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Original poster

Share your NIPT experience with me?

36 replies

Spareincoming · 18/03/2023 16:21

Hello, I’m looking for anyone’s experiences with NIPT/Harmony testing.
I am older at 38 almost 39 and in the early stages of my second pregnancy.
I have concerns about my age and the midwife at my booking appointment was quite dismissive. I suggested I would pay privately for a harmony test and she said would I want my bloods done by a non health care professional? I had assumed and most websites don’t clarify that it is a qualified professional.
She has spooked me a bit. I remember her from my last pregnancy and that seems to be her personality so I was trying not to over think it but I am.

Did the tests reassure you?

Also how do you choose who to go to?

There seems to be a few in the area I’d be in for work around the 10 week stage so would try and go whilst I’m there as there’s not anywhere near where I actually live. (York/North Yorkshire/Teeside area
is where I will be working)

Thank you.

OP posts:

Iusedtobedontcall · 18/03/2023 16:28

I went to a private fertility clinic. I’m glad I had it done at ten weeks because unfortunately, in my case, it wasn’t good news and it allowed me to proceed quickly with a termination for trisomy 21. The NIPT isn’t diagnostic but it is very accurate, particularly for downs.

I am 42 so I knew my risk was elevated. I’m trying to conceive now and will definitely have the NIPT again because it will either reassure or give me more time when faced with the worst.

Reugny · 18/03/2023 16:35

I had my DD at 42 and unknown to me until I had the blood test I was in an NHS trial area for it.

Anyway when I've had other private blood tests in the past for vitamin and iron levels the person drawing blood was always a nurse or phlebotomist in a private hospital or clinic. In recent years I just go to the phlebotomy department of my local NHS hospital and they sign paperwork to claim the cost.

YouBoggleMyMind · 18/03/2023 16:40

We opted to have IONA NIPT at a local private scan place. It was done by a Dr who took my blood and performed a scan. We got the results about 9 days later. The NIPT is much more accurate than the dating scan and blood done on the NHS between 11-13 weeks.

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Antenatal & postnatal Families

VeryLowTum · 18/03/2023 16:41

I got it done at a private scan place. Was definitely worth the money for the reassurance for me.

SparkyBlue · 18/03/2023 16:41

My gp did it for me.

Reugny · 18/03/2023 16:44

OP the community midwife who booked me started telling me misinformation about a vitamin deficiency I suffer from.

As I knew she was talking shit, later confirmed by my GP and obstetrician, I asked - making another excuse to -move midwifery teams. I only was allowed because I was sent to the opposite end of my London borough and there were 3 teams nearer.

acuppatea · 18/03/2023 17:40

I had mine done at a private place, and I recognised the woman who did the bloods. Turns out she's a sonographer who also works for the NHS and I'd met her in a previous pregnancy at the hospital. Then when I went in for my 20 week scan after my NIPT I saw her again as I was booked into her clinic. So, they're not all unqualified!!

Bubbleses · 18/03/2023 17:52

Ignore her!! I had the NIPT done privately via a private midwife (who worked for the NHS for a long time before going independent) so it’s absolute nonsense to say it would be a non health professional doing it. You can get the NIPT done in a lot of different places - you can even get it done privately with a consultant at some NHS hospital in some places. This was an option where I am but I went with the independent midwife because it was slightly cheaper.
Some NHS midwives get very defensive about people who seek any help outside the “system” (I don’t know why because it’s hardly personal). I told an NHS midwife I was getting a private group strep B test and she gave me a lecture about how it was against guidelines in the NHS and I was wasting my time and resources. Sorry but I had done my research and based on my research and the protocol in most Western countries (other than the U.K.), I decided to take the test…. It didn’t ask for her opinion I just told her that’s what I was doing. I’ve also been told of people who have been told by NHS midwives after having a private early scan that they shouldn’t be getting private scans - again, absolutely none of their beeswax.

Bubbleses · 18/03/2023 18:08

Just to add as well - the reason I got the NIPT isn’t because I was particularly high risk but I had my first child overseas when I was living in the Middle East where it is standard to have the test and I wanted to have the test here too as I found it more reassuring based on accuracy statistics.

itssquidstella · 18/03/2023 19:32

I had it done with my fourth pregnancy (previous three had ended in miscarriage) when I was 36. We went to the Fetal Medicine Centre on Harley Street and were seen by a qualified sonographer. I was about 11 weeks when I had the tests done and received the results shortly after the NHS 12 week scan. It definitely helped put my mind at rest after so much bad news in previous pregnancies. DS is now almost ten months old 😊

Absc · 18/03/2023 19:38

I had mine done on the Nhs after my 12 week scan all came back fine

RecklessBlackberries · 18/03/2023 20:00

I had it done privately simply because I'm an anxious person. It was done by a qualified sonographer. We had the SAFE test done due to my weight and got the results about a week after the test.

overwork · 18/03/2023 20:05

I had mine done at a clinic run by an obstetrician who also works at an NHS hospital. I presume he's quite well qualified! Did she mean the person taking the bloods would be unqualified?
I did it for the exact same reasons as you, I'm a similar age and I wanted as much reassurance as I could get.
I would say look carefully into what happens next. Most people will have low chance results and that will be the end of it!
My results were not favourable and I've had a hard time getting my (useless) midwife to refer me back to Fetal medicine for the next stages. In the end I went back to the private clinic, and the lovely doctor referred me to FMU himself - and I was given an appointment less than a week later. The care I got from the private clinic has been exceptional, particularly when compared to the NHS midwife (and I'm an NHS health professional myself so I do generally support it).

