tripple screen

I got the results of my triple screen on Jan 29th and it was positive. I will be scheduled for a special ultrasound. I forgot what it is called. But, it is done by specialists. They will more than likely schedule an amnio regardless of if the ultrasound shows anything. My Dr. has a feeling it is a false positive. All 3 parts were positive. She said that usually the true positives don't show up in all 3 parts. I don't know what levels I was at or too much about the test in general. All I know is I took the news OK at first. Then she kept making comments on how well I was taking it and it made me feel like I should be taking it worse. Then I got upset. I really wasn't worried about this test. This pregnancy feels just like my first one. I started feeling movements at 16 weeks. I've gained 14 pounds. My belly is growing quite well. Heart tones have been great. I could go on and on about how completely normal things have been. I know some people refuse his test because of false positives and how it could upset them for nothing. But, I will do whatever they suggest in case I should deliver at a more specialized hospital or have NICU present. I've been having extreme shortness of breath since 10 weeks. But, I had that with Colby too. I have an echo and a cardiology appt on the 5th and my regular ultrasound on the 9th. I have to wait to hear from the clinic for the special ultrasound. This is all I need on top of the stress of a full time job and Rowdy working 7 on and 7 off and taking care of a 21 month old! All I can say is God won't give me more than I can handle. I just have to remember that and everything will be OK.

UPDATE- The ultrasound with the MFM (specialist) is on Feb 17. That time will feel like forever. Although I have a regular ultrasound on the 9th. That will seem like forever too. It will give me some relief if the regular one is all clear. From what I'm understanding, the test is based on what the levels should be on the gestational age. If that is off, the levels will also be off. I kept Colby at daycare today. I had so much planned to do. But, I just didn't feel up to anything. Everyone I tell has questions now. I almost don't want to tell anyone because it makes me think about it more. I know they are concerned. But, I don't have many answers.

UPDATE- So, the regular ultrasound on the 9th was fine. If I wouldn't have told them about the test, they wouldn't have suspected anything. I got a call on the 16th saying that the MFM Dr. was sick and they would call me to reschedule the appt. I talked to them on the 17th (the origional appt date) and they said not until the 17th of March! I was like what?? The Dr. only comes once a week. next Tues is a holiday. So, I was thinking the following week. Nope. I called the office where he usually is to see if I could be seen sooner if I make the drive over there. Nope, the earliest is the 13th. So, I called the local office back to see if she checked the other Dr's schedule. There was a cancellation with that one for the 10th. So, I took it. they said clinically I don't need it to be sooner. Well, what about mentally.

So, I'm sure some of you may not know that a triple screen is. Seems like everyone I tell has no clue.

The screens can be done any time between the 15th and 22nd weeks of pregnancy, but are most accurate during the 16th to 18th weeks.

Tests in the Triple Screen

The triple screen looks for three substances in the blood:
Alphafetoprotein (AFP)
Beta-Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG)
Estriol
The quadruple screen also looks at
Inhibin-A
AFP is produced by the developing baby's liver and digestive tract. It passes through the placenta and enters the mother's blood stream.
Estriol is produced by the placenta, from substances released by the developing baby's liver and adrenal glands.
HCG is also produced by the placenta.

Problems the Screen Looks For

The three primary problems that the triple screen looks for are Down's syndrome, neural tube defects, and trisomy 18.
Down's syndrome happens when the baby has an extra copy of chromosome number 21. Chromosomes are long strands of DNA that contain vital genetic information. They're sort of like blueprints for the human body. Normally, humans have one set of chromosomes from the mother and one from the father. But sometimes, a sperm or egg has extra copies. A baby can't develop normally with extra chromosomes. If there is an extra copy of chromosome number 21, the baby will have facial features characteristic of Down's syndrome, some degree of mental retardation, and possibly heart defects or other problems.
Neural tube defects happen when the baby's nervous system doesn't form properly. They include spina bifida and anencephaly. Spina bifida can cause a baby to have paralyzed legs or problems controlling his/her bladder or bowels. Anencephaly is a problem with brain development. Babies with anencephaly do not survive.
Trisomy 18 babies have an extra copy of chromosome 18, which causes them to have very severe mental retardation and other birth defects. Babies with trisomy 18 usually die before they are a year old.
A triple screen can also be abnormal if there are problems with abdominal development, kidney abnormalities, or certain other birth defects.

Accuracy of the Test

The triple screen (or quadruple screen) will not tell you for sure if your baby has a problem. It also can't guarantee that the baby will be normal. What it does is help reveal the risk of the baby having certain kinds of genetic problems or birth defects.
This risk depends on age and other factors, so interpretation of the results is different for every woman. If the test is abnormal, the woman will need further testing to find out if something is really wrong.
A normal triple or quadruple screen is reassuring, but it also can't tell for sure if the baby is normal. For example, a quadruple screen will catch Down's syndrome about 75-80% of the time. That means that it's possible to have a normal quadruple screen, but still have a baby with Down's syndrome. A triple screen will catch about 95% of cases of anencephaly, 85% of severe spina bifida cases, and 65% of Down's syndrome cases. These numbers change according to a woman's age and other risk factors, so it's important for each woman to discuss the test with her health care provider.

If Your Test Is Abnormal

The most common follow-up tests are amniocentesis and ultrasound.
Amniocentesis involves inserting a needle into the uterus and taking a sample of the amniotic fluid. It allows doctors to count the baby's chromosomes and see if he or she really has Down's syndrome or Trisomy 18.
Ultrasound uses sound waves to make a picture of the baby. It can reveal many kinds of birth defects