That Monday, I had my regularly scheduled check up. At this time I would have been barely 18 weeks pregnant. I elected to perform a screening to check my risks for down syndrome (even though with my age and health history, the risks would typically be VERY low or 1 in 1400).
They do this test by drawing blood and checking the levels of four proteins your body makes during pregnancy which include alpha fetoprotein, estriol, HCG and inhibin A.. Abnormal levels of this in the mothers blood (above or below 1%) can indicate a problem with the baby.
The most common pattern for a baby with down syndrome is a raised level of the 1st and 3rd proteins and a low level of the 2nd and 4th.
Well... my blood test SUCKED. Two days after they performed the test, my doctors office called me THREE times. When they finally get ahold of me they informed me by test results were concerning and they would be referring me to a genetic specialist.
The next day, the specialist called me to make an appointment that day, and I went in. The specialist explained to me that the pattern and prevalence of the protein in my blood meant my baby could be in danger. My odds of having a baby with downs syndrome were 1 in 31 AND chances were, even if the baby didn't have downs syndrome.. there could be serious complications with my placenta because the levels of the 1st and 3rd proteins were so high in my blood. This likely means the placenta isn't working properly and the nutrients made for the baby are not getting to it and instead being pumped into my blood stream. This puts me at risk for pre eclampsia, which can cause liver failure and even stroke. Not to mention the baby is not receiving the nutrients it needs and will not be able to grow properly.
Imagine how much I am freaking out at this point. They tell me they will check for physical markers and clues to the babies health in a high-def ultra sound.. from that point the only definitive way of knowing if the condition of the baby was through an amniocentesis, which has a risk miscarriage.
This is my baby at 18 weeks! Beautiful isn't he? (obviously in these images we could tell he was a boy!)
In these images, they checked for EVERYTHING. All the chambers of the heart working properly, measurements of the brain and all the bones. They checked for common markers of downs syndrome (which include a thick piece of skin in the back of the neck, short fingers, and a flatter face)
Luckily the only thing that caused for further concern was the length of the babies femur bone.
I am still considered a "High-risk pregnancy" and they will be watching me very closely for other markers of downs syndrome and pre eclampsia. But for now I have a healthy baby boy!
