Pregnancy question: Maternit21

[janegold]

Did anyone choose NOT to do the Maternit21 (or similar test) if given the option? Or is it becoming pretty standard by this point?

I had an OB appointment today and i need to decide what kind of DS screening to do soon, as I'm nearly 10 weeks. I like that Maternit21 is more accurate and screens for other types of chromosomal issues. But from what my OB described, the more traditional early assessment (detailed ultrasound and hormonal blood test) can pick up some non-chromosomal issues that the other test can't.

I'm not high risk or AMA so it probably doesn't really matter either way but I'm torn. I think I'm leaning toward Maternit21 because it is more accurate and looks at other potential chromosomal abnormalities, but I also wonder If the extra perk of finding out the baby's sex early may be influencing me a bit.

[slcjess]

I didn't do any, because it wouldn't have changed my course of action. I figured if there was anything that was incompatible with life, we'd find out during the anatomy scan anyways. If it would make you feel better do it! And finding out the sex early and for certain is always a bonus. Haha!

[whitemerlot]

I didn't do anything until my 20 week anatomy scan. I had minimal lab work both times.

[Narwhal]

My OB gave us the option of the Materniti21 or the ultrasound that measures the fluid and the blood test that looks for DS, Tris 18 and Tris 21 (I can't remember the name). We decided to do the ultrasound and blood test, not the Materniti21. We decided to do the other test because we wanted some information, but didn't want to know the sex until birth. Otherwise, I probably would have done it. We did have to pay oop though because I am low risk. We didn't do either with our twins. I would think whatever you decide is fine- they are really non invasive.

[read247]

This test wasn't offered when I had my kids, as far as I know, but I declined all screening tests so I wouldn't have had this one either. Since I wasn't willing to have an amnio as a diagnostic follow up to any screening results, my OB agreed that such testing wasn't worth doing. The only thing I had was a level II u/s (which was not commonly offered at that time except in high risk cases) to look for spina bifida in case we needed to schedule a c/s for delivery.

[janegold]

Sorry, I should clarify: either way, we are doing some sort of early assessment test. Just torn on whether to do the chromosomal analysis or stick to the more basic first trimester screen.

[liverandonions]

We did harmony because I was ama and I didn't have to pay extra for it. Plus I wanted to know gender early.

[Queen Mamadala]

Fetal DNA testing wasn't offered when I was pregnant with my fourth, but I did go ahead, without question, with the first trimester screening. I didn't see a reason to go that route with my youngest when fetal DNA testing was an option. So I went with the Harmony and saw a MFM specialist for my level II (I had a few of these with #4).

[cabbagecabbage]

I chose to do none of the 12 weeks tests, ultrasound or blood. They are optional but it would have been a few hundred dollars for me to get them. I AMA but I knew that any results I got would just stress me out and since I can't treat anything they found and they can't even diagnose most things, just give a risk, I decided I'd rather not know.

[janegold]

May 2, 2016 16:24:37 GMT -5 @tambcat said:

Can you do the Materniti21 plus an ultrasound?

My OB said they discourage people from doing both screens for resource reasons, since they're essentially looking for DS in both instances. I wish we could, though.

[glynn]

Ultrasounds is all I did with my 2.

[mccallister84]

I'm 12 weeks today and am not doing it. My doc doesn't recommend it unless you're high risk. She doesn't love that people do it just to find out the gender early. I didn't push her on it because we're team green anyway. We will do the ultrasound and she's said there's some bloodwork with the scan.

[bcv513]

I did the Harmony test and the regular NT ultrasound. I actually had them on the same day. My ob did say that insurance won't always cover the Harmony if you're not high risk but they covered mine. I mainly did the Harmony to find out if it was a boy or a girl earlier.

[dana2006]

After my first tri screen (ultrasound and blood test) detected some potential indicators for DS, I had the Harmony test, which indicated no-greater-than-normal risk. I wish I had just gone with that to begin with to save me the stress.

[underwaterrhymes]

May 2, 2016 16:30:56 GMT -5 janegold said:

May 2, 2016 16:24:37 GMT -5 @tambcat said:

Can you do the Materniti21 plus an ultrasound?

My OB said they discourage people from doing both screens for resource reasons, since they're essentially looking for DS in both instances. I wish we could, though.

We actually did have both for both kids. I'm very glad we did. I liked the reassurance because I am AMA, but I also liked knowing the sex early.

[SKP82]

At first, we chose the sequential screening because my insurance wouldn't cover the NIPT testing. Then a soft market for Down Syndrome was found during an ultrasound, so I had the NIPT and the insurance covered it.

