https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:35:01 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elevated-afp-screening-and-freaking-the-f-out#post-2557006 Thu, 26 May 2016 11:51:48 +0000 winniebee 2557006@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Smurfette: yes, I did! And you better believe I am calling every day to see if there's a cancellation! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elevated-afp-screening-and-freaking-the-f-out#post-2557004 Thu, 26 May 2016 11:51:32 +0000 winniebee 2557004@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Carrot: thanks! I already have monthly ultrasounds scheduled starting in the 3rd trimester (which, with DS2 turned out to be weekly ultrasounds since there was a growth concern...and after no growth between 36-38 weeks, we induced and he was born 5 lb 6 oz and 19 in). Interestingly, my first baby was even smaller, but I was on bed rest for preterm labor, so he wasn't monitored for growth. After he was born the midwife mentioned having my placenta sent to pathology because it looked strange....but pathology was normal. In the end, I really hope this is the link (since I was expecting a small / IUGR baby again anyways). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elevated-afp-screening-and-freaking-the-f-out#post-2556998 Thu, 26 May 2016 11:43:15 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2556998@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: This was my experience, actually, though I didn't make the connection between the two. I had a tiny AFP elevation, got sent to MFM at 10ish weeks, they ruled out any abonormalities so I didn't think anything of it again. LO was born via induction at 36 weeks due to IUGR - she measured 2 weeks behind my due date from the start, but no one thought anything of it because I'm short and my husband is too and he was a small baby. She grew pretty slowly and didn't show any growth between 34-36 weeks so they induced. She was born 4 lb 6 oz and my placenta was tiny. She's a healthy, active 3 year old now, so all's well that ends well, but even if they rule out any abnormalities I would still talk to your OB about monitoring the baby's growth rate closely in case IUGR does present. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elevated-afp-screening-and-freaking-the-f-out#post-2556991 Thu, 26 May 2016 11:38:47 +0000 Smurfette 2556991@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: Did you ask about getting on the cancellation list? Just in case you can get in sooner? Thinking about you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elevated-afp-screening-and-freaking-the-f-out#post-2556986 Thu, 26 May 2016 11:34:36 +0000 winniebee 2556986@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I won't get to see the perinatologist / geneticist for my level 2 ultrasound until June 2 (a week away). Trying not to freak out, but the unknown is really hard </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elevated-afp-screening-and-freaking-the-f-out#post-2556070 Wed, 25 May 2016 10:20:05 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2556070@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thinking of you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elevated-afp-screening-and-freaking-the-f-out#post-2555988 Wed, 25 May 2016 08:30:25 +0000 auggiefrog 2555988@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My AFP was in about the same range. I also had other test results that were off during my first trimester screening which put me at high risk for a potential placenta issue. I had additional ultrasounds to ensure the baby was growing fine and that my placenta was doing it's job. My little one was born smaller, but perfectly healthy.<br /> If there is spinal bifida they should be able to see it in the ultrasound. And through the research that I found at the time, most cases of spinal bifida aren't very sever and can close up on their own before birth. Try your hardest not to stress. I had a hard time getting successfully pregnant too, and had a difficult pregnancy with repeated poor test results. I didn't really feel at ease with my pregnancy until we were nearing 20 weeks, and even then the old feelings would still stir. You've made it this far, and there is a very good chance everything is going to be fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elevated-afp-screening-and-freaking-the-f-out#post-2555979 Wed, 25 May 2016 08:25:38 +0000 JenGirl 2555979@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: Glad your OB was reassuring. Easier said than done, but try not to stress too much. I've got my fingers crossed for a reassuring ultrasound! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elevated-afp-screening-and-freaking-the-f-out#post-2555973 Wed, 25 May 2016 08:12:54 +0000 josina 2555973@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: No advice but sending positive vibes! Try not to worry too much as others have said, the odds are waaaay in your favor. :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elevated-afp-screening-and-freaking-the-f-out#post-2555967 Wed, 25 May 2016 07:46:01 +0000 winniebee 2555967@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JenGirl: My OB called and basically said exactly what you said. But apparently the testing was done with a "new" lab and they don't recommend the repeat draw (which historically my OB has done).</p> <p>My OB was reassuring and said that she said that the chances of this baby having a neural tube defect were very, very low. She said there are many false positives with this test, and one reason why it is elevated could be because of a placenta issue (including that I may end up with IUGR again). The ultrasound will tell us more, obviously. I'll get into the perinatologist as soon as I can. In the meantime, trying not to freak out too much. Trying. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elevated-afp-screening-and-freaking-the-f-out#post-2555665 Tue, 24 May 2016 15:36:51 +0000 hb3233 2555665@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sorry you are having to go through this :heart: :heart: . Odds are definitely in your favor for this test that it's a false positive, and not an actual positive - as others have said, the threshold is set to be conservative - but I know that doesn't make the waiting for the ultrasound any easier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elevated-afp-screening-and-freaking-the-f-out#post-2555656 Tue, 24 May 2016 15:29:49 +0000 JenGirl 2555656@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Don't panic. It's a screening test. Many OBs will repeat an AFP if the MoM is between 2 and 3 and many will "regress to the mean" AKA normalize and it's considered a negative screen. There are lots of other causes of AFP, including completely normal variation. </p> <p>See what the ultrasound shows. They may also give you the option of an amnio to check the amniotic AFP levels and also, potentially, acetylcholineserase level that will show, more definitely, if there is an open neural tube defect (though the ultrasounds are prety darn good for that). </p> <p>Definitely follow up, but I've known many women with slightly elevated AFPs that have had perfectly healthy pregnancies. Screening tests are specifically built, knowing that there will be false positives because we'd rather have false positives than false negatives. I know it's stressful, but chances are things will be fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elevated-afp-screening-and-freaking-the-f-out#post-2555592 Tue, 24 May 2016 14:34:39 +0000 skipra 2555592@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: I don't have experience with this but just remember it's only a screening test to see if additional testing is warranted and something like 90% of the high results end up being completely healthy and normal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elevated-afp-screening-and-freaking-the-f-out#post-2555574 Tue, 24 May 2016 14:14:36 +0000 winniebee 2555574@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been reading it can be linked to IUGR in pregnancy, which I was diagnosed with with DS2 (and induced) and probably had with DS1. I have so many questions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elevated-afp-screening-and-freaking-the-f-out#post-2555549 Tue, 24 May 2016 13:48:22 +0000 FaithFertility 2555549@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: Non experience, but I am thinking of you :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elevated-afp-screening-and-freaking-the-f-out#post-2555548 Tue, 24 May 2016 13:47:37 +0000 MrsF 2555548@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: I'm so sorry :heart: I'm glad the nurse had some reassuring words for you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elevated-afp-screening-and-freaking-the-f-out#post-2555544 Tue, 24 May 2016 13:42:30 +0000 sunny 2555544@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This happened to us. Our MoM value was 5.5. The sonographer was able to visualize the spine and rule out spina bifida. For us, it was a placenta problem. You can wall me for more info.</p> <p>Thinking about you. :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elevated-afp-screening-and-freaking-the-f-out#post-2555542 Tue, 24 May 2016 13:41:00 +0000 winniebee 2555542@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: my doctor's nurse said she has had several women she has treated screen positive and no one has had an open neural tube defect. I'm hoping that those good odds are on my side. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elevated-afp-screening-and-freaking-the-f-out#post-2555539 Tue, 24 May 2016 13:40:17 +0000 winniebee 2555539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsF: R had an echoic focus at his 18 week anatomy scan, but everything else looked normal, so I really didn't panic. We just completed our blood testing and it showed that risk of downs was basically nil. This is the only screening test for open neural tube defects and it just seems different to me. I think I'm going to throw up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elevated-afp-screening-and-freaking-the-f-out#post-2555537 Tue, 24 May 2016 13:38:52 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2555537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I sent this to a friend who can maybe jump in. Similar thing, MFM ultrasound came back fine. 32 week scan everything looks fine. They are hoping it was just a fluke elevated blood test. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elevated-afp-screening-and-freaking-the-f-out#post-2555533 Tue, 24 May 2016 13:36:40 +0000 MrsF 2555533@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have any experience but I'm so sorry you have to worry about this :heart: </p> <p>I've been told with each of my kids that something was possibly wrong (twice with M) and had no issues, but of course that's little help while you're going through it. I'll be thinking of you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elevated-afp-screening-and-freaking-the-f-out#post-2555531 Tue, 24 May 2016 13:35:12 +0000 snowjewelz 2555531@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>:heart: :heart: :heart:</p> <p>I have no experience but I can't imagine the stress of waiting for the ultrasound. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/elevated-afp-screening-and-freaking-the-f-out#post-2555524 Tue, 24 May 2016 13:29:25 +0000 winniebee 2555524@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am 17 weeks pregnant. I just got back my AFP screening results, and they are "slightly elevated" at 2.69. Normal is anything below 2.50. AFP screening is not diagnostic, but is a screening for open neural tube defects (spina bifida is most prominent syndrome).</p> <p>I'm being referred to MFM for an ultrasound, but that won't occur until next week, at the earliest (have to be 18w). I had maternity21 screening, which was normal. My 14 week fetal survey (in depth ultrasound) was perfect. I'm 35. I have taken a prenatal vitamin with folate religiously for years. No history of birth defects in my family. </p> <p>Has anyone had an elevated AFP? What was the outcome? After so many losses, we will be utterly heartbroken if this baby has spina bifida. </p>