Spina Bifida

I just got the call from our peri's office with the girls' spina bifida screening number. They wanted it to be a 4, but it's 4.9. I'm not going to freak out about this. I just need some reassurance. Did anyone else have a number in this range that turned out to be a false positive?

 

Is this the AFP blood test? If so, it can be pretty inaccurate for multiples. Did you have an NT screening at about 12 weeks? They measure the nuchal fold - that might be a better screen for twins...

I bypassed the AFP test with my twins and just did the NT screening

 

QUOTE(ferfischer @ Sep 10 2008, 07:19 AM) [snapback]973034[/snapback]
I bypassed the AFP test with my twins

yup me too. My doc only does the AFP with multiples when requested by the patient because it is so inaccurate They have not done any research on what the numbers should be with multiples so they are using numbers that are appropriate for a singleton pregnancy. IT's like comparing apples to oranges, what's the point?. He said it casues more problems then not.

 

QUOTE(ferfischer @ Sep 10 2008, 10:19 AM) [snapback]973034[/snapback]
Is this the AFP blood test? If so, it can be pretty inaccurate for multiples. Did you have an NT screening at about 12 weeks? They measure the nuchal fold - that might be a better screen for twins...

I bypassed the AFP test with my twins and just did the NT screening

Sorry, I'm not sure what all that means. It was the blood test. I also did the first screen in my first trimester for downs and the trisome defects which were all fine. They measured the back of the babies necks with that first test also. I've had more ultrasounds than should be humanly allowed and they have not seen any spinal gaps on those, but I don't know how much they've really been looking.

 

Unless that's the AFP test I didn't have this done. Also with my AFP they didn't tell me any numbers just that everything was normal.

 

If all the U/s screenings were ok, then I would not worry about the blood test number. it can be off for multiples.

 

we also bypassed the blood test - my drs warned us that they are pretty innaccurate w/ multiples so we just didn't do them!!
I would go with the ultrasounds - since those have been ok I would think the babies are ok!

 

I got that same call and it freaked me out. My AFP blood test came back about 5.6 or something (sorry, I can't remember the exact number, that was a bad day). They called me in and took me back to a room where they gave me genetic counseling on what could be the problem. Them they did an u/s. And everything was fine. It really paniced me, but for no reason. I had a cousin that was in the 6+ range. Try not to panic, a simple u/s will show them what's going on or not going on.

For me, they do u/s every 2 to 3 weeks to make sure there's no problems with the placenta. Those will get more frequent as we get closer.

I'm sure your little cutie pies will be just fine. Good luck and keep us posted! :winking:

 

We skipped the blood test as well. On your next Level II u/s, they will do a through scan to check for a nural tube defect--which is spina bifida. As an aside, one of the girls in my sons' class last year, has spina bifida. She has in utero surgery done, and is doing VERY well!

 

We have declined all screening tests. Ultrasounds show no problems thus far.