Hi, to anyone who has the time to read this, thank you. I guess I'm just on here writing this post a) to vent b) get some clarity or insight from other mummaw, and c) to hopefully come to a decision for myself and my baby.
On my 13 week scan my baby had a NT measurement of 3.8mm which is deemed well above the 95th percentile. Everything else on the U/S looked excellent and also a strong nose bone was present.
Prior to this scan I payed to get my NIPT tests which in Australia is a 99.9% screening for the main chromosonal abnormalities. Everything came back LOW RISK which is essentially the best grading you can get for that test.
Due the the thick NT i was recommended another U/S at 16 weeks which is a more specialised US. Me being so impatient and incredibly worried I booked this in at 14w 1d which I was told will still be worthwhile as they can re measure the NT and have an even thorough check of all babies organs and development.
In this US my babies NT measurer 2.6mm in the normal range and developmentally/structurally everything looked excellent on the doctor said. The specialist doctor then came in to speak to me and said i was in a "dilemma". She said baby looked great today however they can't ignore the fact that the NT was 3.8 at 13 weeks. She also looked at the 13 week US and agreed it was a clear image so the measurement could not have been inaccurately measured.
She proceeded, so for that reason i fall into the category of High risk for possibly OTHER rare chromosonal absnormalities that the NIPT TEST would not pick up. She advised I get an AMNIOCENTESIS to know conclusively.
I left the US soo upset, hoping that my NT measurement of 2.6 only 1 week later must have counted for something....!? Apparently not :(
My hospital called me the following day and explained i had two options. First of all my age, 32 plus previous healthy child, plus NIPT test and 14 week US are all excellent signs, but I had the options...
- get an AMNIO at 15 weeks to rule out chromosonal abnormalities conclusively, then a 20 week anatomy scan to rule out heart issues and then if both came back NORMAL id be back to LOW RISK pregnancy and i'd be able to enjoy my final weeks of pregnancy.
Or
- have another specialist 17 week scan and then a second one at 21 weeks - all thoroughly checking everything through for any indicators or issues. However this will not 100% tell me if there are any chromosonal abnormalities. with this option i can choose to have an AMNIO at any time.
I'm so torn! I'm scared of the associated risks with AMNIO's but also my GUT feeling is Everything is fine with my baby. Something in me tells me to just follow my gut and take the small wins (i.e my 14 week US and NIPT results) and just trust in the journey.
All this is totally consuming me but I know this child is our child and I believe everything will be a positive outcome.
I've also turned to forums and the internet a lot through this journey and see hundreds of feel good stories of women exactly in my position and going on to deliver beautifully healthy children.