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Nuchal Translucency Scan?

7 replies

septembersong · 14/10/2010 10:30

Looking for some advice ... am 10 weeks pregnant, age 41. Yesterday I had a dating scan, thankfully all looking as it should at this stage, but I've to go back in 3 weeks for head measurements (baby too small just now). Given my advancing years, I enquired about an NT scan but it is not offered at the hospital I attend, so if I want it I have to go private. My question is ... given that I will be scanned at 13 weeks (plus 2 days), is it worth going private for an NT scan? Would they not be likely to pick up a problem at the regular scan? Also, I am to be scanned again at 20 weeks (fetal anomaly) and then growth scans at 28 and 34 weeks. I am also having the AFP blood test at 16 weeks.

Any thoughts/advice most welcome!

OP posts:

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older1sttimer · 14/10/2010 11:12

I am a older first timer. I had a nuchal scan at 11 weeks, but I think it can be done 11-13 weeks. I have to say it was very reassuring as they gave me a low risk result. I have just attended my 16 weeks midwife appointment and they haven't taken any more blood for Down's because of my nuchal resutls.

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japhrimel · 14/10/2010 11:16

The Nuchal scan can be done up to 13+6.

If they don't offer the NT then the NHS sonographers probably won't be trained in doing NT measurements. So no, you won't get the same info from having a normal scan - plus the most accurate test is when they combine the NT measurement with blood test results and your age to give your risk factor.

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lilly13 · 14/10/2010 14:29

It is definitely ok to do it at 13+2 weeks. I had an 8 week scan and because my fetus was measuring slightly smaller than should have been, my obstetritian suggested that I see him at 13 weeks. I am doing this privately. Imho, it is important to see a highly qualified professional. NHS seems to have old equipment (judging by the letter I got requesting that I come for my NCT on a full bladder) and I do not trust them, and hence, I am going privately. Definitely, money worth spent imho...

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Deliaskis · 14/10/2010 14:43

septembersong, my hospital/trust doesn't offer NT either, and I had it done privately. I assume that it's an issue with staff training and also equipment suitability, but I wouldn't have got any NT info from any of my regular scans.

I noticed on my private NT scan that all the way through, the resolution/quality of the image was much higher/clearer than at the NHS hospital, so they either have better euqipment, or it's on a higher setting, or it's being used differently. Either way, the images were in a completely differnet league, and given that the NT measures a very small thing (a couple of mm), then I suspect that the quality of the equipment will be a factor.

Plus as japhrimel says the scan needs to be combined with your blood test results and age (and bloods need to be taken within a certain timeframe of having the scan), and your NHS hospital won't do this.

I also found it reassuring having the NT, and actually nice to see the bean again!

D

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SarahJinx · 14/10/2010 20:52

So I have a question, I'm having my NT scan next Tues - I'll be 12+2 - the appointment was sent ot me following booking appointment. If you have that, does it replace the usual 12 week scan? Is that a silly question, I'm new to this pregnancy thing...x

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japhrimel · 14/10/2010 20:54

It's usually a combined scan - they do the measurements for dating as well as the NT measurements.