[renni1010]

Wow, we are growing!

Schumach and TCRS: I am glad you cleared that up because it helps make my point about just doing the amnio and skipping all of the others. I don't want the false positives and unecessary worries.

Congrats EKB!!!! (another 41YO) You must be SO excited! I know I was when we got our PG on a non-cycle!

I cannot believe I am 10 weeks. I am in complete and utter shock.

I took the gender DNA pink/blue test and am waiting on the results!! They should be here any day now.....fingers tapping. I can't wait to know!!

[HallieL]

eve-I thought you said that you had the genetic screening already. Our re made us do all of them. I had to get 19 viles of blood taken, fun fun

as far as when the sex goes, I have had some people find out the sex of the baby early as 12 weeks but to be safe 16 weeks.

so glad that i stayed home today, feel so much better and ready to go tackle the world again tomm!

[schumachm]

Renni-I so wanted to do the test this time, so worried about having two boys or two girls for fear the house will be so unbalanced. Obviously, we will be happy with two healthy babies. I am hoping for a boy and girl, but two girls would be great for Trinity because she just turned two. She will be close enough in age to be close to the twins, and there is something special about sisters. Did it cost a lot of money? How long does it take?

TCRS- I hope all things work out great for your very special blessing. Although things can be challenging you seem very ready for the challange. Know one ever knows what you will get in this game, but one thing is for sure we love them no matter what.

[kirstyloo]

Hi All – I hope that it is ok that I jump into this thread. I’m presently 42 and 35 weeks pregnant with our first child. My DH and I really considered our ages before getting pregnant, and we still worry about it sometimes. I think that it would be interesting to hear other people’s opinions on the issues associated with being an older parent.

Evar – The first trimester and first/second trimester screening test was originally designed to allow better screening for DS in women under 35. The reason is that while women over 35 were more likely to have a child with DS more babies with DS were born to women under 35 because they have more children. If you do an integrated or sequential screen, your numbers will shift after each test. Initially, it is more biased by the mother’s age; however, as you additional test (with good results) the risk will continue to drop. This type of testing wasn’t available in many areas of the country even 2-3 years ago, and it still isn’t available in some areas. It can cause a lot of additional stress as it is often set so that 5% of people screen positive and it identifies 85-91% of children with Down syndrome. Of those who screen positive, ~95% will actually have a chromosomally normal child.

schumachm – I think that you’re right. If the CVS is normal, no additional testing is needed. If CVS is abnormal, the question is whether the test represented an abnormality only found in the placenta (the tissue source for CVS) or in the placenta and the fetus. Because the source of the cells for the amnio is the amniotic fluid, the resulting chromosomes come from cells in both the placenta and the fetus. If done appropriately, CVS is >99% accurate, and a normal result is normal. I hate to say it, but one of the big reasons why I think many women end up having amnio over CVS is that there are so few physicians trained to do CVS in the US. I live in Philadelphia and most of the major university hospitals only have 1 person who can do CVS (for a total of about 6 in the whole city). In contrast, a few OBs and many/most MFMs can do amnio. Regretfully, I think that a physician’s ability to easily provide amnio might affect how he/she discusses this topic with his/her patients. I hope that I can add a brief side note as I teach medical genetics. Genetic includes both genes and chromosomes. Diseases of inheritance are passed from one generation to another. We usually think of genes causing inherited diseases (e.g., Tay sachs, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Sickle Cell Anemia); however, in rare instances chromosomal abnormalities can be inherited. Chromosome abnormalities are often associated advanced maternal age. Gene mutations are sometimes associated with advanced paternal age…a topic that people rarely talk about.

Genders - External genitals are thought of being undifferentiated at week 7 (9 weeks pregnacy) but they are viewed as differentiated by week 9 gestation (11 weeks pregnancy).

If you’re having a little girl, she will start the steps involving DNA movement to form eggs at week 10 gestation (week 12 of pregnancy). If you're having a little boy, this process doesn't start until puberty.

