Genetic Testing?

[strawberrykiki]

Has anyone had or plan to have genetic testing done? I have the test scheduled for 8/1 but I haven’t determined if my insurance covers it yet. Might change our decision if it doesn’t. What do you guys think? Is it important to do? Why or why not did you decide to do it? Thanks ladies! So happy I have this board to ask questions to!

[tngrl3]

I've not done genetic testing in the past and don't plan to do any early testing this time. I've also never done the NT scan. For me personally, the results wouldn't change anything as I wouldn't terminate even if they came back a norm. If something were to show up at the anatomy scan, I would consider doing genetic testing then.
I feel this is a personal decision. If you have risk factors, family history, or it makes you feel more comfortable then I say have it done. But it certainly isn't required.

[tngrl3]

I've not done genetic testing in the past and don't plan to do any early testing this time. I've also never done the NT scan. For me personally, the results wouldn't change anything as I wouldn't terminate even if they came back abnormal. If something were to show up at the anatomy scan, I would consider doing genetic testing then.
I feel this is a personal decision. If you have risk factors, family history, or it makes you feel more comfortable then I say have it done. But it certainly isn't required.

[hrh]

I will have the testing done but it should also be covered by insurance because I am advanced maternal age this time. Insurance would influence my decision, depending on how much the OOP cost is if it wasn't covered. I am the opposite in that I do like to know as much as I can. I am honestly not sure how much more you learn from this vs the NT and other screenings they can do (covered by insurance) later in the pregnancy, so I would look into that if it wasn't covered by insurance. I agree things like family health history etc. would also influence that decision. A personal choice ultimately, no right or wrong answer here!

[nikkipal]

I had the NT test with my dtr but not genetic testing. I asked what most people do and I did that. This time, I am AMA, so I will get it. I like to have all the info.

[sammysam]

Like others have said it's a personal decision. Personally I get all the testing done. It's not necessarily about whether it would change our decision but for me it's about being informed. If there are issues we are going to be facing I want to know early so that I can be as well informed and prepared as possible.

Do what you feel is right for your family. There is no right or wrong here:)

[k]

I’ve never done genetic testing but I did NTs with the last two. When I changed OBs he basically talked me out of doing it, so I don’t think I am this time. It’s kind of weird to me that I’m not doing it. I’m with sammysam that I just like to be informed, usually. However there are false positives sometimes (genetic testing might be more accurate idk). My NP basically was like if insurance pays for it I would do it.

[sunshiney]

Nope, not planning to test. For me, nothing to be gained.

[sammysam]

+1 to what k said. False positives and negatives are always a possibility so the test results might not give you the whole picture anyways.

[Foxy]

We did the NIPT testing because we would have terminated if any markers showed up. Our Dr told us if that was something we were even considering at all then we should absolutely test and the earlier the better. I'm not saying we wouldn't have changed our minds but we wanted to be informed no matter what. It's definitely a personal decision. I think no matter your reasoning for doing genetic testing being informed is always a good thing. It was only $40 OOP for us that goes towards our deductible anyway so it was a no brainer to get testing done.

[notagoddess]

I got it done last time because I knew if everything came back low risk, I’d feel less anxious about the pregnancy. Fortunately that’s what happened. It wasn’t covered by insurance but it was only $120 OOP.

I’m still undecided about this time around. We'll probably end up doing it.

[redhead610]

I've always done the NT scan/bloodwork. This time I was offered the Panorama test so we decided to do it. I don't mind the non-invasive tests. I'd rather know the risks/info so we could do further testing and be prepared of needed. I have no idea if our insurance covered it yet. They are supposed to cover all bloodwork so hopefully.

[sammysam]

@amc That's crazy! How were you able to wait that long???!!! I would have gone insane!

[CharlieB]

We'll do it this time around because I like to have all the information that I possibly can, whether it influences our decision to continue with the pregnancy or prepares us for possible complications. I'll be 35 when LO is born, so insurance coverage should be more generous, but the OOP costs aren't awful with my policy either way.

[Deleted]

My doctor recommends that all pregnant women get the Cystic Fibrosis and Spinal Muscular Atrophy carrier screening tests done which was not even mentioned to me when I was pregnant with my son. The ACOG now recommends it so insurance typically covers both of the tests. Anyways, I had that done and then I'll get the quad screen done in the second trimester but nothing else.

[sunshiney]

So we had a conversation with the new OB yesterday about genetic testing, and I feel like she gave us wrong information?

We told her we would only terminate for conditions incompatible with life or incompatible with life beyond months or a few years, and asked what testing would maybe be appropriate for us. She said no test tests for anything like that that we have any possibility of having (I figured she was referring to the fact that we're not Ashkenazi Jewish) so there's no point to having testing. But she's sending us for nuchal translucency test as another check on baby and to inform us just so we'd know if there was a risk of downs. (We probably wouldn't get an amnio to confirm because of the 1% risk of miscarriage).

Then I looked up nuchal translucency test and learned about trisomy 13 and 18, both of which most often cause death within the first year, and certainly by the teens, with terrible health problems.

I'm confused and wondering if I'm missing something. Don't want to feel like our new OB doesn't listen or communicate or tell the full truth... But not sure why she didn't seem to know that NT can identify risk for many disabilities, not just downs?

[notagoddess]

sunshiney, it sounds like your OB was talking about carrier genetic testing for you and H (b/c of the Jewish comment?) That's weird that she didn't bring up the option of NIPT which tests for risk of the most common chromosomal issues with the fetus. It seems like different OBs have different preferences for NIPT vs NT scan, not to mention, your insurance may not cover both options since you're under 35. But I feel like she should have given you the choice at least?

[sunshiney]

notagoddess she did mention the nipt but said insurance probably wouldn't cover it (I'm 33), but said it doesn't test for anything that is incompatible with life (which from what I'm reading just isn't true). So weird. I guess we'll get the NT and if it's abnormal than get the nipt.

[notagoddess]

sunshiney, yeah that's not true. It is weird.

[thelittleredm]

We did all the genetic testing with DS1 because FTM worries and everything came back clear. Plus, it helped that our insurance covered the cost of everything so we had no OOP to worry about. With DS2, we did the NT scan only. This time around, we may do the scan again but we're still up in the air about it.

[hrh]

FWIW I have read that if insurance won't cover it, the company itself may cut a good deal and only charge a couple hundred - no clue if there is truth to that but maybe worth a call!

[Foxy]

hrh that's what I was told by my Drs office is that the company they use bills the insurance company first and if it's not covered bills at a reduced rate. I have no idea if that's across the board, but it's worth a few phone calls.