"Old" Mamas (aka over 35)

[ladygray]

So what is this blood draw they do now that tells you (among other things) the sex of the baby?!

Two friends and two sisters-in-law mentioned it over the past year and I've thought: huh, cool. Now I'm 35 and Surprise Pregnant and thinking: WAIT A DARN MINUTE.

do you know of what I speak? Are you going to find out or hold off? (I'm a firm Finder Outer. I like to know and name while she/he is still Belly Bound.)

[onyx]

I'm 20 and never heard of this! I didn't have this option with DS either!

[sonpetitlapin]

MaterniT21


Best answer for it. I am getting it done.

ETA with better link

[PonyGirl]

I'm 22, but my OB said if I wanted to do it I could at my next apt 4/7 (10 wks) they call it the harmony test and it tests for down syndrome and has a 99.9% accuracy to tell the sex of the baby. But one of my friends that is due in about a week said that if you're not a high risk and don't have a history of it in your family insurance won't pay for it.

ETA: this is in AL and we both have Blue Cross Blue Shields of AL

[jumpingpuddles]

It has different names, Harmony being one of them, but they are all the same. Essentially a quick draw to test for Trisomy and tell you the sex of the baby.

I believe most insurance covers it for AMA (over 35 at due date). Hell yes I'm getting it!

[ladygray]

I wonder if us oldies are considered high risk

[risscaboobs]

I've heard of it. I thought I read they generally use it to test for genetic disorders if you are known carriers. We will be finding out, but probably the ol' fashioned way... well with a u/s anyway.

[jumpingpuddles]

Mar 18, 2015 16:42:38 GMT -5 ladygray said:

I wonder if us oldies are considered high risk

My dr categorizes AMA as high risk.

Edit to add- not much changes in my treatment besides additional testing, though.

[medic7979]

Mar 18, 2015 16:42:38 GMT -5 ladygray said:

I wonder if us oldies are considered high risk

We sure are.  Fun times.  And it's MaterniT21.  You have it done at the 10 week mark and results take about 2 weeks. (I had it done with our first pregnancy and we found out why we had our loss)

[rztrumpet]

::peeking in at the young age of 32 :-p::

Mar 18, 2015 16:42:38 GMT -5 ladygray said:

I wonder if us oldies are considered high risk

I've read that over 35 the risk for downs increases, which is why insurance would cover the MaterniT21 or Harmony tests (which, if remember right are two different brands of the same test)

[ladygray]

Thanks ladies. I appreciate the knowledge!

[mtnmomma13]

Mar 18, 2015 18:57:46 GMT -5 rztrumpet said:

::peeking in at the young age of 32 :-p::

Mar 18, 2015 16:42:38 GMT -5 ladygray said:

I wonder if us oldies are considered high risk

I've read that over 35 the risk for downs increases, which is why insurance would cover the MaterniT21 or Harmony tests (which, if remember right are two different brands of the same test)

The tests have been validated as accurate in high risk women, and AMA mommas are considered high risk. (although truthfully, the cut off of 35 is totally arbitrary and ridiculous IMO!) If you have an abnormal serum screen or ultrasound, you would also be considered high risk and your insurance is likely to cover this. A big reason they don't cover it for everyone is simply cost. Depending on the carrier, some of these companies bill upwards of $8k for the test...which is absurd. So insurers aren't going to drop $8k per pregnant woman if she has a low risk of having a problem anyway. It's the same thought process for why women who are low risk only get 1, maybe 2, ultrasounds in pregnancy. There isn't a medical indication to do more. And...as we talk about the ever rising costs of healthcare, it's all these things we have to consider to be responsible consumers. *hopping off soapbox*

There are actually several different companies (all with various cutesy names for their tests) who all market directly to OBGYN offices. The tests have a higher detection rate and lower false positive rate, but I cannot stress this enough...are still screens. They are not meant to be diagnostic, although many believe them to be. 

[mtnmomma13]

Mar 18, 2015 16:44:51 GMT -5 risscaboobs said:

I've heard of it. I thought I read they generally use it to test for genetic disorders if you are known carriers. We will be finding out, but probably the ol' fashioned way... well with a u/s anyway.

There are a variety of ways to screen for genetic conditions, but non invasive prenatal screening (NIPS...which is what all these screens are - MaterniT21, Panorama, Verify) only looks for chromosome problems. Another widely marketed and used test is offered by a company called Counsyl. They screen for a crapload of stuff and only charge around $350 (last time I checked). Most insurances don't cover that, again, because the risk is so low of both you and your partner being a carrier for the same genetic condition. 

These conditions are inherited differently from the chromosomal conditions like Down syndrome. DS isn't usually inherited and is more of a sporadic thing that happens randomly. 

ETA: words

[ladygray]

mtnmomma13 lady! Thank you for taking time to elaborate for us. this board wins with all the smart mamas and the knowledge they share.