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Pregnancy & children
Antenatal Screening
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Making decisions about screening :
Thinking about screening and what it is for
Special reasons for wanting screening
Reasons for not having some or all screening
Discussing screening choices with your partner
Attitudes to disability and termination
Information for making decisions
Experiences of screening :
Nuchal translucency scan (low risk results)
Nuchal scan (being told something may be wrong)
Early dating scans
Blood test screening
18-20 week scan (low risk results)
18-20 week scan (being told something may be wrong)
Understanding screening test results
Having further tests and getting results :
Deciding whether to have further diagnostic tests
Having further tests and waiting for results
Getting diagnostic test results
Thoughts, discussions and info after diagnosis
Deciding to continue with the pregnancy :
Making the decision to continue with the pregnancy
What the rest of pregnancy and birth was like
Feelings about screening looking back
Deciding to end the pregnancy :
Making the decision to end the pregnancy
The experience of ending a pregnancy
Feelings and reflections afterwards
Views on screening & feelings in later pregnancies
When screening does not detect a condition :
Learning after birth that the baby has a condition
How it has affected parents' views about screening
Living with disabilities or a chronic condition :
Living with a child with a long term condition
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Antenatal Screening
Subject index
Topic
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Antenatal Screening
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Getting diagnostic test results
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Getting diagnostic test results
Getting diagnostic test results
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Getting diagnostic test results
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Getting diagnostic test results
Getting diagnostic test results
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Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Normal results or declining screening
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Interview AN26
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She described the screening process as a 'Pandora's box' where one decision leads to another.
Routine screening experiences, including nuchal scan.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Normal results or declining screening
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Interview AN22
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Deciding to have screening is a real choice, which may involve you in further decision-making.
Declined all screening except 20-week anomaly scan in two most recent pregnancies.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Normal results or declining screening
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Interview AN25
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She was optimistic that screening would be reassuring and give helpful information.
Two normal pregnancies. Nuchal scan not available locally, so had blood screening. Unable to have 20-week scan in first pregnancy because of staff shortages.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Normal results or declining screening
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Interview AN01
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They had not fully appreciated what the 20-week scan was looking for.
Normal first pregnancy, routine screening experiences. Had to spend time in hospital late in pregnancy for investigation of bleeding.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Normal results or declining screening
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Interview AN25
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Her midwife's discussion of screening and possible consequences was excellent.
Two normal pregnancies. Nuchal scan not available locally, so had blood screening. Unable to have 20-week scan in first pregnancy because of staff shortages.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Normal results or declining screening
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Interview AN14
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It was not always clear what different blood tests were for, but it matters less if the results are normal.
Seven and a half months pregnant with twins conceived by IVF. Has had scans throughout pregnancy; nuchal translucency scan had to be repeated because of the babies' position.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Normal results or declining screening
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Interview AN19
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Looking back she felt more explanation of the purpose of the 20-week anomaly scan would have been helpful.
Normal first pregnancy, routine screening experiences, including combined nuchal scan and blood test.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Normal results or declining screening
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Interview AN26
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In her second pregnancy, she was anxious that the sonographer doing the nuchal scan seemed rushed. She needed more reassurance.
Routine screening experiences, including nuchal scan.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Normal results or declining screening
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Interview AN14
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In two repeat nuchal scans, she felt the consultant was much more communicative than the first person who scanned her.
Seven and a half months pregnant with twins conceived by IVF. Has had scans throughout pregnancy; nuchal translucency scan had to be repeated because of the babies' position.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Normal results or declining screening
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Interview AN08
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The results of her nuchal scan indicated a very low risk, which was reassuring.
Normal first pregnancy, routine screening experiences. Private care throughout pregnancy.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Normal results or declining screening
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Interview AN21
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The sonographer was quiet during her nuchal scan. She would rather wait till after the scan to receive bad news.
Normal first pregnancy; some early scanning after bleeding in first trimester. Screening includes nuchal translucency scan and blood testing.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Ending an affected pregnancy
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Interview AN02
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She grew anxious when the sonographer became silent during the nuchal scan, and was upset that the sonographer could not discuss the results.
1997 - nuchal scan and CVS confirmed Down's syndrome - decided to end the pregnancy. Has since had a healthy baby and is now pregnant again. Had CVS again.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Continuing with an affected pregnancy
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Interview AN06
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He felt the local hospital needed to be better prepared to discuss the results of the nuchal scan with them.
