1/73

I had a blood draw for the second trimester genetic screen on 3 August, and basically forgot about it. The nurse/midwife said it would take two weeks to get the results, and that the state would only call early if the results were "interesting" (=bad). I was focused on my close friends' wedding in Yosemite over the weekend, my friends whom I would marry. Monday afternoon, I was still basking in the glow of the wedding and catching up on work, when I saw the number for St. Luke's flash on my phone. Mary, one of the midwives from St. Luke's. I couldn't think of why she would be calling - my centering pregnancy class didn't start until 20 August.

I had screened positive for Down's. 1/73. I could feel the tears coming, and I tried to think of the questions I should be asking. I wasn't prepared. I had assumed my 1:220 probability for Down's from my first trimester screen would improve. Mary told me they would coordinate with UCSF to move my Level 2 ultrasound forward, include genetic counseling, and an amnio if we elect to do it.

I didn't understand - my AFP was 0.82, HSG 1.54, and estradiol 0.66. Each of these individually are in the normal range. Mary told me that further interpretation was something that a genetic counselor would need help me with.

So I'm crushed, and - again alternating between - wondering why we waited to have kids, thinking it's all going to be ok, and wondering what to do about the amnio or level 2. I laid out the odds for miscarriage from the amnio in my 14 July post. 1:340. I'm also seeing 1:500 and even lower in some studies on the internet, but the references are poor. I can't determine what amnio stats to believe. And, the level 2 ultrasound provides some "soft" markers, but still half of the Down's cases do not show evidence on an ultrasound.

So now our appointment at USCF prenatal diagnostics is moved to Friday afternoon. It seems like forever from now, but on the other hand I feel there's so much I need to research and think through.