meltdown - please pray for my babies

Ok, I am going through a bit of a meltdown right now and desperately need some advice and prayers. I was sitting here enjoying a Sunday afternoon with DH and football when I got a phone call from the hopsital where my OB is located. It was a different doctor that I have not heard of and she explained that my OB is out of town right now and that she, the new one, just got the results of my triple screen back and in a cold hearted tone she told me that I didn't exactly pass the test...WHAT? I asked...she continued on to say that someone should have explained to me what not passing the test means....at that point I began crying and said that yes I did read the form and I know what the test was for but what does not passing mean? She fussed at me and said well mam, when is your level 2 ultrasound...I told her it is on the 28th of this month and asked if I could take it sooner...she said if there is space open then yes I could take it earlier and that she was going to put in a consult for a geneticist doctor to do an amnio, but that there is a risk of harming the babies...still crying I asked what I could do in the meantime...she then tells me not to worry that my numbers were borderline but did not mean the babies had anything wrong with them! I feel like I am on one **** of a rollercoaster ride and want to get off.
To top this all off I didn't sleep well last night because my left hip is killing me and with all the trips to the bathroom I would get comfortable and then feel the urge to go again only to get up and then sit to pee and nothing! I am trying to keep it together because I don't want to upset my precious little babies but I am having a hard time.
So here I am a mess now and I would deeply appreciate any prayers that you ladies could say for my babies. I am sorry to go one about all this but I didn't know who else would understand my wild emotions right now except for ya'll.

 

These tests have a high rate of false positives, especially in multiple pregnancies. My OB did not even perform one since I was carrying twins, he just waited until the Level II ultrasound.

Here is a link with an article about it. http://pregnancy.about.com/cs/afp/a/afptesting.htm

ETA: I think a little better bedside manner than "you didn't exactly pass" is called for here. Honestly. Hugs to you, I am sure your babies are just fine and it's the test that's wrong.

 

First off, I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. Secondly, I will never understand why they think it is a good idea to deliver this information over the phone!!!!

From what I understand it is not uncommon for this test to be inaccurate with multiples. The numbers are often higher because there are 2 babies in there! Also, when I talked to my doctor about having this done I asked him what the point of having the test was if the results were more likely to be inaccurate. He explained to me that the blood test alone is NOT a diagnosis. All it does is let them know that they should check through ultrasound for certain markers that may indicate a problem. Basically, they will have you go for a level 2 ultrasound which is just a more thurough ultrasound and then have you see a genetic counselor.

I know that it is easy for others to say, but try not to worry! I will have you in my thoughts and I will be praying for a positive outcome for you and your family! :love0028:

 

oh you poor girl. My Dr also didnt do the test because of the results with a multiple birth. You mst be worried sick and its hard not to worry. I agree a better beside manner would have been nice. Hugs to you, I hope your doctor is able to set your mind at ease and that everything is ok.

 

Hang in there. Easy for me to say, I know. But you have to put some faith into the fact that this test is so unreliable for multiple pregnancies. And the fact that your numbers are borderline is probably even more proof. Like others, my OB did not even want me to have this test because it is so unreliable. I waited for my Level II U/S. Please keep us updated when your appt is, if you get it earlier. I will be thinking of you until then.

 

There are a lot of false positives on those tests! I know it is hard to think about that, but that OB has no tact! Geez! Stressing out is not going to help your babies. I avoided all tests because of this and a lot of times it is because there are twins and not a singleton that the tests results come back a bit skewed! :hug99:

 

First - calm down - I did the triple screen test, and after talking with a geneticist, wished I had not. Mine came back as very likely one of my twins had down's - very likely, not borderline. We did the level 2 u/s, and went ahead with the amnio so that we would know for certain what the situation was so we could be prepared. We were having the twins regardless. The u/s did not show any markers for down's, the amnio confirmed it, and I have 2 beautiful, healthy baby girls. Depending on your age, there is also more of a likelihood of false positives - the older you get, the tighter the tolerance for the test, and combined with twins, it's not so accurate at that point. Keep us posted! But I hope your situation turns out like mine. I worried for nothing, and the doc that called you I think might have been out the day they talked about bedside manners at school - I hope it all turned out ok for you. Go ahead and PM me if you want to talk some more. Good luck! :love0028:

 

I heard the same thing that pp did. There is a good chance of false positives with these tests. I opted not to do them and that is when this was explained to me. I get level 2 ultrasounds every four weeks so they could tell the babies were growing well and could see all of their organs developing. It sounds like she had a bad bedside manner. I hate that with doctors and personally feel they should not practice medicine if they can't be compassionate. Sorry you are going through this. Bright side: with only a borderline result on a test with high probability of false positives, there's a good chance you're babies are just fine :hug99:.

 

Thinking of you.. Hugs! :hug99:

 

Hang in there!

My doctor wouldn't even do a triple screen test b/c she said the false positive rate is so high with twins. I often wonder if these tests are more trouble than they are worth, they just give you percentages, they don't tell you if something is actually wrong.

If I were you when you see your ob again, give her a peace of your mind about that other doctor, sounds like an awful case of bad bedside manner.

 

Sorry you are going through this worry, I can only hope it's not necessary.

I wanted to weigh in on the amino, I did it at 17 weeks and have no regrets. The risks are minimal if you do it with an experienced Dr, the more aminos they do, the lower the risk. And honestly at this point, the risk of harming the babies is .05% i believe, it's double because it's twins and you are having two aminos.

At any rate, the whole thing is very strange - why would you get a call on a Sunday?

Keep us posted, as others have said, these results are HIGHLY unreliable.

Miriam

 

As others have said, these tests have a very high false positive rates, especially if carrying multiples. I didn't even both to take it with the twins nor this baby. Hang in there. I know that easier said than done.

