My baby girl is four months old now but i thought i would just tell my story.
With my first pregnancy i had two scans that is all, but with my second i had alot more i went in for my nuchal scan at thirteen wks and was told that my baby was perfectly fine and that between my blood count and the size of the nuchal folds my baby was a low chance of having trisomy 21.

For some unknown reason i never had this scan with my DS and i didnt think much of it when i got sent to have it with my dd. So then i started counting down the weeks till i got to see her better at the twenty week scan, i got to the hospital to find that my appointment had not been booked for the scan, and there would be a unlikly chance of me being seen but to go upstairs and see if i can make a alternative appointment to be seen later that week. I was surprised to be told they could fit me in straight away, my scan took 1hour and half! then to be told that my daughter has a 'slightly above average thickning on the back of her neck' and to go back down stairs and see the genetics councilor.
by this stage i was so upset hormones running wild and the 13 week scan had been fine.
i was seen by the genetics councilor and was told that i had a 1:100% chance of my baby having trisomy 21 and that i could have a amino synthesis to check if she has or not. Alot to take in in one day by yourself!
My partner and i decided not to have a amino synthesis as it could result in miscarriage and we would love our baby how ever she was created.
Then came to the 28week appointment at the hospital where i had the most arragant doctor from hell that basically said 'you mean to say that you are not having the amino and you and your partner will be perfectly capable of raising a child with a disability' i said yes
i also asked why it took so long for my scan at twenty weeks that maybe they didnt really understand what they were looking at as they were only STUDENTS his reply" well when they find two problems they automatically look for a third" Nobody told me about two problems he then said oh yes the thickening on the back of babies neck and the fluid around her heart. to cut the story down there was no fluid around the heart that wasnt even noted on the scan he just pulled that crap from somewhere? he sent me for a scan at 28wks because by this stage he was still sure that dd had trisomy21 and said that babies with downs grow smaller.

I went to that scan at 28weeks to be told that sorry our mistake but your darling daughter has no problems she is perfectly healthy!

My partner and i were very happy with that outcome but if our daughter did have downs then we would have loved her just the same.
I had a 9pound 9ounce baby girl on the 15th of october 2011 after a very stressfull misguided pregnancy.
I know its a long story and i just needed to put it out there, but i wouldnt always trust what you get told and i would always get a second oppinion.
yours sincerely a loving mummy

wow, what a thing to have to deal with and go through during your pregnancy. and what a horrible doctor!
Im so glad that you have a beautiful healthy baby girl. smile

Thanks for sharing your story!

We also had a downs syndrome scare with DD2, our health professionals weren't as arrogant as the ones you dealt with though.

Our daughter also turned out prefectly healthy in that regard.

It is so sad that some health professionals are so rude and judgemental.

I have been told that this baby has a high risk of DS. (1:200) and have also declined the amnio. I have every faith that my baby is absolutely fine and that our 20 week scan will show this.

Sometimes I think these tests do more harm than good.........

Thanks for sharing, we got our 12 week results back as 1:484 which isn't as high as some, but it's still something that doesn't leave my mind often, 20 week scan all looked good but still i worry. Wish we had never had that first scan and i would be enjoying this pregnancy a lot more

Thankyou all for your imput and your well wishes!
It is interesting to hear that i was not the only one that has to go through the endless months of worry! (thats prob a bad word to use but i am sure you all understand) I figured that something inside me told me that my baby was perfectly healthy and i went with my gut feeling! And all turned out fine! All the best for you all and your pregnancies!

I am glad your worrying was for nothing! I wish the same could be said for me! My 12 week T21 was a 1:3 and after a CVS my little princess has been diagnosed with downs. If this was not enough to take in, at the 20 weeks scan they discovered a heart condition that will need surgery. To top it all off at 28 weeks it looked like my placenta was starting to give up the ghost, this was a false alarm so far but am in for weekly growth scans just to make sure. On top of all this I am diabetic and juggling another 3 kids! Life will throw us many challenges and to take it all in our stride shows strength and courage. I agree with your getting a second opinion suggestion and hope that everything is going well for you and your family.

I am glad your worrying was for nothing! I wish the same could be said for me! My 12 week T21 was a 1:3 and after a CVS my little princess has been diagnosed with downs. If this was not enough to take in, at the 20 weeks scan they discovered a heart condition that will need surgery. To top it all off at 28 weeks it looked like my placenta was starting to give up the ghost, this was a false alarm so far but am in for weekly growth scans just to make sure. On top of all this I am diabetic and juggling another 3 kids! Life will throw us many challenges and to take it all in our stride shows strength and courage. I agree with your getting a second opinion suggestion and hope that everything is going well for you and your family.

I think you are amazing. I hope everything goes smoothly from now on for your pregnancy and that your beautiful girl holds on tight. You are an inspiration for your wonderful attitude smile

Thank you for making this public. I came back with a high risk during my first pregnancy for having a child with Down Syndrome. 5 days after my son was born he was indeed diagnosed with Down Syndrome and a heart defect. It has been the best most empowering thing that has happened to my husband and I. We have had 2 more sons after him and they are all so amazing and different. How boring this world would be with all our children been status quo. If you would like any support and have any questions on Down Syndrome feel free to email me. Ranchero@ihug.co.nz. Dee smile

Hi there, we also were told early with my first that we were showing 'markers' for a baby with downs as she had a slightly thicker neck & calcium deposits in the heart. Scary when I was 23 at the time, however we also chose not to do the amnio & be greatful for what we were given. Our daughter arrived perfect. Just goes to show that mistakes can & are made =)

At my 19 week scan we were told our risk of DS had dropped from 1:200 to 1:640. Unfortunately they then diagnosed another condition which proved fatal for our daughter who was stillborn at 20 weeks.

It's great to have faith but I now know it's not always enough. sad

At my 19 week scan we were told our risk of DS had dropped from 1:200 to 1:640. Unfortunately they then diagnosed another condition which proved fatal for our daughter who was stillborn at 20 weeks.

It's great to have faith but I now know it's not always enough. sad

Thats terrible - so sorry for your loss

Thankyou for taking the time and reading and sharing your stories, its always helpfull to hear another mothers story.
All you women are incredibly strong and for some of us who have lost our babies there still with us and always will be!