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Would you consider terminating under any circumstance? If you'd consider terminating due to a chromosomal problem with a grim prognosis (or due to any chromosomal problem), I think it would be better to find out before 20 weeks. Also, I would imagine that the anatomy scan could miss problems. I have heard of that happening...folks with normal anatomy scans having babies with DS, etc.

I am 36 now... if we decide to have another, I think I will get it done. Age is a pretty significant risk factor, from what I've read, so it makes sense to me that it is more routine after a certain age. Anyway, the test is noninvasive and would hopefully provide me some peace of mind. I am a planner, and if there are problems, I would want as much time to prepare as possible. I can certainly understand other people feeling differently though! I think it depends a lot on your position regarding termination and your personality in general.

A very good friend of mind found out at 12 weeks that her baby had DS and she has said she was really glad she found out when she did. By the time the baby was born, she was very connected with multiple family support groups who were really there for her and helped her a ton (they organized meals, gave her advice about the NICU, shared their own success stories, recommended doctors, explained procedures, etc.).

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

We did no testing before the anatomy scan. We would only consider terminating in the grimmest of circumstances and only with 100% chance it was true. My Ob said under those circumstances we were better off skipping it- but I have no clue if my age plays a factor (26). We will be doing the same with LO#2.

I turned 35 when I was almost 6 months pregnant. We did not have an NT scan or blood tests. Family history was not a factor and my OB did not feel like there was a high risk. I may have the testing if there is a LO #2 in the future.

I was 35 when my son was born, we did no testing, even though I had family factors.

I agree with @78H20. If you would want to terminate in the case of some abnormalities, the test is for you. I didn't do any of those tests, since I planned on seeing the pregnancy through no matter what. I am in my twenties, though, so I say just do whatever will help you have the happiest, least worried pregnancy possible.

I did NT last time and then my odds were so high that I had to default to cvs. I would have much rather had a blood test that was 99% accurate!

I'm 28 (so not high-risk yet) and we elected to do no genetic screening - would not terminate regardless. HOWEVER, the ultrasound tech thought she noticed a soft marker for chromosomal abnormalities at our 20 week scan (choroid plexus cyst) and we were referred to a perinatalogist for a higher level scan. Cyst did not show up on this scan (1 week later) so we worried and cried for a week for nothing, but the perinatalogist strongly encouraged us to do genetic screening next time as apparently if we'd already had a negative result for trisomies, they would have ignored the cyst and not put us through all that worry. I'm still not sure what we will do next time, but it was an interesting point.

I would've done Maternity21 in a heartbeat if it was offered to me. As others have said, it doesn't give a "maybe" answer like ultrasounds do, it is way more definite since it checks baby's DNA. And most people don't think they have a risk for chromosomal abnormalities, but it still happens! I think the best way to decide is whether or not you would terminate under any circumstances.