Slightly high bHCG? To NIPT or not

[deliwoman1]

I'm very relieved to have received a very low risk result for my combined test, but my bHCG bothers me ever so slightly. I know the NIPT (Harmony) is more accurate so I'm wondering whether to fork out for it (and learn the baby's sex at the same time!).

I was screened at 11+2 days and I'll be 39 at term. Non smoker, from a mixed ethnicity background. My PAPP A is fine at 1.72 MoM and so is my NT measurement at 1.10mm or 0.91 MoM, but my free bHCG level is 1.15 MoM. It feels slightly high for my gestation based on what some other ladies have reported.

I'm not sure whether to go ahead and do the NIPT. Would you, just for peace of mind? I've suffered a lot of losses prior to this pregnancy and just had a gut feeling this test would come back much higher risk so I'm struggling a bit to trust what it's telling me. I also know the combined test isn't as accurate as NIPT.

There can be huge variations in individual HCG levels. You can’t really compare yourself to other people.

Personally, £450 is a LOT of money so we didn’t go for anything like this because we always thought about all the things we could buy for our child with that money instead. But if money were no object I would’ve gone for it.

I wouldn’t worry. If it was anything of concern the hospital would have flagged it up.
I’ve found the fetal medicine midwives really helpful with this type of thing so maybe you could try and contact them to talk it through?
I can understand your concerns with your previous losses, I’d explain this to the hospital as well so they can understand why you are anxious.