Down's Syndrome concerns? Amniocentesis? And now a cold?

[SplitX]

So, my appointment yesterday at the OB went well, or so I thought. They did an ultrasound & the nurse said everything was fine (it wasn't my actual OB who did it). I've had a cold for a little while, but it was getting better. Today, I woke up feeling worse, and my mom dropped a bombshell on me...
The OB looked over my sonograms and said there's extra fluid or something at the back of the baby's neck. I don't know WHAT really is the concern, but I know there's concern over Down's Syndrome, and my mom made an appointment for me to go get an amniocentesis. I'm scared to death for my baby, and for myself... Me and needles don't mix...

So now I just feel so... hollow. I don't know what to think or how to feel. I'm just... scared, but I don't know how to really handle this... Advice? Hugs? T-T;

[indigowulf]

Id say dont stress out, read up on it, and be prepared. A down syndrome baby is not the end of the world, there are many people who are productive, happy people who have down syndrome or are close to someone who does.

Also keeping in mind that the odds of a woman under the age of 30 passing on the chromosome responsable for it are less than 1 in 1000.

It also sounds, based on things you've said before, that your parents enjoy over-reacting. Don't let thier freak out make you stress too. If this test comes back clear, let that be a guide for you in the future, if they freak out and panic, just remember that they've been wrong before.

http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/downsyndrome.cfm

[WillowDragon]

Just want to say that I fully and totally agree with what Indigo has said.

[PonyMama]

I had the same issues I was dealign with when I was pregnant with my second.  My blood test came back showing high for downs syndrome.  I had to go off to Vancouver womens hospital to get better tested.  My hubby and I chose since this was a planned pregnancy and we already loved her very much and had her named, that we would not do the Amnio, we did our research.  We didn't think woudl tell us anythign that would change our minds on keeping the baby so we said no to the invasive amnio.

Did the research and the descision make the whole thing easier?  NO.  It is also nto the choice of your parents what is best for you baby, and maybe it needs to be said, but you need to decide, will the amnio help you any?  Usually women get this and there is nothing wrong with baby (of course your Ultrasound already came back abnormal)  ask for another before the amnio, let that help you make your choice on Amnio.  Ask many questions.  Ask things like do the arms look long enough, what about the legs?  How big is the head?  The fluid in the neck what else could that be?  These are things that we have to deal with, but as you are goign to be mom (wether you keep baby or not) you need to make some choices.  You can also ask if there are any other tests that are less invasive that they could do first.  (talk to the gentic counsellor, maybe without your mom there)

Try and stay calm.  You obviously care for the baby so realize that small worries are fine but stress can be harmful, so decide, will the tests change your mind any?