Should I have some tests done before 12w scan?

[Kika1]

Hello, hope somebody can help... i'm 7 weeks pregnant, first pregnancy,did a home test on Saturday which was positive,went to see GP on Tuesday, hoping that he will send me for some blood test or scan etc. just to confirm that everything is fine,but he only measured my blood pressure,weight and told me that hospital will contact me re 12w scan. I've asked him about the risks as I'll be 40 in few months but he just said "let's treat it as normal pregnancy " and that hospital will do tests in later stage of pregnancy, last trimester. I'm worried about the Downs, coz of my age. Is it ok to wait till my 12w scan or should I have some tests done /any tests before 12w scan? I keep reading about everyone having their blood tests, scans done like in 6-8th week to confirm their pregnancies, having their "risk test results 1/xx so I'm really confused and worried now that the only test I'm gonna have is my 12w scan. I got a letter from hospital today and my first midwife app.is in august, I'll be over 10w by then and scan on 19 august. I don't know much about nifty or harmony test but should I book one of those before my first 12w scan in hospital? Thank you.

[Annietheacrobat]

What you are describing sounds like standard practice. Your midwife take most of your blood tests at your booking appointment though the screening blood tests won't to be taken until the day of your 12 week scan. Depending on the set up in your hospital you might be given your combined screening result on the day or it may come through a week or so later.

If you are thinking about going for the harmony test it might be an idea to enquire about it now.

Aldo re early scans - not routinely done. Only if question about dates or history of miscarriage etc. many women have them privately for reassurance

[minipie]

what annie said.

Usual NHS practice: you will get some blood tests done at your booking in appointment at 10 weeks. these test your iron levels, rhesus negative/positive and stuff like that.

then there are other blood tests done around the same time as your 12 week scan (sometimes a week or so before, sometimes same time as scan, it varies from area to area). The results of those blood tests are combined with your scan to give you your 1 in x results for downs, Edwards and Patau. as you probably know this is not a diagnostic test - it means that if there were x women with your results, 1 of them would have a baby with the syndrome.

there is not normally an NHS scan at 6-8 weeks. Some people choose to have a private scan to show if there is a heartbeat. Some people may get an early scan if they have bleeding, pain or prior history of miscarriage.

Harmony or nifty can be done from about 10/11 weeks I think. they cost £500+. they give you a pretty definitive (99% accurate) result for whether the baby has downs and a slightly less definitive result for Edwards and Patau.

[Kika1]

Thanks you very much for your responses and reassurance..feel much better now. Googling doesn't always help..just got myself more confused. As this is my first pregnancy just don't know what's "normal". I know that at my age the risk of Downs is very high, but I read here so many positive stories, so hoping we will be fine. £500 is a lot for a test..something to think about...thank you again.

[clairemiss79]

My nifty test cost 300 and would def recommend that you get it as the NHS downs testing is very inaccurate and only gives you a probability anyway which means nothing. I got a greater than 1 in 5 risk on nhs and was frantic until I had a nifty test that confirmed my baby doesn't have downs.
You can get an early scan on the nhs if you have stomach pain. I suffer ibs and they sent me for a scan at 7 weeks to check all was ok.
Good luck x

[Frances79FirstTime]

Don't worry unnecessarily about the Downs risk - age is just one of the factors used to calculate the risk. I'm 35 and my risk came back as 1 in 14,000 (cut off for high risk is 1 in 150)!

Good luck x