So today I had a fetal echocardiogram (The spellcheck says that's wrong. But I disagree. And). Basically a specialized ultrasound where an actual doctor checks out the baby's heart.
The doctor was nice, I liked her even more after she said that everything looked good. But then she had to ruin it by explaining the things she couldn't see yet, that can happen to any newborn. I'm pretty sure I didn't need to hear about them.
The reason I had the echo-whatever was because of that long ago nuchal translucency test, which turned out to be a whole lotta worry about nothing. You know what? I am fucking sick of worrying about nothing.
If anyone wants my opinion (that's why you're reading, right?), skip the whole freaking nuchal test and just have an amnio. They are much safer now (problems with 1 in 1600)and they are CONCLUSIVE about genetic problems. I have read so many stories of people who had increased nuchal tests and perfectly healthy babies. Or skip the whole testing thing altogether. I mean, I've had so many ultrasounds this time around that I barely even get excited anymore. And I'm only halfway done!
Today's doc and I were talking about "advance maternal age" and what a painful term it is and she told me this: they are thinking of LOWERING it so insurance companies will pay for more amnios. Probably because the nuchal translucency test isn't so great. Or so everyone can make more money from keeping pregnant women paranoid.
I am so ticked off right now. I have gone through so much drama because of that one increased measurement - everything else in my pregnancy has been just fine. Well, except that I'm already huge and plagued with carpal tunnel. But neither of those things affect the baby.
13 comments:
I'm glad that the structures look good (spellcheck also hates colonscopy, btw), and I'm sorry for the added stress. Boy do I feel you on that one.
I'm sure that's a load off ! Glad he's good!
very glad all is fine. I TOTALLY AGREE ABOUT SKIPPING THE NUCHAL TEST. We did the test on our first pregnancy and had a high result so we were so scared. then had the amnio and all was fine. our second pregnancy we just skipped nuchal and did the amnio. so much easier. i was of advanced maternal age.
I am glad you got good results. I agree the testing stuff gets a little crazy. Whenever they start the 1 in 100 stuff, they should mention the likelihood of falling in the shower (1 in 50), the likelihood of getting hit by a car (1 in 75) or the likelihood of tripping while walking down the stairs (1 in 4). It would help to keep things in perspective.
And why the heck am I popping up as karlyc2007? Gawd.
Hello. I was just stumbling across your post and wanted to say hello. I have never heard of this test, must be a really new thing. I am glad all is well though!
I fully agree with skipping all the extra tests. Why bother to freak out the poor mom? I had a friend who was told all kinds of HORRIBLE things about her daughter prior to her birth that were just WRONG. You just keep the little guy and yourself healthy, happy, and optimistic.
I skipped the nuchal screening, did the AFP with the full intention of NOT doing an amnio, so whyin the world did I bother with the AFP? Anyway, I am done worrying and next time the doc says, "would you like another ultrasound?" I'll say, "No thanks..."
I am glad everything is going great with #3! I think that sometimes the doctors make so much money off of checking things to the nth degree. There is a difference of being a little too careful. Yes, I guess knowing in advance if something was going wrong would be good, but you'd love this baby anyway. At least the sonograms give you a chance to take a peek in there, right?
I'm glad things are going well. Hang in there!
I am glad everything is going great with #3! I think that sometimes the doctors make so much money off of checking things to the nth degree. There is a difference of being a little too careful. Yes, I guess knowing in advance if something was going wrong would be good, but you'd love this baby anyway. At least the sonograms give you a chance to take a peek in there, right?
I skipped the nuchal screening, did the AFP with the full intention of NOT doing an amnio, so whyin the world did I bother with the AFP? Anyway, I am done worrying and next time the doc says, "would you like another ultrasound?" I'll say, "No thanks..."
I'm glad that the structures look good (spellcheck also hates colonscopy, btw), and I'm sorry for the added stress. Boy do I feel you on that one.
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