Hi Archie,

Hope u remember me. I am 13 weeks pregnant now, i went for Scanning to findout if baby has a Down's Syndrom, day before y'day and the result cameout Positive...

Here r the result
USG:
CRL: 52.0 mm -
NT : 1.8 mm (within normal limits)
The test result Was:
Maternal age: 32
Background risk of Trisomy 21: 1:445
Adjusted risk of Trisomy 21: 1:67 (Positive)
Background risk of Trisomy 13+18:1:767
Adjusted risk of Trisonmy 13+18: 1:15324(Negetive)

First Trimester Ultrasound:
Gestational age: 11 weeks, 5 days from dates, EDD by scan; 30 June 2007
Crown-Lump length (CRL) 52.0 mm
NuchaI Translucencey(NT) 1.8 mm

Free Beta.hCG: 198.3 IU/I equivalent to 6.149
PAPP-A: 1.559 IU/I equivalent to 0.643

So Doctor recomended me to go for Amniocentesis in between 14 to 20th weeks...in India bcz i am leaving to India on Jan 10th...!! But when i asked him abt the chances of risk he said its little high...but i dont want to go for that advanced tests bcz those tests hv a chances of miscarriage also,But i am worried that will my baby hv that DS Deffinetly? wt would u say? i am taking Cal-Aid, Omega-3 fatty acids, Ecosprine and folic acid since i was 6 weeks pregnant...and i heard that Omega will reduces the chances of having DS.

Archie i hv several doubts on these issues

1. I am taking Naturogest veginal tablets and continuing now also...is it ok to take till 4 th month completes? bcz u said in ur answer to some quiery baby girl will hv hirsutism...and i am expecting baby girl according chinese calender
2. i hv 3 ultrascans till now...and baby's growth and heartbeat were fine as doctor said...but i read ur answer to some quiry that u/s also will hv side effect..so can u tell me wt that wouldbe?
3. today i am feeling little uncomfortable feeling with lower abdomin pain and its going down to vegina..rightside leg...i felt several hours with intervels...is it normal?
4. what r the symptoms of lower placental?

sorry for such a long quiery but i need ur support and suggessions and opinions...
thanks u so much for ur services to all of us
luv u
varsha varsha replied. Dear Archie,

Thank u very much for such a long detailed and prompt reply...

Yes i agree with u abt the amniocentesis tobe done, but i am not residing in US i am frm Japan now....and here doctors r not much gud bcz of the language problem they r not communicating well to us...as my husband also feels like that, so when i told my doctor abt my journey he suggested us to go india and do the test in india only and today after reading ur message i called up to my hometown to my Dr. who gave a treatment for conceiving me...he said he will do triple marker test the decided wt to do for further, but archie i dont want to go for amniocentesis bcz it has a chance of misscarriage also....i am very scared.
But u hv suggested to go for amniocentesis...now i am very confused that wt step i shld take...i will talk with my husband abt the trip to india, and let u know...

thank u very much
luv u to u and ur little ones
varsha archie replied. Dear Varsha,
lets not be emotional and try to put things in perspective.

1. you are worried on hirsutism as chinesse calender predict baby girl!
I would leave that concern aside, firstly chinese calender is not authority and only 50% chances to be accurate. may be in next rountof sonogram you will know sex of your baby. Also if necessary you will need progestrone, check with your Dr. if it can be discontinued now onwards.

2. I did not say u/s has side effect, I said not that there are side effects reported. This means considered to be safe and non-invasive intervention.

3. YOu might be facing this from stress, dehydration or vaginal dryness. Also chances are that you are having round ligament pain which is normal. Make sure your stress don't drive pregnancy in wrong direction. Also keep well hydrated and enjoy surroundings.

4. it's too early to speak on low lying placenta but spotting is common symptom, again that could also be from other reasons.

5. it's folic acid which is known to help preven neural tube defects and I would say even DS to some extent. Omega-3-fatty acids are helpful to keep triglycerides and cholestrol on target. May helpt avoiding genetic defects but I don't think any of these treatments really avoid genetic defects as they are fixed at the time of fertilization.

6. Is it that necessary for you to go to India. I would avoid that trip until 20 weeks sonogram and amnioscentesis data. I am totally against this trip, two reasons: 1. don't know how good new Dr. will be who will do amniocentesis as this is high risk as far as miscarriages are considered. 2. you are on progesterone and may be if levels are not sufficient then travel stress could be a bad thing for pregnancy, make a rational decision.


7. DS. It's just a possibility and not necessarily be the fact. I strongly recommend amniocentesis by an expert hand right here in USA. May be have it done around 16th week, also withdraw your blood for AFP test and wait for 2 weeks. At the end of 18th week you will know truth about babys gender, babys genetics with reference trisomy 21, 18 and 13. With background risk for trisomy 21 in normal zone I am positive that your amniocentesis is going to be confirm that baby does not have DS.
should in worse scenario it gets positive you want to be prepared and strong emotionally.

Varsha, I am expecting that you will come with statement that your India travel is on hold until you know for sure baby is sound and safe.

I don't want to comment but this is just not the time for you to travel overseas or do anything stressful.

Look forward to hear your voice on suggestions.

Archie