 

Thank you to everyone for helping to ease my mind! I don't know why they bothered to call on a Sunday when I already have my regularly scheduled appt in three days....DH is military and I am seen at a military hospital where they don't have the capability of even doing my c-section so they will be sending me down to the better military hospital, Balboa, as soon as I hit my 28th week!

I will be calling radiology in the morning to see if they can do my level II ultrasound sometime this week & hopefully my regular OB will be back soon!

A little background - Me 30 yrs
this pregnancy resulted from a FET after 1 failed IVF

 

This is exactly why I didn't take the triple screen...and exactly why my docs even discouraged me from taking it when I was pg with twins.... Please, please relax... there are very high false positive rates on those test normally...and it's even more so with twins...or even when you have bleeding in early pregnancy. The doctor who called you really should have put that caveat in. She should have said, "your numbers were off, BUT, don't get too stressed b/c these tests do have a high false positive rate..." I personally think that doctors should not recommend the triple or quad screens for twin moms UNTIL they do more studies with "regular" numbers figured out for twins and higher order multiples... until they can figure out those "new" norms, the test is just not reliable enough to use...it causes more stress... The bottom line... try not to stress...until you get your level 2 u/s try to act like you just didn't get these results at all. More than likely your level II will turn out fine. Personally, I think that for twins if you are super worried about genetic issues then you should just cut to the chase and focus on the level II u/s and perhaps doing amnios....I think the triple and quad screnes are a waste of time and emotional energy.

 

I know a lot of people have said this already but don't worry yet. There are so much false positives with those tests and most OBs including my own refuse to do them because there are more false positives with multiples. If you go ahead with the amino, I think you will find that it will confirm that there is nothing wrong with your sweet little twinkies. :hug99: I have you in my thoughts and prayers. I hope and pray that everything will turn out ok. :hug99:

 

Just checking back in to see how you are doing. GLad you are feeling a little better - that's probably good for all three of you! Let us know how things go tomorrow when you call or have your next appointment. It's stressful enough being pregnant with twins without to deal with these results, which are hopefully wrong. Take care of yourself and your little ones. :hug99:

I know the waiting for more/better answers stinks, hopefully you will know more really soon!

 

I'm so sorry that you're so worried right now. I agree with the others about the triple screen often being inaccurate. I was told by my OB, Maternal Fetal Specialist, and Genetic Counselor that they wouldn't even suggest I do it because it's especially inaccurate for twins. I bet you will feel so much better after you talk to your regular doctor and also after you have your Level II.

FWIW, we only did the NT scan along with accompanying bloodwork at 12 weeks. We also had Level II ultrasounds at 20 weeks and 28 weeks and that was enough to put our minds at ease.

Please try not to worry ... I will definitely send prayers your way but am so certain that you have nothing to worry about!

 

If you are only 30, you probably won't even need the amnio unless something turns up on the Level II. Chances are much higher that your babies are just fine and perfect than anything else. I was 34 and opted against an amnio, too.

 

Hang in there! Like everyone else has said, I too heard that those tests have a high false positive b/c of multiples-Good luck and keep us posted!

 

If that is the blood tests they do, they have a very high incidence of invalid results for multiples. My peri recommended I not even have them done (which I did not). He said we'd look at the level II and if we saw anything abnormal we could discuss any other testing that might be needed from there.

DO NOT WORRY! Maybe the OB who isn't your regular OB just doesn't have the multiple experience with these tests or something.

 

Just reiterating what everyone else said. These tests are known to have false positives for multiples. Sending hugs and good thoughts your way. Please let us know how everything goes at your level II u/s. :hug99:

 

I will keep you and the babies in my prayers. I am so sorry that this doctor could have not been more kinder to you, especially knowing that you would be upset and concerned about the news she was delivering.
Like the other ladies on here, I was advised by OB not to have the triple screen done...he did tell me it was my decision but that the test is inconclusive for multiples, something to the effect that the results are done for singleton pregnancies and there is not an accurate reading for multiples. Please let us know how you make out with future appointments!

 

I won't bother telling you not to worry, because of course you're going to worry, but like everyone else has said, these tests are SO unreliable for twins that you really need to take any result (and remember, these tests don't give DEFINITIVE RESULTS, they just give you STATS) with a grain of salt. My dr. too advised me not to get the tests done, but after a mixup with the u/s place, they basically made me get all the tests done (doc just wanted me to do the nuchal test, but they insisted on doing the bloowork as well). I then got a very scary call from the dr. that, based on the bloodwork, my odds for Trisomy 18 were increased, which of course scared the $#)_! out of me! I got the amnio done a few weeks later, and my babies are perfect -- so those first results were a total load of bull that needlessly terrified me for weeks on end.

So, hard as it is, for your babies' sake, please try not to get too worked up over that stupid phone call!! Just take deep breaths and look at the reality of it -- that for the most part, these tests really do not give you accurate results. Believe me, I know just how hard it is to wait till your next appt. when you're a nervous wreck, but it won't do you or the babies any good to be stressing out the entire time. BIG HUGS TO YOU!! :hug99:

 

You need a lot of these :hug99: :hug99: :hug99:

I'm sorry the OB had such little tact, and I'm glad she isn't your regular doctor! Just 2 more days till your regular appt, right? Please keep us posted.

You're going to be a great mama, already concerned about upsetting your sweeties :wub: They're gonna love you!

 

My Dr. only did the level II ultrasound because she felt the test results were unreliable in a multiple pregnancy as well. Just hang in there and try not to stress out too much. Hopefully you will have your u/s and they can tell you that your little ones are perfect!

 

Thank you all for your words of encouragement & support, they mean more to me than you know.

 

i actually had a false positive on the triple screen, normal u/s, and ended up with 2 totally healthy babies.