Conference moira::parenting_v3

    Have you had an AFP (Alfa fetal protein...someone correct me if
    I'm wrong)? This is a test you may decline if you wish since it
    can detect problems such as spina bifida and I think retardation.
    
    I can't remember when I had this done...I know there is a note in
    v-2 about it. I was told that it often comes out false positive.
    I suppose that is why it is elective. I think that it is done earlier
    in pregnancy...4 mos? It gives you the option to abort if you feel
    you cannot handle a severely handicapped child I geuss.
    
    Otherwise, I can't think of any other other tests. At 30 weeks I had
    another ultrasound and was able to tell the sex of my son, so if you have
    another ultrasound, looking at the screen may be hazardous if you want 
    to be surprised. With boys it is often quite obvious! ;^)
    
    Wishing you a short labor,
    Dottie      
    

    re .1
    
    I think the AFP is primarily a screening test to see if amnio is
    warranted. Don't think there'd be any reason to do it afterwards.
    It is supposed to detect the same type of problems as amnio. As
    you mentioned it is not real accurate (lots of false positives),
    but is considered less risky.
    
    Christa
    

    re .1 and .2
    
    and AFP must be done within a specific time window, I believe
    something like 16-18 weeks. 
    

    As far as tests go, I believe that you are "done".  The doctors
    will continue to monitor your blood pressure, urine (for protein,
    a sign of potential toxemia), etc. as they probably have at 
    all your visists.
    
    carol

    Norma, 
    	I know how tiring it can be to have to get test after test.  Seems 
    from day one of my pregnancy all I did was live at the lab, due to one
    complication after another.  Instead of going to see my doctor monthly
    I went in weekly my whole pregnancy.  To be perfectly honest, I now 
    miss those visits alot.  In having to have test after test I struck up 
    some very special friendships with my doctor and her staff as well as 
    with the lab technicians.  Not to mention the education I recieved. 	
    	The only other test I can think of that wasn't mentioned is the fetal 
    stress test.  
    	I had this test done frequently, as I had gone into labor 2 months 
    early.  I was on bed rest and then noticed that the baby was not 
    moving as much.  The doctor immediately did both non-stress and stress 
    tests.  
    	If I remember correctly the non-stress test consisted of having a 
    monitor hooked up to my belly, you could hear the heart beat loud and
    clear and then I was given an instrument to click each time I felt the 
    baby move.  
    	The stress test (I can't remember the proper medical terminology) 
    I was hooked up to an IV and given potosin (sp?) and made to have 
    contractions.  They then monitored the baby's reaction to the contractions. 
    I think they do these tests also if you are over your due date. 
    	The tests aren't too bad and most of the women were done within 
    a half hour.  However, my tests usually took all day as the baby did 
    not cooperate at all, after a couple of weeks of these tests the 
    doctor did not like the results and decided to induce labor.   
	From my understanding, these tests are pretty normal and used
    mostly as precautionary measures.  
    	Hopefully you have reached the end of poking, prodding and such.
    
    -Malinda
    	

>>    I think the 16-18 weeks has something to do with having enough
>>    time to get the results back and make a decision that is still within
>>    the legal limits of the abortion time frame.

Hmmm, never heard of that being the reason.  I'd always heard it was be
cause of the level of whatever it's called that they check for.
I just had mine done yesterday.  If they do come back "out of range",
generally another test or an amnio is suggested.  Heck by the time you
got the amnio results you'd be pretty far beyond any "legal limits".

A couple reasons for the result being off is that the pregnancy is
misdated or you may be carrying multiple births.

	Sorry, but .16 is incorrect on just about every count. :-)
	
	The AFP test is NOT just for spina bifida.  It can detect a number 
of neural defects and is sometime the first indication of multiple births.  
Spina Bifida is just the most well known defect that it is a screening test for.

	The time frame has nothing to do with the legal abortion time frame.
It is based on the known protein levels at a certain time in the pregnancy.  
I had mine done a mite too early and the results were inconclusive so I had 
to have it done again.

	The AFP test IS a screening test that is sometimes used to determine 
whather or not an amnio is necessary.  They do it first because false negatives 
are rare and a blood test is much less invasive than an amnio. Because false 
positives can happen, if your protein level is high, and there is no evidence of 
a multiple birth, an amnio is usually indicated.  (You can chose not to do the
amnio, but the doctor will usually at least suggest one.)

	I asked a LOT of questions about the AFP test because our area of the 
country has twice the national rate of babies born with SB.

