https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 22 May 2026 08:55:20 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-chose-not-to-do-nt-testingwhy-did-you-make-that-choice#post-44255 Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:52:52 +0000 Laneybugsmommy 44255@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I chose not to do the NT or the test that checks for Cystic Fibrosis. I felt like God wouldn't give me anything I couldn't handle and I trusted that the doctors we picked would help us along the way if something ended up being wrong with LO after delivery. My doctor supported my decision and told me that he isn't particularly fond of the tests either but he has to ask each patient and can't give his personal opinion until they make a decision. My SIL is also a OBGYN (in another state) and she absolutely almost had a heart-attack that we declined the testing. She felt like we were being foolish and would not be prepared for anything that came our way because we made this choice. She was also pregnant at the time and tested for every little thing possible. I guess what I'm getting at is that it is definitely a personal choice and you have to do what you're comfortable with. As of right now at 8 months old my daughter is perfectly healthy, my nephew is 4 months old and has a slight heart condition that no testing detected. There is no wrong or right way and even with all the testing in the world some things are going to be hidden or developmental. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-chose-not-to-do-nt-testingwhy-did-you-make-that-choice#post-44243 Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:35:36 +0000 ALittleP 44243@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks, ladies. We've decided to go ahead and do the NT screen though we know that we wouldn't do anything unless there is a life-threatening cause...prayers that our little one is healthy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-chose-not-to-do-nt-testingwhy-did-you-make-that-choice#post-43803 Thu, 29 Dec 2011 18:56:18 +0000 pastemoo 43803@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Next go around I think I'll opt for cvs and no NT scan. I don't like just having a probability. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-chose-not-to-do-nt-testingwhy-did-you-make-that-choice#post-43755 Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:25:53 +0000 winniebee 43755@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We chose to do so because it is not invasive and because oftentimes if your baby has a genetic abnormality (such as downs) the u/s tech will detect this at your anatomy scan (which occurs during weeks 18-20). Further, we knew that if anything was potentially wrong, that might change our lives financially (I'm the primary breadwinner currently but am the only one that can really stop working if we had a disabled child since my husband has more earning potential longterm) we would want to know and plan for it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-chose-not-to-do-nt-testingwhy-did-you-make-that-choice#post-43749 Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:22:05 +0000 loveisstrange 43749@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We chose not to because I felt like it would just stress me out. I was afraid of a false positive. We actually refused any non-necessary testing. No quad screen, no NT, and no screen for Downs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-chose-not-to-do-nt-testingwhy-did-you-make-that-choice#post-43745 Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:20:08 +0000 CameronsMomma 43745@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We didn't do it because I didn't want a false positive. I also didn't want anymore tests than needed, so we skipped it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-chose-not-to-do-nt-testingwhy-did-you-make-that-choice#post-43735 Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:45:44 +0000 cvbee 43735@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't because my doctor said that it is often more stressful than useful due to the inconclusive nature of the tests. He also said that in his practice only 25 percent do it, but in the big city that doctors automatically sign you up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-chose-not-to-do-nt-testingwhy-did-you-make-that-choice#post-43734 Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:41:31 +0000 twinmama 43734@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We initially planned to do it because it's covered by our insurance, so why not, but in the end have decided not to because it just wouldn't change anything, and has the potential for a ton of stress. We won't terminate the pregnancy for anything. We're pretty confident that everything will be fine, as we're both fairly young and healthy. And if it's not fine when the babies are born, we'll deal with it then when we know for sure. There's a decent risk of false positive, especially if the lab happens to mess up our numbers bc of twins, and the extra worry would be more stressful. And I'm not willing to risk miscarriage for the diagnostic testing. If the NT was non invasive and definitive it would be a different story. </p> <p>That said, we do have full ultrasound scans scheduled at 16 and 20 weeks, so I would guess that some major issues could be identified at those or later appts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-chose-not-to-do-nt-testingwhy-did-you-make-that-choice#post-43713 Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:23:42 +0000 leelee 43713@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rock n Roll: I did my NT for the same reasons! I really wanted to see LO! My SIL opted not to have it was not able to see her LO move around on an ultrasound till she was 36 weeks. I am definitely not that patient! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-chose-not-to-do-nt-testingwhy-did-you-make-that-choice#post-43651 Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:37:27 +0000 Rock n Roll 43651@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I will admit that I didn't care about the results, since we wouldn't have changed anything if they were bad. I just wanted a first trimester ultrasound so I could get a peek at the baby, and it was covered by my insurance, so why not? But I will admit it was a relief to hear good results.