Aged 40 combined screening next week, experiences? X

[browny1981]

Hi all , I am 40 and 11 weeks pg, due to have the 12 week nuchal scan and combined screening next week. I have 5 dc the youngest has autism and dev delay. I wondered if there are any 40ish ladies out there that had the combined screening and had good results. Becoming increasingly anxious about it despite my 5 previous outings lol. Mainly due to the age factor and the word risk that crops up at every appointment :/ anyone got low risk at 40 or over ? Xx Thanks in advance

[MaryShelley1818]

I am 42 and have a 3yr old and a 3wk old baby.
Results came back low risk for everything - less than 1 in over 6000 (can't remember exact figure).

[beelzeboob]

I know many many women who had their kids at 39+ with no problems at screening or in the pregnancy, apart from gestational diabetes
I think there’s a 1/100 risk of chromosomal abnormality at screening at the age of 40

[browny1981]

Aww that's great and congratulations !! Makes me feel less anxious hearing outcomes like this ! X

[browny1981]

Beelzeboob, is that what they refer to as the background risk ? Im balancing probability against 1 percent chance of MC if I am offered invasive testing x

[beelzeboob]

That’s right
When you have your screening they’ll put the blood test results, the ultrasound measurements and your age together and they’ll get your personal risk

[Megan2018]

I went for NIPT instead, much more accurate and far less worry! I was 41, DH was 46. Results were 1/10,000

[Honey2]

I thought I read that some NHS trusts offer an NIPT for ladies over 40? (Paid for but at a subsidised price, so less than private) or have I imagined that?

I’m 40 and pregnant with my 4th (only early days)

[Moominmiss]

I’m 38 and just over 9 weeks pregnant with my fourth but I’m opting to have the SAFE nipt test in a few weeks as well as the nhs combined tests.

[LouLikesLollies]

I’m 39 and was told at my 12 week scan that I would most likely fall into the moderate risk category for the combined screening purely because of my age. I went on to have nipt which came back very low risk.

[MaryShelley1818]

NIPT is more accurate BUT is also a screening test and can be wrong.
I had the NIPT and came back with insufficient DNA twice, it caused me over 5wks of constant stress and worry. I was so anxious I was sick and couldn't sleep. I eventually cancelled and got a partial refund.
The Combined Screening PLUS the 20wk scan is similarly accurate I believe.

[SergeiL]

I was low risk at both age 38 and 40. Good luck.

[browny1981]

Thankyou all for your replies, I will definitely enquire about the NIPT test in my area. I am booked in next Thursday which seems a lifetime away :/ I really don't fancy an amnio, I suppose it depends on the results of the combined screening. I think I would want to know if there were chromosomal issues and the severity of that partly due to my age and the number of dc I have and partly as my soon will undoubtedly need care for the rest of his life to some extent. I was fine until I was handed the leaflets on screening and was sent for a high risk appointment. The justification for that was my age and the fact I had a loop diathermy for grade 3 cells about ten years ago so I will be having 4 weekly scans and I am on the dreaded tinzaparin injections plus aspirin. I found out at an early stage so have been on the higher does of folic acid for a while. It's just ever so scary isn't it ? I wasn't like this before! That I do attribute to age! X

[beelzeboob]

Statistics are on your side still OP. Try not to worry. Keep us posted x

[browny1981]

Definitely will do this has really helped xxx the sickness has subsided a little but the exhaustion has not !

[browny1981]

Hi everyone !
So the appointment was today and I had the nuchal scan. The measurement was 1.7 therefore I declined further screening as I felt the scan was very thorough and after speaking to the midwife I came to the conclusion that I would probably get a fairly high risk due to BMI age etc statistically but the baby looked and measured fine and was bang on for the dates, on balance I felt the anxiety of having the numbers would be more harmful and I felt reassured by the scan so I am 12 weeks one day and I attach a picture and thanks for all the support that got me through the wait xxxx

[Moominmiss]

Congrats @browny1981! What a beautiful scan pic, and amazing that everything looked great and you now feel reassured.

I have my scan and nipt test next week and am incredibly nervous. Hoping for a great outcome like you 🤞🏻

[browny1981]

Moominmiss I really hope yours goes well too, I'll never be fully convinced everything's ok till he or she's here but i feel tons better ! Let us know how you get on, like everyone said to me the odds are on our side by default although it doesn't feel like it when faced head on with what if. Really really good luck and hoping you have a reassuring outcome x

[Inkpaperstars]

I have twice come back low risk on combined screening at 40 or above. Both times I had the harmony first though just so I didn’t panic at whatever the combined showed, as obviously your age can skew it a bit.

The Fetal Medicine Centre where I had my harmony test also do a combined test as part of the package, and it is a more accurate one than the nhs version as it takes more factors into account.