1:10

I had an OB appointment today. It was mainly just to check in and to listen to the heartbeat with the doppler. I also (finally) got my results from the NT scan weeks ago.

First the good news: Baby had a heartbeat and it was right on target for 17 weeks (~150bpm). Baby was moving all around in there. I also found out that that strange 'bug walking around inside of me' sensation I've had several times in the last week (and once at 13 weeks!) is, in fact, fetal movement.

Now the bad news: My NT results show that Baby has a 1:10 chance of having Downs Syndrome. To give you some perspective on this, based on age alone my risk was more like 1:400. These are not favorable test results. Based on what I can tell, the risk is largely going by the blood test results since the ultrasound itself showed no obvious problems (measurement was 1.4, nasal bone present, etc).

I have an appointment tomorrow with a specialist in Fetal Assessment. I'm hoping to have them go over the results with me, particularly the blood tests, to make sure that my doctor interpreted them correctly (she told me I was the first patient she'd ever sent for an NT Scan). Beyond that they will more than likely recommend an amniocentesis.

We'll likely go through with the amnio. I don't like the idea as there is a small risk of a miscarriage, but the idea of 23 weeks of not knowing what is going on with our child is even scarier for me. Plus if we are the 1:10, there are specialists who'd need to be seen to check for some other issues common with Down Syndrome babies.

Not going to lie, I'm terrified. My only close association with Downs Syndrome is with a cousin that died as a child of a related heart defect. I know there are wonderful stories out there, and I know firsthand the incredible amount of love Downs children have to share, but I also know that there are very real risks that come with it.

In the meantime, trying to focus on the fact that there is a 90% chance baby is perfectly fine.