Eve – I hope that hematoma resolves itself quietly. Once you’re testing is complete, your doctor will give you your new data adjusted risk for Down Syndrome, trisomy 13 and a neural tube defect (Spina bifida). After my tests came back, my risk for Down syndrome was 1:4000. I’m kind of surprised that you weren’t offered genetic testing prior to IVF. According to ACOG, genetic testing is supposed to be offered prior to infertility treatment. I was offered screening prior to my IUI and my DH was offered screening prior to IVF.

[eveeidel]

Hi Halliel, We had genetic testing but jus our chromosones on a ver basci level It was just one vile of blood . So what does the nt and the combined screening test?

Originally Posted by HallieL

eve-I thought you said that you had the genetic screening already. Our re made us do all of them. I had to get 19 viles of blood taken, fun fun

as far as when the sex goes, I have had some people find out the sex of the baby early as 12 weeks but to be safe 16 weeks.

so glad that i stayed home today, feel so much better and ready to go tackle the world again tomm!

[eveeidel]

Hi Halliel, We had genetic testing but jus our chromosones on a ver basci level It was just one vile of blood . So what does the nt and the combined screening test?

Originally Posted by HallieL

eve-I thought you said that you had the genetic screening already. Our re made us do all of them. I had to get 19 viles of blood taken, fun fun

as far as when the sex goes, I have had some people find out the sex of the baby early as 12 weeks but to be safe 16 weeks.

so glad that i stayed home today, feel so much better and ready to go tackle the world again tomm!

[HallieL]

Eve-I think kristy described it the best. Bottom line is that the amino is the only test that gives you 100% accurate results so it is up to you what you want to do.

[schumachm]

Kristy! 35 weeks is soooo close. You are about to get the biggest high you will ever have in your life. The moment you hold that beautiful baby, there is nothing to describe it.

Hall/Eve-I hope you are doing well.

I hope all you girls are doing well, my peri appointment was great. He isoing to start me on powerful steroids to help with nausea/vomiting and bring up blood sugar. He also thinks I should switch from IV feeding (tpn) to a feeding tube. There is less risk, and I might tolerate it better. He thinks the passing out is due to low blood sugar and low blood pressure. I am so excited that something might help. I also got the results from blood work/nt scan, and everything was great. He said the test is just a screen to see who might need an amnio. If your blood work and scan come back fine, then they see no reason for amnio. The next screen is the AFP test (more blood work) and a level two scan 16-18w. He said the level two scan would be done because of twins not my age. Wait there is more, the tech was wonderful, and she said at this stage of the game she could tell us the gender with 80% accuracy. We have an 80% chance that baby A is a boy, and baby B is a girl. We are sooooo excited. We are not painting the nursery, but it is exciting. They are both measuring ahead and on the level two scan today everything was perfect. It is amazing how they look at every organ and everything. Way different than a regular u/s. Ok, I am writing a book, but it is good to have hope. I still am being kept alive by machines, but my mental state really gets a jump when I look at those two beautiful people. Then to know what they might be, just brings things even closer to real. The goal is to get to 37 weeks, but every week after 28 weeks is a bonus.Somehow, I am going to make it.

[HallieL]

schumachm-great news!! i am so hopeful for you and congrats on the boy/girl combo, of course you will make it and you will do what you need to do, you have the will power to do this.

me-well got a blessing today, my day job let me go today, things have been really bad there and we didn't know how long they would be in business. So, i applied for unemployment, waahoooo! Let the system work for us for awhile.

Just to catch you up, my inlaws and husband's sister has not been that nice to me, they are never out rite rude, but they have been distant and cool to me and my bridial shower was horrible where they were considered and i was dreading them coming or even not coming to my baby shower. Well, yesterday my mil sent me, yes just me a package for the baby and addressed the card just me. wow, what a shock and I called her and thanked her. Go having kids to bring the inlaws around!!!