If we had gone with the NIPT from the beginning, it would have been accompanied by an ultrasound.

[SKP82]

May 2, 2016 16:23:14 GMT -5 janegold said:

Sorry, I should clarify: either way, we are doing some sort of early assessment test. Just torn on whether to do the chromosomal analysis or stick to the more basic first trimester screen.

Call your insurance company and see how much you would have to pay for the NIPT. That may make your decision for you.

[janegold]

May 2, 2016 17:12:06 GMT -5 SKP82 said:

May 2, 2016 16:23:14 GMT -5 janegold said:

Sorry, I should clarify: either way, we are doing some sort of early assessment test. Just torn on whether to do the chromosomal analysis or stick to the more basic first trimester screen.

Call your insurance company and see how much you would have to pay for the NIPT. That may make your decision for you.

It's $200 so the cost doesn't really influence me either way.

[peachykate]

We just did the traditional 12 week ultrasound and blood work. The other options weren't even offered since we weren't AMA or high risk.

[gennyu]

I have never heard of this and opened this thread expecting to read that Forever 21 had opened a maternity store.
My DS is only five! Things change fast.

[usuallylurking]

We just did the traditional NT scan (ultrasound with blood draw) because it was covered by insurance and the Materniti21 wasn't.

[lilafowler]

Do it. It will give you ease of mind. When I was pregnant with E we did the NT scan (I wasn't AMA back then lol). I know it has its issues but it gave is a lot of peace of mind until the anatomy scan.

[sapphireblue]

We just did the ultrasound and blood work. I wanted to do the Materniti21 test. However, although I am AMA, since I used an egg donor, it didn't apply so it would not have been covered by insurance.

We are trying again now so if I get pregnant again I am doing it. Even if I have to pay out of pocket. I am a worrier and I know good results on that test will really help me relax throughout the pregnancy, as much as I possibly could (which might not be much!).

[konapoppy]

I am now of the mindset that knowledge is power. I would do Marterniti21 or another NIPT.

[formerlyak]

I opted out with my second pregnancy. We did the nt scan/bloodwork combo. My Ob said if the results for that were borderline, there was other testing I could do later if I wanted to. I had such a rocky start to my pregnancy, i was sick of giving up my blood.

Materniti21 wasn't even around when I had my first.

[icedcoffee]

I'm doing the NT scan on Wednesday at 12 weeks. My OB only offered the NT scan since I'm 30 and low risk. I am pretty sure my insurance would cover most of the NIPT like Maternit21, but I didn't even ask about it. I'm just doing what the OB recommends. It helps that I am team green. No advice; just wanted to share my experience.

[VeryViolet]

I did the NT Scan. This was a few years ago when the blood tests like materniti21 were first starting to come around. My doctor recommended the NT so I did that. I wish I had done the more definitive tests though.

[Narwhal]

May 2, 2016 18:54:49 GMT -5 toastie said:

May 2, 2016 16:21:05 GMT -5 Narwhal said:

My OB gave us the option of the Materniti21 or the ultrasound that measures the fluid and the blood test that looks for DS, Tris 18 and Tris 21 (I can't remember the name). We decided to do the ultrasound and blood test, not the Materniti21. We decided to do the other test because we wanted some information, but didn't want to know the sex until birth. Otherwise, I probably would have done it. We did have to pay oop though because I am low risk. We didn't do either with our twins. I would think whatever you decide is fine- they are really non invasive.

Trisomy 21 is Down syndrome.

my insurance wouldn't cover certain tests so we opted out.  It wouldn't change anything and most tests wouldn't find the genetic issues that my kids were at a 50/50 risk for.

Oh, my mistake, Im pregnant with 2 year olds who don't sleep. Haha. It was another trisomy that it tested for, but regardless it was nice to have information ahead of time to prepare if somethings were found.

[chickadee77]

I've had it done with two of my pregnancies, and have had both a positive and negative result. We also had ultrasounds throughout both of those pregnancies, so it wasn't an either/or for me. PM me if you want more details on my experiences; some of the responses here are making me uncomfortable.

[janegold]

May 2, 2016 19:40:41 GMT -5 chickadee77 said:

I've had it done with two of my pregnancies, and have had both a positive and negative result. We also had ultrasounds throughout both of those pregnancies, so it wasn't an either/or for me. PM me if you want more details on my experiences; some of the responses here are making me uncomfortable.

Oh, I've had 4 or 5 ultrasounds already, lol. The either-or is the NIPT vs the NT scan and related bloodwork.


Thanks for the feedback everyone. It is helpful to hear others' thoughts.