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I had one done, not that I would have terminated my pregnancy if something did come back wrong, but just so I'd know and could find out more about it. I could have prepared myself better and educated myself (with books and doc visits) about whatever would have came back that way I be the best mommy possible to my baby. My test came back fine, but I still have books and questions I ask just so I feel prepared for my first baby. It's totally up to you though, do whatever makes you comfortable. Congrats on your little one :)

We did prenatal screening - non-invasive ones including blood test and ultrasound for nuchal translucency. It would not hurt the baby . . . and my husband and I are planners. We would not terminate unless there was a serious risk to my life, but if there was a high chance that our children (I had a twin pregnancy) would need extra care, then we wanted to know in advance so that we could work on being prepared, add to our support network, do research etc . . .

We found the risk level they came back at to be comfortable and did not pursue anything like amnio which could have increased the risk for miscarriage.

On the 20 week anatomy ultrasound (not the same as prenatal screening), they discovered that my daughter had a heart defect that would require surgery. Yes - it was stressful, but because we knew about it . . . we were able to monitor it carefully, plan the delivery and have the pediatric cardiac team at Children's Hospital ready and waiting for her. We knew what would happen and we had the opportunity to prepare and tour the NICU . . . it definitely made it a bit easier . . . I know we would have gotten through it but I would have been much more stressed if we had her and then discovered the issue when she started showing symptoms. I am glad we took advantage of the technology available.

You definitely need to make your own choice . . . but this was our reason for doing it.

I would not choose abortion for a +autism prescreening test. I believe autistic children have every right to be born as much as anybody else. I had 2 screenings come up positive for down's including soft markers on u/s. We did do the amnio given the low chance of side effects 1:16,000 and for preparation purposes only, abortion would not have been an option I also believe that it is a parents choice. My situation is that I have two sons both high functioning. They are birth order 1 and 2 and it did not stop us from a 3rd, a 4th what stopped us was infertility. I know parents of a low functioning autistic child would have a much different experience. My sons are young 8 and 3. They are very easy to deal with for me. Easier than my non autistic third child. I am dx autistic too dx in 1975. We are still married but as the kids are young that is hardly a measure of future success. Also my husband grew up having a low functioning autistic sister. His parents are still married 40 years. I know the stats are very high for divorce. My parents, my dad is asperger's and they were married for 20 years. My brother also received a PDD.NOS dx at 10. My sons talk, we don't get alone time or have respite care. My kids have smeared feces and screamed for hours on end. I do believe that they will live independently as I, my brother, and my father have. Having an autistic spectrum disorder hardly means we're mentally handicapped, defective, or disabled, in fact mine, my brother and my father have gifted IQ's and all graduated from Ivy League schools and are all mensa members. And all make good money, really good. I agree with Desmeran Kitkat-in my small autistic circle I indeed do have a contact who was absolutely devastated that one of his children is not on the spectrum. He said I feel like I am in mourning, we come from a long line of aspies, this child is mediocre and I have no idea how to help him with preschool homework, I just can't believe it, absolutely devastating. In my small circle of autistic families, they are all still married but the kids are young. 10 is the oldest, then there are 6 others. Most have kids around 6-7.

How old are you?

I know that for me, my doctor actually advised me that it wasn't necessary for me to have it done as I am 21 years old and perfectly healthy, as is the father of the baby. He said that my chances of something being wrong were so slim that it really wasn't not needed and that I could do it if I was really worried, but unless I was going to terminate the pregnancy, he saw no real need for it.

So I didn't get it.. And at my 20 week ultrasound we found out tha teverything is perfect with our son! He couldn't be any healthier!

You said it your self, if it's not going to change whether or not you keep the baby then there is no need, if you do want to take it,then take it, it's nice to be prepared, but it may cause some un needed worry, because they can get a false positive for some defects. I did have it done, I didn't want to end the pregnancy if something was wrong but my other half didn't feel the same, I wouldn't have ended it anyways, but we wanted to try to be as prepared as possible.Congratulations on your new addition.

I did the test so i could be ready for a more needy child if my baby had some thing wrong with her. She was perfect. I am going to have it done with this pregnancy too.

You should get it done so you can be prepared and have all the things you need for a more needy baby.

Thank you for not terminating it if there is something wrong with it. No baby deserves to be killed just because there not perfect

We made the same decision that you did. We choose not to have the testing done because it is not 100% accurate and I did not want to spend 9 months wondering what was going to be wrong with my children. We have 2 boys and did not get testing with either of them.

just because you are not going to terminate it doesn't mean you shouldnt do it. say something is wrong(which is unlikely) wouldnt you like to be able to research it and get as much information as you can? I say do it anyways! good luck!

you can get it just to have peace of mind. if there is an issue, then you can prepare before the baby comes. if not, then you have reassurance. also, you'll probably get to see your baby if they also do an ultrasound for this screening.