Talk Cancer

Question:

        LaVonne gave excellent advice, and I’m leaving her post unsnipped. I’d also like to add my two cents worth if you don’t mind.         I do infant day care – have done it for 17 years, and I’m all too familiar with the AFP test (but I’ve never heard of the other two).  I’ve seen at least a dozen cases where a false positive came up on this blasted test and drove the parents nuts with worry until the baby was born.  And I’ve taken care of their HEALTHY babies!         According to the stuff I’ve read, this damned test is about 80% inaccurate, partially because the timing of the test has to be just right in order to get proper readings.  I was under the impression that the test had to be done at 17 weeks, but my memory is shot and my last case was 4 years ago so things may be different now.         What I’m trying to say is listen and weigh what LaVonne said, and then try not to worry.  The Mom’s emotional state sits very heavily on the unborn baby.  I know it’s easier said than done, but Mom’s got to try and take a deep breath and relax.  I hope you get your amnio results quickly and that all is very well.         You have my sincerest prayers for a happy healthy baby.         P. PS  Did they also tell you that this test could give a false positive if your wife is carrying twins? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -LaVonne Murphy <mscan…@worldnet.att.net> wrote: >ip…@parrs.demon.co.uk wrote: >> My 27 year old wife (who has Multiple Sclerosis) is now 18 weeks >> pregnant. >> Three weeks ago she underwent the ‘triple test’ ( a test to assess her >> risk of having a child with Downs Syndrome or spina bifida) this >> result has now come back ’screen positive’ (1 in 220) which suprised >> us given her age. >> Does anybody know of links between women with MS and abnormal levels >> of the substances tested (AFP, HCG and unconjugated oestriol) ??? >> We are now waiting (and worrying!!) for the results of an >> Amniocentesis test to find out whether the baby is affected >> Thanks >> Ian Parr >Ian & Gang >Though I am sending this primarily to Ian, there have been others attach >a message of worry to this thread, hence the multiple address. >A woman with MS who is pregnant has as much a chance to have a child with >birth defects as any other woman.  She also has as much a chance to have >a normal child.  The Downs Syndrome and spina bifida you mention have no >connection to the MS.  If you wish more information on this, contact your >MS society.  The one in the US has a brochure on pregnancy and this sort >of thing. >Keep in mind that a child with Downs can be a huge joy as well as an >educational trial to raise.  And spina bifida can be correctable >sometimes with some paralysis and sometimes not.  If there is to be >paralysis, the level of the opening in the spinal column may determine >the amount of disability.  This can often be determined by ultrasound >when the baby is a little older in the uterus though the amount of >dammage after correction often can not be determined for sure until the >child is born. >Another thing to think about is who better to raise a child with a >disability than a parent with one.  Children learn by example.  It may >not be an easy life for any of you and especially the well spouse.  But >there is much to consider and I will not impose my personal opinion about >abortion on anyone.  This should be your family decision without the rest >of us pushing you one way or another. >Now for the gent with MS whos wife is pregnant.  Your chance of having a >baby with a problem is the same as the lady who is pregnant.  You have >made a baby.  Some are born with a problem and some are not.  The only >thing both of your families have to consider just because one of the >parents has MS, is whether your child will someday have MS.  I can’t find >figures in the resources I have here but, as I recall, the chances are >under 10%.  Also consider that about 20% of women with MS will have an >exacerbation within 6 months after delivery because of the drastic >hormone changes that come with popping baby out. >Another thing to consider is the physical condition of the parent with >MS.  Often that parent, no matter the sex, will need to be the caretaker >of the child while the well parent works.  Like any family, you need to >consider your financial resources BEFORE becoming a pregnant family. >I guess this will lead you all in childbearing range to consider the >things that influence all families when they decide to have children and >how many. >                             L

Response:

My 27 year old wife (who has Multiple Sclerosis) is now 18 weeks pregnant. Three weeks ago she underwent the ‘triple test’ ( a test to assess her risk of having a child with Downs Syndrome or spina bifida) this result has now come back ’screen positive’ (1 in 220) which suprised us given her age. Does anybody know of links between women with MS and abnormal levels of the substances tested (AFP, HCG and unconjugated oestriol) ??? We are now waiting (and worrying!!) for the results of an Amniocentesis test to find out whether the baby is affected Thanks Ian Parr

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I am curious to this as well but from the other side.  My husband has MS and we are also expecting.  I would like some info as well. Thanks Jessica