[kblythe]

Shumach, you are just such an inspiration! I can't believe every thing you are going through, and you just sound so dang chipper. I sure hope the peri gets you sorted out though.

Hallie, here is hoping for some sort of detente with the in-laws. I tell you, it's one of the silver linings of doing this on my own! I don't have in-laws! One of my good friends had her in-laws come to stay for a week after her c-section, and they expected her to wait on them hand and foot! Unbelievable!

1. I can't add much to the amnio discussion. I do recall reading that the NT scan isn't as useful for twins because they can't always get a good angle. So that's a tough one. Three of my friends recently underwent amnio (I'm not the only AMA in the neighborhood!), and none of them had any complications. I know it's anecdotal, but I also think you need to stay away from anyone who tries to scare you away from the test if you're inclined to have it done. It's just such a personal decision. I found myself amazed at people who were judgmental about the most personal aspects of pregnancy and childbirth ... c-section or no c-section; to breastfeed or not. Good grief!

(I have no idea how I inserted the "1." at the beginning of the last paragraph ...)

Hope all of you are well.

Kathryn.

[renni1010]

I just got my gender test results and I am having a

GIRL!!

[eveeidel]

Hi Everyone,
renni1010: a girl thats wonderful

Hall: sorry about the job I hope everything works out well. I know what it is like to have terible inlaws. Mine lies all the time and invents things. Its great that your MIL came around Just rember what is important now is your dh, you and your baby.

schumachm congratulations on having a boy and girl That is wonderful.

As for me today is my fourth day with out spoting I hope it continues. I am still on bed rest untill the 5th of august. Urg .Bed rest when you feel fine its a pain. I felt a pulling pain on my right side last night dr says it normal it just growing pains.
Hope everyone has a great weekend
Eve

[schumachm]

Eve-That is good news about no bleeding. Here is something I do to pass the time. I write a journal to the baby/babies everyday. Landin loves to read his, and it is something they can treasure forever. It is fun to do. I know bedrest is the worst. I usually do bed rest for almost all my forty weeks in both my other pg.

Renni-Wow a girl! You have an older son already? You will love to try the other flavor. It is like raising two different species.

Kathryn-Thanks for the kind words. I don't expect to be nausea/vomiting free, but if he could make it so I could stand up that would be great. The NT scan for identical twins is not as accurate because they move and bump each other, but fraternal twins this early are not in each others way. At least that is the way the peri explained it to me. There is one thing in all these chats that I have learned. OBs are as different in what they say as REs. Is there not a medical standard taught in medical school.

Hall-Love the attitude about the job. Time to enjoy this moment in your life. In-laws, what can I say. Life is too short to deal with in-laws.

I am holding my breath because Trinity is back at grandma's house. I pray she is safe.

[Hopeful12]

Renni - Congrats on the GIRL!!

[kirstyloo]

renni - Congrats on having a girl! We're having one too and it has been fun so far, but we didn't find out until week 17.

schumachm - Isn't science an interesting thing? Most doctors are years from medical school and even then it depends on what studies you want to follow, national guidelines, and local practices.

What we teach our medical students about screening tests in twin pregnancies is the following. Maternal serum (blood based) tests aren't very accurate in twin (or multiple) pregnancies because both fetuses alter maternal blood levels; therefore, it is harder to have an elevated or a low level which could be suggestive of a larger problem. This is why old fashioned Triple and Quad screens weren't offered when there were multiples. In contrast, NT testing is usually do-able in twin pregnancies. There are particular markers (eg. nasal bone) that they are looking for to make sure that they get the correct angle. If they get their landmarks correct, the measurement should be accurate. What complicates the situation is that they usually include a maternal serum test along with the NT measurement in the calculation of the risk. As above, this portion of the test is less accurate for twin pregnanies; however, they have computer based models that allow them to attribute a risk to each of the fetuses. This is the policy of most testing centers in eastern PA, NJ, and DE.