Nuchal scan query

[AliSxo]

Hi, my 12 week scan is tomorrow, then blood test will be done tomorrow too and I'll receive a letter in about a week's time, however at the scan apparently they'll tell me the nuchal measurement and if there are any concerns. Has anyone had the scan go well and no concerns on the nuchal measurement but still had the letter with high risk for chromosome abnormalities due to bloods? X

[AliSxo]

Anyone? X

[October2020]

It does happen, but it is rare.

We told everyone after our 12 week scan and then I panicked and did loads of googling and it can happen that the nuchal measurement is fine but your bloods aren't. My midwife reassured me that although it does happen it is extremely rare.

They will ring you within a few days if there is an issue so you don't have to wait for the letter. No news is good news.

[sel2223]

That all sounds totally normal.
The screening test is a combined test including NT measurement, blood tests, mothers age etc. That then gives you a combined score and you will be told high or low risk.
They will tell you the NT when they do it but that alone doesn't tell you much. Normally, they'll send a letter if low risk but they will ring within a few days if it all comes back as high risk.

[Firsttimemummybear]

Call your midwife and ask for advice.
When does everyone think partners will be allowed in scans?

[sel2223]

@Firsttimemummybear

Nobody knows but my guess is that it'll be a few months yet.

[Sarahlouise86]

Hi @AliSxo

I had no issues on the day of the 12 week scan (NT was normal at 1.3) but then received a call a few days later to say I was classed as high risk for Down syndrome (odds of 1:63) as I had low Papp a and high hcg and they said my age was probably a factor as well (I'm 33). I subsequently had the NIPT and came back negative Down syndrome (although it is still only a screening test not diagnostic) but that's enough for me.

So you're NT can definitely be normal at the scan and still receive a high risk result for abnormalities based on your blood and other factors. However I would just say these blood indicators are not diagnostic and the screening test is just that a screen - it will pick up a large number of false positives.

That being said I'm sure everything will be fine so don't stress about it 😊 I must admit though I wish I'd waited a week after my scan before telling people as then having to explain I was going through further testing when people couldn't understand why I was upset and not really wanting to talk about my pregnancy.

Hope that helps x

[AliSxo]

Thanks @Sarahlouise86 really useful to hear all of this, our families know and we'll tell friends after the scan tomorrow, I don't think I'll tell work until I hear back from the tests they'll do tomorrow and combining my age etc. I'm 28 xx

[Missdrifter]

Hi @AliSxo the same thing happened to me as @Sarahlouise86. Everything looked great on scan and then I had the call 3 days later to say I was high risk for Down syndrome due to very low Pappa and age 34! I had the NIPT which came back low risk and every scan since (I am 33 weeks and have extra growth scans due to low pappa) have been fine.

Good luck for tomorrow x

[Sarahlouise86]

That sounds sensible! It was colleagues who actually asked me the questions and I didn’t want to go into it with them why I was having a crappy couple of weeks whereas my family, friends etc supported me while I waited for the next set of test results.

Enjoy tomorrow! It’s lovely meeting your little one on screen and was the first time it felt real for me 😊 x

[HarrietM87]

A friend had a good scan with normal NT and then got a 1 in 20 downs risk based solely on the bloods when she was 28. She had freakishly high hcg and slightly below average PappA. She had the harmony test for free through the NHS and came out low risk, baby born a few years ago totally perfect.

Good luck OP!

[WhatWouldPennyDo]

I had my bloods done a week before my scan and it was those results which made my risk level rocket. Normal NT measurement but coupled with bloods my risk was 1:26. It can happen, but soft markers like Nuchal measurement are still a really good indicator. Hope everything is ok for you

[AliSxo]

Thanks everyone! It's good to hear other people's stories, well tell friends tomorrow but won't tell work until I receive the results 👍🏼

[Liveforholidays]

Yep, I had a normal nuchal, everything looked perfect on the screen (textbook baby is how the sonographer described him) but then I received a high chance Downs score of 1 in 13 due to bloods and maternal age (and who knows what other factors are thrown into the mix too). I have low papp a of 0.37 and slightly raised hcg. I opted for NIPT which came back low risk. Now 40 weeks (eek!) and all scans etc. have been clear.

[Chwil20]

When I got my screening results letter in the post it said my weight on it. I didn’t think they factored weight in ti the combined screening? They don’t do they?