HTT - Screening Edition

Bundled up at one week

Yes, yes, yes, I'm pregnant. Thanks for all your well wishes, although I must say I feel a little weird when people congratulate me this time. First time around it made sense because I was embarking on a new, miraculous path. This time, "So you're crazy?" seems like a more appropriate response. But, of course, we're thrilled, happy, excited, etc. We're also overwhelmed, nervous and crazy because this time we know what we're in for, and we'll already have a 20-month-old in addition. So any advice would be helpful. Luckily, you have seven more months to think of some.

But part of my coming out of the maternity closet had to do with a Hot Topic on which I need your wise thoughts. It's pregnancy screening tests. To have them or not to have them?

When I was pregnant with Miss Dub, I had a series of events that didn't even make screening an option. Like, we moved to Colorado and had to figure out insurance at the exact time of most screening tests and therefore missed the window of opportunity. Not to mention, I had a doctor in Chicago who told me to forgo them since I was healthy, under 35 and having a perfectly normal pregnancy. (I actually hated this doctor - he once told me labor wasn't painful, just "stimulating" - but he was good at reassuring me that nearly all pregnancies proceed healthfully and normally when I would occasionally worry.)

But this time, my new doc made such a big deal about deciding whether or not to be screened that I started to think:"Is it a sign?" "Should I get the tests?" "Does she know something she's not telling me?" Because while no amount of bad news would ever affect my decision about bearing or rearing a baby, it could be nice to have a little warning, right?

HOWEVER - note the use of caps - I've had THREE friends recently who were healthy, under 35 and having perfectly normal pregnancies who opted to be screened and were told something appeared to be wrong with their child. All of them had to agonize and worry for weeks until further test results proved, in each case, that the babies were fine. But, just in case, the doctors continued to treat their pregnancies as high-risk and monitored them constantly, always reminding them that something could still be wrong with their child upon delivery.

And I don't know if my nerves could handle that. So I'm leaning towards saying no. I should also mention that I'm lazy. And anything that requires extra time, effort or appoint-making generally discourages me.

But what do you think?

Have any of you been screened? How did you make your decision? What were the results? How did you deal with the news?

Start advising!