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -ip…@parrs.demon.co.uk wrote: > My 27 year old wife (who has Multiple Sclerosis) is now 18 weeks > pregnant. > Three weeks ago she underwent the ‘triple test’ ( a test to assess her > risk of having a child with Downs Syndrome or spina bifida) this > result has now come back ’screen positive’ (1 in 220) which suprised > us given her age. > Does anybody know of links between women with MS and abnormal levels > of the substances tested (AFP, HCG and unconjugated oestriol) ??? > We are now waiting (and worrying!!) for the results of an > Amniocentesis test to find out whether the baby is affected > Thanks > Ian Parr

Ian & Gang Though I am sending this primarily to Ian, there have been others attach a message of worry to this thread, hence the multiple address. A woman with MS who is pregnant has as much a chance to have a child with birth defects as any other woman.  She also has as much a chance to have a normal child.  The Downs Syndrome and spina bifida you mention have no connection to the MS.  If you wish more information on this, contact your MS society.  The one in the US has a brochure on pregnancy and this sort of thing. Keep in mind that a child with Downs can be a huge joy as well as an educational trial to raise.  And spina bifida can be correctable sometimes with some paralysis and sometimes not.  If there is to be paralysis, the level of the opening in the spinal column may determine the amount of disability.  This can often be determined by ultrasound when the baby is a little older in the uterus though the amount of dammage after correction often can not be determined for sure until the child is born. Another thing to think about is who better to raise a child with a disability than a parent with one.  Children learn by example.  It may not be an easy life for any of you and especially the well spouse.  But there is much to consider and I will not impose my personal opinion about abortion on anyone.  This should be your family decision without the rest of us pushing you one way or another. Now for the gent with MS whos wife is pregnant.  Your chance of having a baby with a problem is the same as the lady who is pregnant.  You have made a baby.  Some are born with a problem and some are not.  The only thing both of your families have to consider just because one of the parents has MS, is whether your child will someday have MS.  I can’t find figures in the resources I have here but, as I recall, the chances are under 10%.  Also consider that about 20% of women with MS will have an exacerbation within 6 months after delivery because of the drastic hormone changes that come with popping baby out. Another thing to consider is the physical condition of the parent with MS.  Often that parent, no matter the sex, will need to be the caretaker of the child while the well parent works.  Like any family, you need to consider your financial resources BEFORE becoming a pregnant family. I guess this will lead you all in childbearing range to consider the things that influence all families when they decide to have children and how many.                              L

Response:

My husband and I have decided not to take the AFP test.  Even my doctor recommended against it due to the high number of false positives.  I’ve also had several friends go through the agony you are facing with all the tests to find out noone could give them any kind of real answer.  My best friend was a mess for weeks.   Our decision was maily based on the fact that we wouldn’t abort the pregnancy and anything that the test showed we would deal with when the baby was born.  Best wishes too you, I hope it’s nothing.  God bless. mailto:na…@megsinet.net

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>         According to the stuff I’ve read, this damned test is about > 80% inaccurate, partially because the timing of the test has > to be just right in order to get proper readings.  I was > under the impression that the test had to be done at 17

Actually, as someone on my monthly list pointed out that it’s not that the test comes out *wrong* – it’s that if your result is 1 in 220, then statistically, the test will be "right" for only one person and everyone then says, oh, those tests are always wrong.  My doctor said that the "magic" time was 16 weeks.  I didn’t have it done.  Too many regret it & I’m only 28. Lisa Ash 5/15

Response:

In a message dated 96-12-28 10:36:24 EST, mscan…@WORLDNET.ATT.NET (LaVonne Murphy) writes:

<< Keep in mind that a child with Downs can be a huge joy  >> LaVonne and all, I couldn’t agree more.  As a teacher with almost thirty years of experience, I have seen and taught a lot of special children with downs and spina bifida who are an inspiration to us all.

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I can attest to that one!!  I was 30 when my youngest was born so my AFP odds should have been abount 1/1000.  The test came back 1/540 so they did another, it came back 1/200.  Needless to say we were upset and they wanted to do an amniocentesis (sp?) which came back normal.  Let’s plump out this picture, my nephew had died 2 months before (age 5) after being severely handicapped all his life and my mother-in-law was dying of pancreatic cancer.  I got the amino test results 2 days after her death.  The child in question is our little Kate you’ve heard me talk about, who has a heart condition, autonomic nervous system problem, etc.  The docs have always said the AFP tests were coincidental and I believe that to be true because of the number of parents who bear healthy children after receiving this distressing news.  I wonder if any have terminated healthy pregnancies thinking they are doing the right thing for a child facing a troubled life? Just a little bit of my experience! Carla-la-la In a message dated 96-12-23 11:42:54 EST, you write: << I’m all too familiar with the AFP test (but I’ve never heard of  the other two).  I’ve seen at least a dozen cases where a  false positive came up on this blasted test and drove the  parents nuts with worry until the baby was born.  And I’ve  taken care of their HEALTHY babies! >>

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