NIPT test Liverpool/Manchester area

[sarahc336]

Hey guys, just wondering whose gone to which companies for a private NIPT test in or around the Liverpool/Manchester area, I actually live in St. Helens so looking for recommendations please . It would be a private test as my local nhs trust doesn't offer it.
I'm looking into it as I had a low risk combined result at my 12 week scan and a nt measurement of 1.5 which was great but I was still a bit nervous about this pregnancy as now I'm 36 but everything seemed to be great. I had my 20 week scan on Monday at 20+6 days and they found my baby has an echogenic bowel which some of you may know can be a soft marker for Down syndrome and cystic fibrosis and I am gutted. I've got an appointment on Monday at the Fetal Medicine Dept at whiston hospital and I'm well aware that they may simply offer me a amniocentesis which I know would over rule the NIPT anyway but I'm thinking if they're going by my nhs combined low risk result they may not offer me further tests as they may think this rules out ds etc but for my peace of mind I'd prefer to rule out certain problems so would just pay for the test myself.
Sorry for long post but it's really hard waiting for Monday and I'm struggling to know what to do/how to cope, thank you for any advice you can offer

Hi @sarahc366

Sorry about your worry. I don't have any related experience in this but I can understand your worry and having to wait between scans is awful. My baby has a soft marker too due to his arms and legs measuring small all through my pregnancy and my anxiety's been through the roof so I just wanted to bump this post along for you to someone who will have a better understanding. Like you though everything else on the scan has showed fine and soft markers in themselves the majority of the time are nothing to worry about especially considering you've had the screening at 12 weeks too (which I didn't) x

I'm afraid I'm not able to suggest anyone in particular for NIPT test but I would strongly recommend a chat with ARC - they are a charity that deal with antenatal tests and I have used them myself to seek advice about my screening results and they are very knowledgeable and will guide you well.
Good luck, wishing you the best.

Thanks guys for your posts. @RainbowL2020 are you having any further tests or is your hospital happy that your 12 week scan was ok and low risk and you only have one soft marker? What I'm hearing from people's stories is that often these soft markers aren't actually a sign of anything to worry about but it's just hard when I was told right at the end of my scan about it and the almost had the door closed on me as apparently I'd just have to talk to the dr about it 
@Dia12 thank you I'd heard of this charity I might take a look into them if Monday looks like I'll need further testing, thanks guys xx

Hi @sarahc336 yeah I didn't have the 12 week screening as I've known people come back as high risk and nothing be wrong so for me I'd of only ended up worrying through the whole pregnancy if it came back high risk so I declined the screening as I know I wouldn't of had the amino but I can understand why people do... when I declined the screening the midwife did tell me that I'm basically just declining the blood test because if they see anything I should know about they would tell me regardless so I was ok with that. My 12 week scan was fine (although I started heavy bleeding for 3 weeks from 12-15 weeks!) then at my 20 week scan all was fine apart from she mentioned just before I left oh your baby's femurs are measuring quite small 7th percentile. So I've had to go back every 2-3 weeks for growth scans on which everything else has remained fine but both his arms and legs are measuring a couple of weeks behind around the 2-3rd percentile which is classed a soft marker but they have written on my notes "more likely to be a small baby less likely chromosome problems" I was offered the amino 2 weeks ago which I've declined and informed I could go private for the NIPT but she said I would still need the amino to confirm anything for definite anyway. A lot of soft markers early on in pregnancy tend to resolve themselves later down the line, although they can't confirm for certain anything on a scan it seems that a soft marker alone doesn't really mean anything. I know it's easier said than done because I've done so much googling and spoke on so many threads on here but I honestly wouldn't worry too much especially since you had positive screening x

Well I wish you all the luck with your pregnancy and I agree soft markers can literally be nothing hopefully ours will be xx

Thanks Sarah sure they will be ☺️ good luck with everything xx

Hi, I'm having the harmony test done at ultrasound direct in Chester next week. Alderley edge is another option but more expensive

Thanks @JessicaPeach there's an ultra sound direct in both liberpool and Manchester which are both quite handy, they seem the biggest company don't they, might just book in with them then if I feel I need a test after my appointment on Monday xx