feel like my nuchal results are borderline - reassurance please!

[Cakebaby2012]

I got my nuchal test results yesterday which are 1:535. I know that this is technically low risk but it is double the average risk for my age (29) and at least 10 times higher than it was for my first pregnancy (I can't remember the exact result though) so I'm a bit worried. I feel like my result is very borderline and need a bit of reassurance.

The NT measurement was 2.1mm which I think is ok because they dated the pregnancy at 13+5 and I'm told that the nucal measurement is proportionate to the size of the baby. The MoM figure is 1.1 so maybe slightly higher than average but not much. My blood test results (MoM) were 2.35 for hCGb and 0.59 for PAPP-A. From looking on Dr Google (dreadful habit!!) these seem to be quite bad.

I know the best thing to do is just try to forget about it. Clearly I wouldn't go for a diagnostic test with this result but I'm wondering whether there is anything else I can look into for reassurance. Will I be able to ask for the second trimester blood tests (which look at 4 blood markers rather than just 2)? Are there any other private scans/tests I could look into (I've heard about the Harmony test but not sure I can justify the price tag with my result)? Does the 20 week anomaly scan look for any symptoms?

Thanks!

Hiya about two years ago I had the same scare.
I had the antenatal team keep a very close eye on ds whilst pregnant had to go for a scan to check his heart as they thought he had a heart defect as well as the nuchal being too thick. I was 27 at the time.
I had extra scans and the NT measurement thinned out as the pregnancy progressed.
He was born a happy healthy ds and is a right terrible two year old now. Very cheeky monkey! You WILL and your bump WILL be okay. They will keep an eye on you. Thats their job!
Take care and dont stress. At least from doing scans you know they are being thorough. IMO
Have a put your feet up and relax. It will work out ok op.
to you and enjoy your pregnancy.

20 week anomaly scan will normally look for various soft markers, yes.

I had a similar experience, I had a result of 1:250 with my second pregnancy and couldn't help worry that it was much higher risk than my first, and than my age alone would have given. I repeated the scan at Fetal Medical Centre in Harley Street and they reduced the risk to 1:7000. I can't remember the details but they are experts and look for many more soft markers. It cost £180 but was worth it for my peace of mind. They booked me in straight away and I can't recommend the clinic enough. I'm sure you have nothing to worry about but check out the website if it is really bothering you and you are within reach of London. I had my 20 week scan there as well in the end and again it was amazingly thorough. Hope you do get to relax and enjoy your pregnancy - it goes too fast really!

Hi cakebaby I know how you're feeling. My combined score at 12+6 was 1:959 (NT 1.5, BHgc 2.834 MoM, PAPP-A 0.874 MoM) but with my first it was 1:12988! I have opted to have the Harmony Test done, because despite the extortionate cost, I can't risk an amnio and don't think I can go another 6 months not knowing. Whilst it's not diagnostic it's pretty damn close and was recommended by the fetal medicine consultant at the hospital. There's lots of info on the Harmony thread and I think it's cheapest, ironically perhaps, at the FMC in London. Good luck with whatever you decide.

My risk was 1:355 and I'm 40 years old. We had the Harmony test at the FMC and had a result of less than 1:10000 for Down Syndrome and the other 2 trisomies. I really needed the reassurance and it was money well spent for us. We went at 10+6 and paid £180 for the scan and test. I think if you're over 11 weeks they will charge the full cost (£600ish?) but I would have paid that for the reassurance. Maybe call them and have a chat? They're really helpful and understanding. Good luck x

My DD had a 1:250 and I was 23!

She's a happy, healthy (apart from current chicken pox) 4 year old.

My risk with DC2 was 1 in 250, which does not fall into the high risk category but felt high to me as DC1 was 1 in 50,000.

I decided to have an amnio. For me, the risk of a Downs baby outweighed the risk associated with an amnio.

DD was born healthy btw.

Have the harmony test, no risk to baby. If you can afford it, it is a really good idea.
They won't look for soft markers at the 20 week scan, that's out of date, so if you want any further Down's or chromosomal testing at your risk level you will have to pay.

I was 32 with dd and had 1.200 odds measurement was 2.5 both bloods were slightly out, got totally freaked by person telling me as she basically said your baby has downs discuss your options rushed for cvs test and cvs was clear, if fact turned out on further investigation that 2.5 (at the time) was very edge of concern and the odds of issue through testing were higher. 34 with ds and had 1.900 odds.

I've just had my 20 week scan a few days ago and yes they do look for anomalies associated with downs and other defects. You have to remember that even compared to your first pregnancy, this pregnancies blood result of 1 in 500 is still extrememly low. This means youve got a chance of 0.2% that your baby will have downs, and a 99.8% chance your baby is chromosonally normal. I wouldn't fork out £600 for results as good as that, but depends what you can afford for peace of mind. If someone told me i had a 99.8% chance of winning a horse race tomorrow, I would go and put every penny I had into that race! I currently have a chance of 1 in 200 due to the markers found at 20 week scan, which is still reassuring enough for me for be happy with my pregnancy. furthermore, all these tests are not diagnostic and just give you statistics which really dont mean a whole lot, the computer can give you a chance of 1 in 15000 and you may still have a baby with a number of defects. I would really try your best to approach this rationally, if someone told you that you had a chance of 1 in 500 of being knocked over by a car on your way to work, would you stay home all day? Im sure your baby is absolutley fine! just enjoy your pregnancy and relax and bond with your bundle of joy growing inside of you, whatever happens im sure you'll love them all the same when you lay your eyes on them xxxxx