24 years old, 15 weeks pregnant and results came back positive for down syndrome?

False positives happen.

If you've done everything correctly while pregnant (not drinking, smoking, getting high, eating the wrong foods, etc.) you decrease your chances of having certain issues with your baby. But nothing eliminates all risk. Further testing can do a lot to make sure.

I hope you realize that people with Down Syndrome are still people. Happy, warm, wonderful people. Just something to think about...

What are the numbers they gave you? The risk comes back at a ratio, like 1:100 chance. So using that example, the test is telling you that there is a 1% chance that your baby has Down Syndrome. That means a 99% chance it doesn't.

Try not to stress about it. I know that's not easy, but you'll know a lot more after an anatomy scan. If there are no markers, you're probably in the clear.

With my first pregnancy, my risk was 1:23, and he had 2 soft markers on the scan, raising the risk to 1:11. He does not have Down Syndrome, but I did have placental issues which it is theorized can cause many of the "false" positives you hear about.

With my second, the risk was 1:16, but there were no markers on the scan. She does not have Down Syndrome, and I had the same kind of placental issues with that pregnancy.

I was told that my baby had a higher risk for down syndrome also when I was pregnant. My husband and I decided to not do any further testing for down syndrome, and guess what? No down syndrome. They will want to do a higher level ultrasound and an amniocentesis. There is about a 1/200 risk of miscarriage with an amnio. The good news is the screening tests are highly inaccurate and you have a very high chance of a 100% normal and healthy baby. Those tests, unfortunately, cause a lot of unnecessary stress on the mom when they come back positive, and most of the time, they are wrong.

Go to the specialist. There is always a chance of a false positive with those tests. A specialist will be able to tell you whether or not the baby that you are carrying has downs syndrome. I'm sure there are people out there that have been told that their baby had a birth defect and the babies have ended up fine. There is only so much that doctor's can tell you before your baby is born and no doctor is perfect. Mistakes are made all the time.

Fortuneatly, you took a screen, so they really don't mean anything yes or no. For ex, when I took my glucose (screen) the first screen yielded a possibility that I had gestational diabetes then they made me take the second (test) which would confirm a diagnosis of GD and turned out that although my screen yielded a possible problem that I did not have diabetes after all. Several people get false positives on these tests. This screen has been refered to as the Quad fraud. Also, people have recieved negative results and it turned out that there child had a chromosome disorder or spianal bifida. The only way you will know for sure if your child has down syndrome is for you to take an amnio. And then if you decide not to take it you would have to wait until your child is born to know for sure. I'd wait for you to have your anatomy ultrasound at about 20 weeks. However, ultrasounds can miss things or not always indicative of a problem.

first of all, down syndrom is not genetic. it can happen to anyone with or without a history of it. second,people with downs syndrom are honestly the most loving,caring,sweet people on the face of this earth. they are honestly a blessing. so if it turns out that you do have a down syndrom baby,you will be blessed with a unique gift. one that will no doubt challenge you,but also make you a better person. I can understand your fears. everyone wants a healthy baby. but it is not the end of the world. and those results just predict your -chance- of having a child with downs syndrom is a little higher. it could very well be that you will have a completely healthy child. don't stress yourself out about it at this point. and if it turns out you do have a child with downs syndrom. I promise, you won't love them any less. good luck!

My brother and his girlfriend went through the same thing. Sometimes those test will show positivie. That's why they send you to a specailsit to check more into it. So just get the appointment asap so that it will then ease your mind. My brother and his girlfriend went to their appointment and all turned out well. They said all looks good and they had healthy baby boy on Aug 5th of this year.

There is no true way of knowing anything till baby is born, all we can do is trusts what they tell us and hope for the best. But atleast if the tests come back good, then you know you have a better chance.

Hope all turns out well!!

What kind of blood work? An AFP test? Those tests have VERY high rates of false positives. (Which is why I refused to have it done at all.)

By all means have further testing done, but the odds are overwhelmingly in your favor that your baby will be fine. (Did the doctor give you the precise percentage of 'increased risk?')

(I'm very puzzled by the response from the person who talked about eating right and not smoking during prengancy. NONE of those have anything to do with DS. DS is caused by a defective ovum, and happens at the moment of conception.)

yes, he will go to jail. You are 15 and a minor, he is 24. That is called statutory rape. Weather you said it was ok or not, it is rapebecause your age doesn't allow you "informed consent". You need to tell your parents, because the baby needs prenatal care. You are at a high risk for miscarriage, preterm birth and birth defects or SIDS. Also, he got ANOTHER minor pregnant? And he needs to "straighten out his life"? This guy is a predator. You DO NOT want him in the baby's life if he is preying on young girls. YOu have to tell them, pregnancy can't be hidden for long, and yes, you need to admit that he is the father. Men like this are dangerous.

The blood test gets a high amount of false-positives. Although non-invasive (which is why most women opt for it) the only way to truly tell for sure is to have an amnio. I would have to say if there is no history it is more than likely a false positive.