FlounderingFruitcake · 18/03/2023 20:21

NIPT is more accurate than the NHS combined test, tests for me, and you can find out the sex. No brainer for me (although I had Panorama not Harmony). You can have it done by a private obstetrician if you want, but bloods go to the same lab so not sure why it matters. Just wait until at least 11 weeks so you’re less likely to get an inconclusive. Also, in my experience its the midwives that can’t take blood and butcher you!

Original poster

Spareincoming · 18/03/2023 20:33

Thank you all. I’m pleased to hear I’m not being over dramatic in thinking it would be a good idea. DP is 50/50 as he has ultimate faith in the NHS and it’s testing, because of our last successful pregnancy.

It would appear the places that offer it where I will be are mainly scan places rather than private maternity clinics etc; but I’m guessing that they’ll have trained professionals to actually take the blood; it won’t be some random employee I don’t think… I hope!

OP posts:

NotMyDayJob · 18/03/2023 20:34

I had one done in my first pregnancy in London with a consultant obstetrician who did private work via her own clinic, with my second in the north east I couldn't find anywhere so ended up at Ultrasound Direct in Stockton on Tees, it wasn't quite the same but it was a very positive experience. I would recommend them if you're going to be on Teeside.

Both times I found it very reassuring. It was probably overkill for my second pregnancy as I used donor eggs and the donor was 23. To be honest it was probably slight overkill in the first as I was 'only' 37 however both times it gave me peace of mind after infertility/ miscarriage etc

Best of luck for your pregnancy OP.

Original poster

Spareincoming · 18/03/2023 20:43

@NotMyDayJob Thats one of the places I’ve found; I’m actually working for a few days in Stockton before going to Harrogate and York, so thank you for that.

OP posts:

HelloViroids · 18/03/2023 20:49

We also went to Fetal Medical Centre, and when I got to my 12 week NHS appt I mentioned it and the NHS sonographer said the FMC tests would be far more accurate than anything the NHS did!

The only thing that I struggled with a little bit was their bedside manner - my first pregnancy ended in an MMC and they were a bit abrupt in their delivery about it.

Jog0n · 18/03/2023 21:30

We went private for NIPT. The scan was done by a Consultant Obstetrician who is one of the leading Consultants at my local NHS hospital (as in wouldn't have been my consultant in NHS even with consultant care because she is so specialist). I can't remember who took blood but it doesn't matter as they don't ever read the results, it was the person scanning who combined the information.

To be honest if you can afford it and have any concerns/risk factors/would change your decision making on the basis of outcome, then I don't know why you wouldn't have it done privately. You can do it from 10 weeks. In the NHS you have your regular scan at 12 weeks and then if there's any flags they might suggest an NIPT as the next step so you could be 13, 14, more weeks before you have it and be in the same position.

gemloving · 18/03/2023 21:46

For my first I had the normal NHS screening which gave a 1/10k result for all three trisomies.

Second due to having travelled, I was in a different country when I was supposed to have my scan and quarantine rules, I had the NIPT done which gave me gender + more of a yes / no results.

Third baby, I am just having the NHS screening. I'm 33, NT measurement was 1.3mm, I'm not worried. I had the bloods done 09/03 so believe if I was high risk, I would have had a call by now.

If I was older and there was any history etc. id go for the NIPT but didn't feel like I want to spend another £500 but if you have the spare cash and and need the reassurance, go for it. Don't listen to your midwife, not sure why she is trying to talk you out of it.

Original poster

Spareincoming · 18/03/2023 21:54

The cost isn’t a concern; I can definitely find the money for something this important.
The factor that’s bothering me is my age, 38, nearing 39.
I have a 4.5 year old and had no concerns last time but I was younger and naiver I think!

OP posts:

BettyOBarley · 18/03/2023 22:02

We had the NIPT at a clinic in Leeds after getting a 1:20 indicator for down syndrome at the 12 week scan. It was really easy and straightforward and I'd definitely recommend it.

SausageinaBun · 18/03/2023 22:08

We went to the Fetal Medicine Centre too. I was 36 and had private obstetric care throughout my pregnancy as I found my NHS care for my first DD shocking. My consultant sent all of his patients there for a scan at about 10 weeks and Harmony was an option, but felt like a no brainer as it's so much more accurate than the nuchal fold and bloods approach. It was all really professionally done and my DD2 is now 8.

gemloving · 18/03/2023 22:34

@Spareincoming that's totally fair. I would spend the money at that age (without judgement) but the older your maternal age is, the higher the chances and if you end Up having a result with higher results which might just give you more anxiety, just go with the NIPT. It doesn't matter what the midwife says.

I always discussed the what ifs with my husband which I found important.

I just got my results today actually (I'm abroad and husband didn't think it relevant to send over but he's a man lol) I have two healthy children already so he wasn't even concerned in the first place.

1:6378 T21
1:20k T13&T18

Trying81 · 18/03/2023 22:34

Had one done privately as I conceived at 40 - it was a private scan clinic but it was a trained nurse who took my blood. I’m hard to get blood out of normally and she did a better job than the nurses at antenatal

It was such a relief getting the results back, and only took 4 days - it was a great experience and I’d do it again

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