The Power of 46

For most people, the number 46 is just a random, insignificant number. But not when you're pregnant and your baby's health and future depend on these 2 digits. 46 is the number of chromosomes a normal human being should have...anything less or more of the magic number means that there may be genetic abnormalities with your baby.

The risk of having a baby with genetic disorders increases with age. I first heard about these risks when my sister had her 2nd baby a couple of years ago and her doctor told her that she has an increased risk of having a baby with Down's syndrome - she was only 33. The news tormented her for weeks.

I absolutely feared that I would have to go through this process too and wished and wished that I wouldn't have to come to that road at all. When I took my 1st trimester screening test, I was given a 1 out of 630 chance of having a baby with Down's Syndrome. My blood test looked good and the NT scan measured 3.1mm. I felt good about my probability even though I've heard that some people had an 1 out 10,000 chance. By week 15, I took my 2nd trimester blood test. This blood test completes the screening. I felt confident and worry-free that everything would be fine.

I got my results from the genetic counselor of Mon, Jan 4. She told me my risk has now increased to an 1 out of 220 chance. I was devastated. How can this be? How can my risk increased by so much?! I decided to go through with an amino. I was able to get an appointment on Wed, the same week. I talked to my husband, cried, and got really scared. I hopped on the web the minute I got home that night to research. I looked for happy stories from message boards from mothers with worse risks than mine but still ended up with a normal baby.

I was not nervous on the day of the amnio procedure. A little pinch in the belly area, a little bit of discomfort, and nothing more. It lasted less than 1 minute. I went home to rest and was fine to go back to work the next day. But there was the 2 week wait, which was dreadful. It was hard to see the baby on the ultrasound, see the movements, and then have negative thoughts. What if? What if the baby is abnormal? It was such a sad thought. I was 17-18 weeks at that time, and loved everything about the baby. I wouldn't want to give up. The unknown was the worst thing in the world - I would never wish this on anyone, even my worst enemy.

I missed a phone call from Kaiser the Friday before MLK day. I picked up the message 50 minutes after the call was left and I was so angry at myself for having missed that call!! Though the message didn't leave much details, she did say that the results looked good. I felt a sense of relief. I replayed that message 4-5 times just to hear it again. I was ecstatic. I called the genetic counselor 1st thing on Monday. And the news was indeed good. Everything was normal, and I found out (upon my request) that I am going to have a GIRL! That day was a great day! I was on Cloud 9...or actually, I was on Cloud 46! Thank goodness!!