Hello there!
I am a frequent reader of mumsnet since becoming pregnant, but have registered specifically because another thread on this topic, which has been so helpful and informative - and a kind member suggested I start my own thread, so here it is!
I am 36 years old and 15 weeks pregnant today with my first pregnancy. Its fair to say that I have been pretty anxious all the way through so far, after a couple of initial little bleeds.
I live in Mallorca, and our health insurance covers maternal care, so I have been very lucky to have seen my private OBGYN many times so far, and have had several scans.
He performed the NT scan at 12w6d (though I was measuring 13w6d) and all was normal - NT measurement of 1.89. Then he took blood and I got the results back on Monday - 1:240 risk of downs (so higher than the 1:270 benchmark for my age) and over 4 x normal HCG level. PAPP A was 1.3 something so within the norm.
He said that he would not do an amnio for another couple of weeks until the baby is bigger (8.6cm on Tuesday 14w3d - back within my dates) but told me about the Harmony test which I went in for on Tuesday 30th July (he also did another quick scan as my request as I always find it reassuring to hear the heartbeat (148bpm) and know that the baby is alive and well). The test is not covered by our health plan, and we had to pay ?750, but I decided it was worth it on the basis that a) I could be doing SOMETHING during the 2 weeks I would have to wait for an amnio and b) that I hopefully won't have to have an invasive and risky procedure if the Harmony results are good.
So - apparently, I am the first person that they have done the test for, and they don't know how long the results will take (they go to Barcelona I think), and he has now gone on holiday until 12th August (maybe thats why he would wait on the amnio??), so I will have to wait at least until then.
I told everyone I was pregnant at 12 weeks, as as anxious as I am, it was more about m/c and I really didn't expect this....I don't do well with waiting and this next couple of weeks are going to feel like an eternity, and I hope that others going who have or are going through this will contribute to this thread as it will be a real life line.