I had my first (dating) scan on Monday at 11+5 and the midwife picked up a problem with the amount of fluid behind the Nuchal Fold, it measured at 4.2mm. I've got another scan Thursday in the fetal medicine unit at St Michael's Bristol (I live in Cardiff but Cardiff couldn't arrange the extra scan till next week), and depending on the results of that will then have CVS done. Everyone I spoke to at the hospital was helpful and kind but I feel somwhere between overloaded with information and totally lost. They've told me it could be a chromosomal problem, or a heart defect or even a virus. They said as well that it might be nothing, but it is more likely to be a problem than not.
I had some blood tests done as well, but to be honest I can't remember what they were even for!
I saw my little baby wriggling around like mad and waving at us and now I have an envelope of scan pictures that I can't bring myself to look at. Yes, it could be fine, but it could also be something awful that would mean I might not be able to carry on with my pregnancy.
I'm in a bit of a sad way and I know there's a lot of ladies here who have gone through a similar thing so I suppose I'm just after a bit of advice/general hand holding really. :(
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Antenatal tests
Nuchal fold problem detected on my dating scan
junebug8 · 13/10/2010 10:25
Just saw you posted on that other thread - now feel guilty that I've been unnecessarily gloomy in my first post.
Of course the nuchal fold must be looked at in conjunction with your bloods, to give a more accurate picture. By itself it is not particularly accurate as a predictor of problems.
As you have seen, many women with high measurements have been fine.
And even if you do decide to go for CVS, it really isn't too dreadful, and can give you massive reassurance for the rest of your pregnancy.
Good luck for tomorrow. 
Tbh, I haven't had CVS (have had three amnios tho), and rather cavalierly am basing my opinion on that of other womens' experience on these threads. I actually felt that the poster on the other thread might have scared you unnecessarily by her comment!
As far as I'm aware, it is a quick procedure, depending I think on position of the placenta, and not reckoned to be too painful afterwards.
Like amnio, I think the important thing is to take it easy afterwards.
I now wish I'd gone for CVS rather than amnio with my last pregnancy, which sadly ended in a termination after Trisomy 21 was diagnosed (I'd had no prior screening).
It is hugely helpful to have information early on in pregnancy, whatever you decide to do with that knowledge. You're probably in the most difficult position of all 
, having been alerted to a potential problem, but without any definite news either way, and you have all my sympathies. Uncertainty is hell.
I hope you get some reassurance tomorrow, and if you decide to go ahead with the CVS, take some comfort from the fact that you will have some answers to the treadmill of questions which I'm sure are tormenting you at the moment.
Do you have any other children, or is this your first pregnancy? x
Hi Junebug
I have very recently been just where you are at the moment and I really, really sympathise, it's horrible.
Our baby had a NT of 5mm at 11+6 and we were prepared for the very worst. They take your bloods to give you a combined risk of abnormalities- ours would have been 1:6 for Down's just with the NF measurement, but my bloods bought it down to 1:80. Still a very frightening figure, especially when they refer to this as 'high risk'.
We went back for a repeat scan a week later to rule out some other problems with the babies abdomen and were planning to have CVS then. HOwever, when we worked out that our risk of DS was 1.3% and the risk of miscarriage from the CVS was around 1% we decided to wait and have an amnio at 16 weeks. The wait was hell, but the amnio went fine and we have now had the all clear. I am now 19+6 and all seems to be progressing normally.
For us, we decided that the right thing to do was to go for further, definitive testing if the risk of problems was more than 1:100. Of course, no one can tell you what the right thing to do is for you, but we considered whether we would continue with the pregnancy if there was a problem with the baby, and then looked at the numbers to make our decision. I am glad that we did it now, as my mind is at rest and I have been able to start enjoying my pregnancy, which felt very much 'on hold' after finding out this bad news.
Olivia has already given you such good advice and comforting words, but I second her. Try not to spend all your time focussing on it. DVD sets are good, as is 4OD and BBC iPlayer. I also found that allowing myself to get engrossed in work helped, and at least gave me respite from the constant worry.
Thinking of you, stranger as I am.
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