Last week, I had blood drawn for a "quad screen" prenatal test, which looks for abnormal levels of alpha-fetalprotein ("AFP"). Levels too high could indicate a neural tube defect like spina bifida or anencephaly. Low levels of AFP and abnormal levels of human chorionic gonadotropin ("hCG") indicate the potential for Down Syndrome or Edwards Syndrome. There's a couple of other chemicals the screen looks for, and interpreting those in conjunction with the AFP levels can indicate other potential problems.
Luckily, the test showed that I was negative for "abnormal AFP levels", which is (according to the nurse who called me) another way of saying my test results showed no abnormality. Had the test shown an abnormality, we would have considered an amniocentesis. Luckily, I get to avoid the big long needle and we can feel a little more confident about having a healthy baby!
Click here for a neat site that explains more about what the quad screen testing does.
2 comments:
My goodness, having a child is stressful on so many levels! I guess it helps you to be even more grateful when you give birth to a healthy baby. I pray that you both will be so blessed.
AB
Dear AB, thank you for your good thoughts . . .
CJS
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