27-7-2009 - Sad, but got Good News about AFP!

My mood while writing this blog: Rieleved!!!

At nearly 7:30PM, my doc FINALLY called me back with the results of the Quad-Screen (AFP4).

Most of you ladies have probably heard about these stupid screenings that they do to pregnant woman (esp. us older ladies), well, this is one that a lot of women get, in conjunction with an NT Scan (Nuchal Fold). This part is blood work, that has the potential to screen fetal issues such as Down's Syndrome, T-18, T-13, and Neural Tube defects, based on higher than normal or lower than normal readings for each of the serum levels measured. Anyway ... It was Good & Sorta' Bad news, as the doc put it - she said that based on my age alone, my risk assesment is 1 in 81 ... but, my risk assessment, based on the blood work is 1 in 214. This STILL places me in a "shady" area of "concern", but I feel SO much better knowing that my risk is less that previously thought, you know what I mean?? Heck, I was SO-OOO frightened that this blood work would come back with some really horrible number, like 1 in 5, or something. I was offered an amnio, which I do NOT plan on having done ... UNLESS, maybe if my anomoly u/s ends up going really poorly, giving a bleak out-look, or something, then I "may" consider it, just so I'd know what I was facing. My u/s is actually scheduled for this coming Thursday, the 30th - I was dreading it, but now at least I can feel a little better & actually look forward to it. Plz keep the prayers coming for a HEALTHY baby ... and, if you feel especially nice, add in "baby girl" :) That would be extra special as that's what I'm hoping for this last time being pregnant!! :o)

*** SEE MY NEXT BLOG for an update ... and, worrisome stuff ... I counted my chickens before they hatched, I think ... ***