Early Risk Assesment
By Ejobsuccess
@Ejobsuccess (895)
United States
July 6, 2007 1:50pm CST
An Early Risk Assesment also referred as a ERA is about a 2.5 hour appointment. Fisrt you meet with a Genetic Conselor and then you will have an ultrasound. At the ultrasound they will be measuring the nuchal translucency (the fluid in the back of the neck of the fetus). After the ultrasound you will have to do some bloodwork. Based on a combination of the mothers age, the size of the nuchal translucency and the levels of the two proteins (free beta HCG and PAPP-A) in the maternal blood, the probability for Down Syndrome is calculated. Would you opt to have this kind of test if it was covered by insurance. What if insurance didn't cover it and they offered it for $325 would you still do it?
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1 response
@Nykkee (2522)
• Canada
6 Jul 07
I don't think that this is a good idea at all. What are you going to do if you find out that your baby has a high probability of Downs Syndrom? Are you going to abort? That would be a horrible mistake. I had a roommate when I was younger, and both she and he one younger brother have the third cromoson that is the indicator and cause of downs syndrom. Both of them are completely normal. My friend is smart, she is articulate, she has a great job now, she looks totally normal, actually she is very beautiful, and she has the downs syndrom cromoson (as does her brother who is also totally normal). Now what is thier mother had taken that test and then aborted them? Over a minor genetic detail that didn't end up affecting them at all.
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@Ejobsuccess (895)
• United States
6 Jul 07
Well every decision is up to the patient! There are alot of folks out there that are not equipped to handle this kind of disorder. Raising children with this kind of diease is really hard. It can break up familys and really depress the mom as well as others who deal with it on a daily basis. Its always easy to judge but when putting yourself in their shoes, you find it gets very tiring and most of the time you wanna give up. Being the fact that once you have the baby, well your pretty much gotta hang in there. But it is a tough road not all mothers are ready to travel.
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@Nykkee (2522)
• Canada
6 Jul 07
I am not judgeing anyone but you ae missing my point. My friend does not have any symptoms of downs syndrom. None. She did not develop the condition. My point is that the presense of the cromosom does not garuntee the condition. If it is possible that you could be aborting a perfectly healthy fetus. The test is highly imperfect. It does not allow you to make an informed-enough decision in my opinion.
1 person likes this