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Did anyone NOT pay for the Harmony test?

16 replies

WishIcouldrelax · 12/07/2020 10:20

I'm 20 weeks pregnant with DC2.

Our DC1 was found to have elevated nuchal translucency at 12 weeks, so we would through various tests including amnio and fetal echocardiography. All came back clear although after birth she was diagnosed with congenital defects. She is absolutely wonderful, healthy, bright and active and although she will need major surgeries in the future touch wood we hope it will not affect her too much.

We paid for the Harmony at 10 weeks with her but it was a waste really (we never expected the 12 week scan would show problems so were doing it as a just in case sort of thing) as when problems were flagged we later went to amnio anyway. Even though her Harmony was low risk it was suggested we rule out other chromosome problems via microarray.

Thankfully DC2 had a normal nuchal translucency at 12 weeks, and with bloods were given a very low risk of the three trisomies on combined test. I thought we may as well save the money on Harmony this time since I know now there are so many other things the baby could be born with that it doesn't show anyway and although we can afford it from savings, the money might be better spent on preparing for DD's treatment (although we are at an excellent children's hospital on the NHS, we do pay privately for some stuff if we need to in order to facilitate best care for her - ie we paid for a heart scan privately ahead of her NHS MRI as it was necessary but the waiting list for her heart scan on NHS was months and months longer than the waiting list for MRI - also paid for physio privately for same reason etc)

The anomaly scan recently was normal and no obvious problems seen although the sonographer did seem to spend a very long time on certain things, which I knew was completely normal as a medical exam but did seem particularly so. It might be because we were scanned by consultants with DD and they seemed to zip through it while still being eagle eyed if that makes sense!

All measurements in normal range although one near the 10th centile which I remembered from before it possibly maybe a soft marker for T21 (but a very soft one if anything) and sonographer did not raise any concerns or need for further investigation.

It seems though like everyone I know or read about on here has Harmony as matter of course (I know mumsnet has a large number of higher income families, and if we had as much disposable as before I'd probably have booked it from the outset, just being more cautious now) and now I'm wondering if we should have it just for reassurance. I'm not sure we'd interrupt things if it did suggest something, but would rather know. I know it's bit diagnostic but consider it highly accurate for T21.

I suppose I just have this fear now of a diagnosis of something at birth and can't accept that things may be entirely normal.

DH thinks there's nothing to worry about but says we can book it if I want to.

Should I save the money or book it quickly for reassurance, and if I do will I simply worry about something else instead? (Probably)

OP posts:
DelurkingAJ · 12/07/2020 10:22

Didn’t even occur to me. Didn’t manage to get any test at all for DS1 as my dates were 8 weeks off so he was already too old! DS2 was low risk.

WishIcouldrelax · 12/07/2020 10:22

Should say "not diagnostic"

OP posts:
youhave4substitutes · 12/07/2020 10:34

I've never heard of a harmony test never mind paid for one!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Elouera · 12/07/2020 10:42

You might find the ARC website helpful to you.

www.arc-uk.org/

Some trusts are automatically doing the NIPT if the combined test is higher risk. This was supposed to be coming in for ALL hospitals about 2yrs ago, but seems its been delayed.

T13 was discovered on our 1st pregnancy at 10 weeks. We were glad we could find out so early and decide what to do. I planned to pay again in the next 2 pregnancies, but unfortunately I MC prior to 10 weeks in both of them.

Its really a personal choice for your and DH. Also, depending on your age, if your combined test is high, they might offer amnio or CVS anyways.

CottonSock · 12/07/2020 10:43

I declined all tests. Personal decision though..

Davodia · 12/07/2020 10:44

It’s a bit late at 20 weeks? You won’t be able to do anything about the result.

WishIcouldrelax · 12/07/2020 11:01

I think we would be able to, but we wouldn't choose to do yes it's kind of needless in that respect. It's more either to have the reassurance, or if not be prepared.

I wonder if it's worth discussing measurements with a midwife? I'm not sure if community midwives would help though

OP posts:
legalseagull · 12/07/2020 11:02

@Davodia

It’s a bit late at 20 weeks? You won’t be able to do anything about the result.
Actually you can. There's no limit if the baby has a serious problem.
legalseagull · 12/07/2020 11:03

I didn't have it even when our result came back as 1 in 14 for Edwards. I had the CVS which unfortunately was positive. The Harmony takes too long when I was bouncing off the ceiling with anxiety

Camomila · 12/07/2020 11:06

I didn't even have the triple test blood test with either of mine.

sunlight81 · 12/07/2020 11:07

We chose the nhs combined screening on the assumption that if we were considered high risk we would opt for a harmony and then amniocentesis if the results were inconclusive.

20w scan picks up true physical anomalies which given u are at that stage now, best to have ur nhs scan and if but still nervous a private scan to confirm further down the line.

£400 for a harmony at this late stage is better spent on treatment for ur DD or better still a relaxing child free day to help ur mental health and free u from day to day stresses. Happy mum, happy baby x

sunlight81 · 12/07/2020 11:09

To add my odds are
1:3400 DS
1:5700 ES/PS

What were ur 12 week odds?

mylittlesandwich · 12/07/2020 11:13

We decided if the combined test results were high risk we would find the money from somewhere. My mum offered to help me pay. Luckily they were very low risk so we had no additional testing. We would have struggled to pay for it.

mylittlesandwich · 12/07/2020 11:14

Also I'm in Scotland so they don't screen for as many things up here at 13 weeks.

WishIcouldrelax · 12/07/2020 11:18

12 week for DC2 was 1 in 33,000 for T21 and less for the others

We were given 1 in 10 for our DC1 so quite different

I'm not sure if the short measurement in 20 week being a soft marker makes a difference though. I think I will call community midwives tomorrow and explain we've been affected by anomalies before and that I'm worried and see what they say. Another scan to check growth might be beneficial down the line, which I understand we may need to pay for as it doesn't fall under current criteria for investigation. We've had no private scans this time, just the 12 and 20 week NHS for same reason of frugalness but my anxiety about something being wrong again is driving me mad! DD is amazing but I worry another child might be worse affected

OP posts:
Wingingitsince2018 · 12/07/2020 11:23

I had one and didn't pay for it!

If I hadn't been recommended to get it based on scam and blood results, I wouldn't have even known it existed!

Considering DC2 soon and I would have it again if I was recommended to. I guess I would pay for peace of mind, but I actually have no clue how much it costs!

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