Third pregnancy, after two miscarriages. Nuchal scan suggested problems; CVS ruled out Down's syndrome but heart problems identified by further scan. Baby born March 2003, successful surgery completed.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Continuing with an affected pregnancy
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Interview AN30
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They were asked to have a second scan but did not feel anxious about this at the time.
Down's syndrome suspected at nuchal scan. Couple declined amniocentesis and continued with the pregnancy. Further scans suggested heart problems (operated on successfully since baby's birth).
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Ending an affected pregnancy
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Interview AN31
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She would have liked her husband to be allowed in with her throughout the nuchal scan in her first pregnancy. They gradually realised something was wr
Problems detected in first pregnancy at nuchal scan - confirmed as Down's syndrome by CVS. Couple decided to end the pregnancy. Subsequent normal pregnancy and birth.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Ending an affected pregnancy
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Interview AN02
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It was unpleasant waiting for hours for a repeat nuchal scan and being aware other people waiting were anxious too.
1997 - nuchal scan and CVS confirmed Down's syndrome - decided to end the pregnancy. Has since had a healthy baby and is now pregnant again. Had CVS again.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Ending an affected pregnancy
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Interview AN17
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She thought her baby's hydrocephalus may have been suspected at the nuchal scan in her first pregnancy but she was not told.
Hydrocephalus detected by 20-week scan and amniocentesis in first pregnancy. Felt the decision to end the pregnancy was rushed. Miscarriage and two healthy pregnancies since.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Ending an affected pregnancy
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Interview AN36
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The nuchal scan reassured them, but with hindsight they felt they did not really understand the nature of screening and risk information.
Nuchal scan in first pregnancy gave low risk result, but anomaly scan at 21 weeks detected abnormalities, confirmed as Edwards' syndrome by amniocentesis. Couple decided to end the pregnancy.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Ending an affected pregnancy
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Interview AN32
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Her 12-week dating scan had to be repeated twice, and she was told the baby's nuchal fold was swollen.
Problems detected in first pregnancy at routine 12 week dating scan - confirmed as Edward's syndrome by CVS. Couple decided to end the pregnancy. Now pregnant again.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Normal results or declining screening
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Interview AN28
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They had an anxious moment at the 20-week scan when the sonographer paused briefly. They felt he communicated honestly.
Healthy pregnancy after an early miscarriage. Interviewee has a brother with severe learning disabilities and describes having genetic screening and counselling in early pregnancy.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Ending an affected pregnancy
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Interview AN36
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At the 20-week scan, the sonographer seemed bored. When he started to find problems she found it hard to grasp.
Nuchal scan in first pregnancy gave low risk result, but anomaly scan at 21 weeks detected abnormalities, confirmed as Edwards' syndrome by amniocentesis. Couple decided to end the pregnancy.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Normal results or declining screening
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Interview AN27
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She was still waiting for some blood test results to come back months later, including for sickle cell disease.
Healthy pregnancy, routine screening. Some blood test results came back abnormal. Levels of information and choice have been a concern.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Normal results or declining screening
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Interview AN19
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She was well informed about the availability of the combined nuchal scan and blood test, but her blood sample was damaged in the post.
Normal first pregnancy, routine screening experiences, including combined nuchal scan and blood test.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Ending an affected pregnancy
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Interview AN35
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She had the combined blood test and nuchal scan in her first pregnancy. It was the blood test results that alerted them to their baby's condition (Tur
Combined nuchal scan/blood test suggested high risk; early results ruled out trisomies but subsequently diagnosed a severe form of Turner's syndrome. Couple decided to end the pregnancy; now pregnant again.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Normal results or declining screening
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Interview AN25
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She was informed about the triple test, but surprised the midwife would visit her if the results showed an increased chance that something was wrong.
Two normal pregnancies. Nuchal scan not available locally, so had blood screening. Unable to have 20-week scan in first pregnancy because of staff shortages.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Normal results or declining screening
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Interview AN25
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Her blood test results were reassuringly low risk, but she knew this could not guarantee Down's syndrome was not present.
Two normal pregnancies. Nuchal scan not available locally, so had blood screening. Unable to have 20-week scan in first pregnancy because of staff shortages.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Normal results or declining screening
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Interview AN01
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Her nuchal scan results were lower risk, but she still did not feel completely reassured.
Normal first pregnancy, routine screening experiences. Had to spend time in hospital late in pregnancy for investigation of bleeding.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Normal results or declining screening
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Interview AN22
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An increased risk can be difficult to interpret, without knowing about the original baseline risk.
