AFP Test Results
maggie1 wrote: Hi -
I am 40 yrs. old and pregnant with our first. I had an ultrasound that found eveything to be perfect except that the femur bone was 1 centimeter short. The same day I had an AFP that came back positive. I am going for an amnio Monday and I am totally depressed and panicked. Has anyone else had this experience??? 
MommyToAshley replied: <<<HUGS>>> Maggie
Don't worry too much about the AFP yet. I am sure that they told you that this is just a screening test. It only screens for the possibility of Downs or Trisomy. There are lots of false positives on these tests. The amnio will give you an definite answer. We had an amnio done with our first pregnancy. You will just feel a little pinch and you can watch everything on the screen. It will be over in a matter of minutes. Just make sure you get lots of rest after the amnio. The hardest part is waiting for the results which takes about 10 days to 2 weeks because they have to grow the cells.
Try not to worry too much -- I know it will be difficult, but try to take care of yourself and your baby right now. We are here if you want to talk more. It might help to talk to someone during those very long ten days! You and your baby are in my thoughts and prayers!
maggie1 replied: Thanks for the kind words. I could use all the prayers I can get. Now if I could only stop crying. This has made us both extremely upset and depressed. I will let you know how it goes and you are absolutely correct that the hardest part will be waiting for the results.
MommyToAshley replied: (loss ment)
I am so sorry you have to go through this. I understand how you feel. I cried the entire time too.
It is a good sign that everything else was ok on the ultra sound. I can tell you a little bit more about our story, and I hope it comforts you and doesn't worry you more. Our first baby, Joshua, was stillborn at 5 months with Trisomy 18 -- a very rare genetic disorder that they have no clue what causes it. Joshua is our angel in heaven now, watching over his little sister Ashley. But, what you should take comfort in is that there were several other indicators on our ultra sound -- choroid plexus cysts, a slight heart defect, and he was not growing at a very good rate. Those factors combined with the AFP made us decide to do the amnio. I cried non-stop after finding out the results.
It sounds like your ultra sound was fairly normal. (The femur bone is not that big of a deal) They may just want to do the amnio because of age and the AFP. But, I was told that there are sooo many false positives on the AFP that they don't even like to give the test. There are so many things that can effect it, especially if you are unsure about your last menstrual date or you ovulate at a different time than the average person -- because the test is all based on picking up the protien level which can be higher or lower depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy.
Did they do the nuchal translucency test? With my first pregnancy (a few years ago), this wasn't available. However, they are learning new things every day and have discovered that this is another screening test that is a good indicator of Downs or any Trisomy. All they do is measure the thickness of the area on the back of the baby's neck during the ultra sound. They may have done this during your ultra sound -- you may want to ask the docs about it. We had this test done with Ashley and it helped to put our minds at ease. Again, this is just a screening test so no sense in doing it if you are having the amnio done.
I know this is a difficult time, but you should try to get out and do something else to get your mind off it. I know it will be difficult to not think about it 24 hours a day...but you need to take care of yourself for your baby.
<<<More Hugs!>>> And, I will definitely keep your family in my prayers!
HomeIsCool replied: Hugs!
Just want to say ... the false positives of this particular test is something like 48 out of 50 positives are FALSE. And ... some results are not even likely to show up on the u/s so you may not know anything until you actually give birth.
I refused the test all three of my pregnancies as I was not willing to undergo an amnio and I would not have terminated my pregnacy even had I known something was potentially wrong with the baby.
What a scary time for you ... the u/s being normal should be a very good sign. And, was the femur bone small for it's age or being compared to the other measurements? Your baby could just be on the smaller side or it could be that your dates are off a bit ... if your dates are off by even a few days, the AFP tests can show a false positive.
I had a cousin who's wife had the AFP ... they were told there might be something wrong ... and then they had NO followup tests ... so they went 20 weeks wondering. I just shake my head as to WHY nothing else was done. Sigh
:grouphug
Hugs ... and keep us posted.
CantWait replied: Best wishes Maggie, I hope everything turns out well!! 
madaise replied: Good Luck Maggie1.. I hope you were able to rest this weekend and not stress too much. You'll be in my thoughts today.
maggie1 replied: Hi -
I just want you all to know that I had the amnio done this morning. Now the waiting begins. We find out a week from Friday if all goes as planned. This will be the longest time - I know we are just going to try and keep incredibly busy. It is hard to have this hanging over you but I know there is nothing we can do but wait and say our prayers now.
Thanks for all your kind thoughts and words - it really helped. I will let you know as soon as I find out anything.
madaise replied: We'll be waiting to hear next week... please keep us posted.
MommyToAshley replied: Just wanted to let you know that we'll be thinking about you this week. Stop by anytime if you want to chat or get your mind off things.
maggie1 replied: Well today is Thursday which I hope means that I will know the results a week from tomm. I am thankful I am working as that keeps my mind off of the test. The hard part is running into friends - all of whom want to know how everything is going. I really appreciate their asking but the answer is not exactly the truth. We have opted not to tell most of our friends about the amnio results we got. This is a private issue for us.
Other than that, I am counting the days and trying to keep my mind occupied. Talk to you all soon.
MommyToAshley replied: It's good that you are working and have at least 8 hours a day that you think of something else.
I'm glad you stopped by to let us know how you are doing, I was wondering how you and your DH were doing. Hang in there.. Hugs.
Dee Dee
madaise replied: Hang in there maggie....
maggie1 replied: Hi everyone -
It's Tuesday - this is turning out to be the longest week. I hope to find out the results Friday as I said but it can not come quickly enough for me. I will let you know as soon as I hear anything.
MommyToAshley replied: Hi Maggie -- Good to see you are still hangin' in there. How's your hubby doing? I hope you can find out the results by Friday and not have to wonder over the weekend.
Get lots of rest and take care of yourself!
MommyToAshley replied: Maggie -- It's Friday! Have you heard anything?
I'll be thinking about you all day!
Hugs
Dee Dee
maggie1 replied: DeeDee and everyone else -
thanks for all your support!!! We are so over the moon with happiness - the results were totally normal!! The baby is going to be perfectly fine. I could never express how great it has been to have all of you to coverse with - we were so scared! Thanks again and I will keep you updated on the progress. Sunday starts my 22nd week - 1/2 way there!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
TLCDad replied:
Glad to hear that Maggie! I am so happy for you.
MommyToAshley replied: Yeah!  Glad to hear it! I am so relieved and so happy for you! Please do keep us posted on how you are doing!
Hugs!
Dee Dee
Kaitlin'smom replied: YEA!   
CONGRATULATIONS!
supermom replied: I'll have to add my hip-hip-hoooorrrraaaayyyyy too!
congrats!
+Zemirah+ replied: Praise the Lord Maggie!! (whoops -- I hope that doesn't offend anyone here -- I am unabashedly a believer  ) I have just been reading your thread and am SO glad for you that all is well with your baby blessing! 
TLCDad replied: Believer here too!  And I am so happy for maggie!
CantWait replied:  wooooooooohoooooooooooooo great news!!!!!!!!
MommyToAshley replied: By the way, did you ask blue or pink?? With an amnio, they KNOW for sure.
CantWait replied: GOOD QUESTION!!!!!!! 
Guest replied: No - we are not finding out the sex until he baby is born. Thanks everyone for your good wishes and kinds words.
Maggie
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