	BTW, I agree with someone else who said that about you have left to 
"look forward to" are the typical blood pressure/tempertaure/pee-in-a-cup type 
tests that you've had all along with the possible exception of Fetal non-stress 
and stress tests.  

	My blood pressure shot up the last week or so of my preganancy and Katie 
was overdue so I had several non-stress tests.  They strapped the monitor on my
belly.  I hit a button every time I felt Katie move.  If her heart rate went
up a certain amount after movement and I felt a certain number of movements 
within a certain length of time, she was OK.  (I believe the heart rate was 
supposed to go up at least 10 beats per minute, I won't even pretend to remember
what the movement/time numbers were. :-) )

Tracey

    Well, it looks like I've had all the major tests done. I had the AFP
    done at 16 weeks, just before having the amnio done. 

    We will just have to wait and see on the stress, non-stress tests.

    Thanks to everyone who responded here. It puts my mind at ease. You
    know us first time Mom's are actually nervous Nellies!!

    Norma

    If I recall correctly, the AFP is NOT necessary if an Amnio is done. 
    Amnio can tell you much more than any AFP test!  I had AFP with my
    first one, (daughter Stacy, who unfortunately was still born due to a
    condtion caused by my loosing amniotic fluid, called Ogliohydramitis)
    and had an Amnio with son Andrew, now 3-1/2.  I remember more of being
    uncomfortable since the Amnio must be done with a full bladder, than of
    the actual test.  
    
    I still smile when I recall the stress testing,which at the end were
    every other day due to the fetal demise of our daughter, Andrew seemed to 
    be in a sleep time when the NST was scheduled, so while I was waiting I 
    would eat a piece of hard candy.  The sugar would stimulate enough that he 
    would cooperate and move frequently.  (We learned before he was born NO
    sugar for this child!) The test itself was boredom-bigtime!!  I had a NST 
    and ultra sound at the hospital the day he was born (7 weeks early due
    to a problem they saw during testing) it was because of these test that he 
    is alive today! Their method of waking the baby was to ring a loud "school 
    or dinner" bell over your belly to wake him up, AJ decided to ignore it!!
    
    Enjoy and Relax!!
    Lyn

    Hi:
    
    I'm a new writer to this conference, but have been reading for quite a
    while.  I want to say that this file has really helped me a great deal!
    
    Anyway, I'm 3.5 months pregnant and at my last doctor's appointment I
    was given information about a blood test that detects neural tube
    defects (spina bifida, and others) and Down's syndrome.  There are a
    few things about it that bother me.  First, it is recommended that the
    test be taken at 16 weeks and depending on the results, further
    follow-up as necessary after.  I have heard many horror stories about
    this test (how is it unreliable) and how many couples have gone through
    h*ll only to find out everything is fine.  Once the results are known
    you have the option of terminating the pregnancy.  
    
    I guess my question is has anyone else had this test or knows anything
    about it?  Secondly, I thought that terminating a pregnancy in the
    second trimester is dangerous, so by the time you get the results and
    follow-up if necessary, it may be too late anyway....
    
    Any comments you can offer would be greatly appreciated.  I will
    certainly discuss these things with my doctor (tomorrow), but I wanted
    to see what others had gone through first hand.
    
    Thanks!!!!
    Sharon

    Both for my 1st pregnancy and my current one we were asked if we wanted
    to get the test (I think you are talking about the AFP test) done. They
    do not force you to take the test. Since we had doneit for the 1st baby
    we wanted to do it for the second one . More so that we can be prepared
    for the outcome.
    
    True, these tests are  not completely conclusive. All they tell you is
    whether you are in the low, normal or high risk range of having a baby
    with a problem. 
    
    If you feel really troubled by the test and the weight of the results
    don't have the test done. Also, if terminating the pregnancy is not a
    choice then don't have it done. But if you want to be prepared if the
    risks are high and there is some history of problems in your family
    then get it done just to be prepared. 
    
    Finally, it all dependson what you want to do and you must know ahead
    of time what you will do if there is a problem.
    
    I agree that taking such tests and waiting for the results is not fun
    and I hate it since I worry all the time.
    
    Shaila

     Topic  Author               Date         Repl  Title
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    121  BARTLE::BARRL        11-JUL-1990    60  Amniocentesis...what did 
                                                 you experience?
    382  GENRAL::M_BANKS       1-OCT-1990    29  AFP:  Alpha Fetoprotein Test
    536  UCOUNT::STRASENBURGH  3-DEC-1990    10  Amnio- That did'nt work!
    755                        7-MAR-1991    29  Amnio information wanted
    
    Laura
    co-mod