Declined all screening except 20-week anomaly scan in two most recent pregnancies.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Baby's condition detected after birth
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Interview AN12
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Because her nuchal scan results reassured her she was low risk, she never expected her baby would have Down's syndrome.
Second child born with Down's syndrome after low risk nuchal scan results, and no problems detected at 20-week scan. Home birth. Daughter now aged two.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Normal results or declining screening
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Interview AN13
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After being reassured at first, they found the meaning of risk statistics from the nuchal scan in their most recent pregnancy hard to interpret.
Healthy pregnancy after 2 miscarriages; following nuchal scan results they considered amniocentesis and decided against. Baby born healthy, although mother had obstetric cholestasis in late pregnancy.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Normal results or declining screening
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Interview AN13
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Ringing the Antenatal Results and Choices support group helped her think through her nuchal scan results and decide not to have further tests.
Healthy pregnancy after 2 miscarriages; following nuchal scan results they considered amniocentesis and decided against. Baby born healthy, although mother had obstetric cholestasis in late pregnancy.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Normal results or declining screening
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Interview AN14
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The midwife explaining her scan results got the graph the wrong way round, but checked it with a colleague.
Seven and a half months pregnant with twins conceived by IVF. Has had scans throughout pregnancy; nuchal translucency scan had to be repeated because of the babies' position.
Pregnancy & children
>>
Antenatal Screening
>>
Normal results or declining screening
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Interview AN14
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She had good information about the scan results but sometimes having more information raises more questions for staff to explain.
Seven and a half months pregnant with twins conceived by IVF. Has had scans throughout pregnancy; nuchal translucency scan had to be repeated because of the babies' position.
Pregnancy & children
>>
Antenatal Screening
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Ending an affected pregnancy
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Interview AN02
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When she first heard her nuchal scan results, she did not interpret 1 in 20 as very high risk.
1997 - nuchal scan and CVS confirmed Down's syndrome - decided to end the pregnancy. Has since had a healthy baby and is now pregnant again. Had CVS again.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Continuing with an affected pregnancy
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Interview AN29
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She had a cordocentesis when a heart condition was diagnosed in her fifth pregnancy, to check if the baby had Down's syndrome as well. They needed to
After four miscarriages, scan in fifth pregnancy found heart defects. Couple decided to continue the pregnancy. Son, now 4, has had some additional problems. Pregnant at time of interview.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Ending an affected pregnancy
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Interview AN36
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Waiting for the amniocentesis results over a weekend was awful. They searched the internet for information to help make their decision.
Nuchal scan in first pregnancy gave low risk result, but anomaly scan at 21 weeks detected abnormalities, confirmed as Edwards' syndrome by amniocentesis. Couple decided to end the pregnancy.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Ending an affected pregnancy
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Interview AN31
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They were both very upset, and couldn't talk about what they would do until they had the CVS (Chorionic Villus Sampling) results.
Problems detected in first pregnancy at nuchal scan - confirmed as Down's syndrome by CVS. Couple decided to end the pregnancy. Subsequent normal pregnancy and birth.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Continuing with an affected pregnancy
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Interview AN07
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She rang to check the CVS (Chorionic Villus Sampling) results, and the receptionist was rude. Next day they were told it was negative for chromosomal
Third pregnancy, after two miscarriages. Nuchal translucency scan suggested problems; CVS ruled out Down's syndrome but heart problems identified by further scan. Baby born March 2003, successful surgery completed.
Pregnancy & children
>>
Antenatal Screening
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Ending an affected pregnancy
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Interview AN35
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They thought the CVS (Chorionic Villus Sampling) results were negative, but then got another phone call to say the baby had Turner's syndrome.
Combined nuchal scan/blood test suggested high risk; early results ruled out trisomies but subsequently diagnosed a severe form of Turner's syndrome. Couple decided to end the pregnancy; now pregnant again.
Pregnancy & children
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Antenatal Screening
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Ending an affected pregnancy
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Interview AN40
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The midwife came in person with her amniocentesis results. She was stunned to hear the baby had Down's syndrome.
Down's syndrome detected by amniocentesis in first pregnancy. Couple decided to end the pregnancy. Baby son born since.
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Antenatal Screening
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Understanding screening test results
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Understanding screening test results
Understanding screening test results
Pregnancy & children
>>
Antenatal Screening
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Understanding screening test results
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Understanding screening test results
Understanding screening test results
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