to feel uncomfortable not knowing what to do, but i'm sure her motherly instincts will set in and she'll be fine when they baby comes..but i'm still a bit scared for her, even though the chances are very low.

naomi-that's just the thing..they sometimes are overly cautious to the point where they scare the hell out of their patients..plus, the amnio is $5000 over here and most people don't even need to get it done..it's more money making than being cautious, IMO. thanks!

[Naomi]

naomi-that's just the thing..they sometimes are overly cautious to the point where they scare the hell out of their patients..plus, the amnio is $5000 over here and most people don't even need to get it done..it's more money making than being cautious, IMO. thanks

LOL ok tbh my first thought was about the $$ but I thought I was just being cynical. In Australia, public patients don't have to pay for the amnio (I think?? if it's medically warranted), at least for now there seem to be fewer unnecessary interventions.

[miss kiki]

haha, well, i don't mind stating my opinion! i honestly think it's just about the $, but i guess it depends on the person's views and all..i think the procedure is mostly covered or is 100% covered through my brother's insurance, not too sure, but if you don't have insurance, you're stuck paying the money..and it's ALOT if you ask me..

[dragonfly97]

i will pray everything turns out fine keep us posted

[miss kiki]

well, her regular doctor told her she should get the amnio done, so she did..she said it hurt when the needle was going in, but other than that, she was fine..she was more nervous than anything though..so she has to go back in 10 days to find out the results. hopefully everything will be alright with the little man.

[keithallensmommy]

Hope everything turns out ok!

[miss kiki]

thanks! :)

[Rachel]

:fx: the results come back all clear kiki :)

[kezabelle]

Sorry, Naomi, but that information is incorrect. I had an amnio for the same reason with this pregnancy and it cost me about $800 up front with almost $300 return from Medicare. Yay!

My doctor said the standard in Australia is 1 in 300 is recommended for further treatment, but that it depends on the parent. The risk of the pregnancy terminating due to the amnio was about the same. We chose to have the amnio for peace of mind - knowing one way or the other was important to us.

The amnio does not actually test for cystic fibrosis (at least not in Australia...) Apparently there are too many mutant CF genes and it is too hard to test for them all. My son had his heel prick at a few days old and the result came back that at least one gene is postive for CF. At that time (6 years ago) they tested for only the main gene and not the mutants. So, he then had another test to check for the mutations. Luckily, he is simply a carrier.

When I went for the amnio I told this to the specialist. He seemed to think that the heel prick tested for a number of mutations as well and that my son could very easily be a carrier of a new mutation. Lovely! So, in order for them to test if this baby is a carrier or will have CF, my husband and I would need to both have blood tests so they could work out possible genes and mutations. My husband being the wuss he is, chose not to have the blood test :)

So, hope that gives you a bit more insight Christina :) The amnio results are conclusive that my baby does not have Downs or a variety of other genetic disorders, but it does not test for everything and can not guarantee there will be no defects - just that the baby does not have the ones they tested.

[miss kiki]

thanks rachel and keza! :)
ok, i understand it more now..she should be getting her results back i think sometime this week or early next week..so we'll see what happens. just got me frightened when my doctor told my mom that she can lose the baby during the amnio and all..i know how the procedure is done and i hope that everything with the baby is fine.

[Naomi]

Sorry, Naomi, but that information is incorrect. I had an amnio for the same reason with this pregnancy and it cost me about $800 up front with almost $300 return from Medicare. Yay!
That's why I qualified it, because as soon as I typed it I wasn't sure it was correct. That is a big gap though, I think it would put the test out of reach of many people who simply couldn't afford the $500 gap to have the test :(

[miss kiki]

my SIL should have went there then, since 500 dollars is cheaper than 5,000! or maybe i just misunderstood the price, not sure.

[kezabelle]

Probably different in different countries Kiki - we have a completely different health system here, and from what I understand, luckily so! :) Naomi, I agree totally - I couldn't believe the cost. The initial part was nearly $400 and then the pathology bill came for anotehr $450. That was in Brisbane, so don't know if it's different between states. Also wonder if it's available somehow through the public system? I know I pay for my ultrasounds and they average about $150 after the medicare rebate. Our public hospitals nearby don't offer the service.

[Luv Angel Musik Babee]

I had an amnio when I was pregnant with Trinity in Brissie, I didnt have to pay, I was public. It was a must have though so they could find what was wrong with her (although in the end it told them nothing)

[kezabelle]

That's probably the difference - mine was elective as the results of the 12 week scan were high risk, but it was still my choice.

[miss kiki]

well, my mom called me today and told me that the amniocentesis results came back and the baby is HEALTHY! :) what great news! i have to give my SIL a call..i'm sure she's relieved! :)

[lucyloo]

Great news Kiki....:)

[Rachel]

That is great news Kiki :)

[miss kiki]

thanks ladies! it's very good news! :)

[kimba]

That's fantastic Kiki:yes:Now your SIL can concentrate on a happy healthy pregnancy without so much worry:)

[miss kiki]

definitely! now she won't be a worry wart on xmas! :)
my dad was so scared that i heard he shed a tear or two..that's so unlike him, but i think it really hit home and scared all of us!