</p> <p>Also, I just want to point out that the test also looks for odds of Trisomy 13 and 18, not just Down syndrome. I think it's important to consider what you would do if you got unhappy results when deciding whether to take the test. Would you get more invasive testing to get a more definitive answer? Would you just worry your entire pregnancy? Would you research and prepare yourself to deal with a special needs child? Would you abort? I think the answer to "What would I do next if I got bad results?" can help you determine whether or not testing is a good idea for you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-chose-not-to-do-nt-testingwhy-did-you-make-that-choice#post-43647 Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:30:27 +0000 mamimami 43647@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with Rosiegirl and Cyneswith. We didn't want to test for anything we couldn't do anything about and we weren't going to get an abortion anyway. One of my friends had some distressing test results (which turned out not to be SO bad) and it seemed so horribly stressful. To each her own though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-chose-not-to-do-nt-testingwhy-did-you-make-that-choice#post-43640 Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:26:23 +0000 cyneswith 43640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't plan on it because if positive, all it'd do would cause me to start stressing early, and it's not even a conclusive test. My favorite cousin had Down Syndrome. It's not something to abort over. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-chose-not-to-do-nt-testingwhy-did-you-make-that-choice#post-43625 Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:16:31 +0000 Rosie Girl 43625@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We chose not to do any screening or testing, other than GD and check my blood for anemia (I am borderline without being pregnant already).</p> <p>The reason we decided against the screens and tests was because we personally would not get anything good out of it. If we found out that something was wrong with our baby, we would still precede with the pregnancy, but we would worry and fret about the future, making the pregnancy even more stressful. </p> <p>If there is something wrong, we will find out at birth, and move on from there. We don't want to add extra stress during the pregnancy, and the way we feel about our LO wouldn't change. </p> <p>I know a lot of people don't understand or agree, but its just us. </p> <p>We did get our 20 week US though, we wanted to find out gender :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-chose-not-to-do-nt-testingwhy-did-you-make-that-choice#post-43614 Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:08:16 +0000 Mrsbells 43614@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we did it because its non invasive and there was nothing to lose by doing it. I wasnt prepared to do anything invasive like amnio </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-chose-not-to-do-nt-testingwhy-did-you-make-that-choice#post-43567 Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:33:09 +0000 T.H.O.U. 43567@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did not do the first trimester NT scan. I know it sounds horrible, but my insurance would only cover 80%, and the 20% would be an extra couple hundred dollars out of pocket. We also didn't feel that there would be much they could see at that point that would definitely change our minds about anything. </p> <p>We were much more confident in the second trimester screening which is where they check for clef lip, heart chambers, brain size, organ function, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-chose-not-to-do-nt-testingwhy-did-you-make-that-choice#post-43543 Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:13:45 +0000 mrsjazz 43543@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: NT screening is first trimester.</p> <p>@ALittleP: From what I've read on other baby boards, most women who choose not to have the testing do so because a) if the baby does end up having a high risk for down syndrome and/or other issues, it wouldn't matter to that couple, they'll love the baby no matter what and b) it's a test that shows what your risk rate is, but a lot of women are afraid of false positives and then of being worried throughout their whole pregnancy (and then end up having healthy babies).</p> <p>With all that being said, I had the NT scan for the same reason @tequiero21 did: we wanted to be prepared. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-chose-not-to-do-nt-testingwhy-did-you-make-that-choice#post-43541 Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:11:35 +0000 ALittleP 43541@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: This is first tri testing. What's the difference between first and second tri testing? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-chose-not-to-do-nt-testingwhy-did-you-make-that-choice#post-43531 Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:06:18 +0000 mediagirl 43531@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is this the second trimester testing? We didn't do the first trimester but I decided I wanted to do the second trimester testing because it would give us a chance to prepare ourselves if something was wrong. Honestly, in the first trimester, I wasn't ready to make any big decisions. Like @tequiero21 said, it's just an ultrasound and blood work - nothing invasive. </p> <p>Our u/s is actually the same as our 20 (18) week u/s so I don't get an extra one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-chose-not-to-do-nt-testingwhy-did-you-make-that-choice#post-43525 Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:00:02 +0000 tequiero21 43525@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we chose to do it because it wasn't invasive. all they do is look at the u/s and take some blood. i think the some women choose not to do it is because you get an extra u/s and some women think too many u/s aren't good. also, if you end up being higher risk, you may just worry about having a down syndrome baby. for us, we wanted to be prepared. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-chose-not-to-do-nt-testingwhy-did-you-make-that-choice#post-43494 Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:43:24 +0000 ALittleP 43494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have to decide if we are going to do NT screening and make the appointment within the next week. I'm torn and at 36 there is clearly a higher chance that there could be something wrong but I don't think we would do anything unless there were some very severe issues...</p> <p>If you chose to not do NT screening, what made your decision clear to you? </p>