7mm NT - outcomes and options?

[Downtherabbithole83]

I’ve been reading every possible thread on here since Tuesday evening but decided to take the plunge and ask for advice other’s experiences.

This is my third pregnancy, first with my current partner. I already have two children and he has one, this baby was meant to complete the family. We’re older (he’s 40 and I’m 39) so we’d already discussed what we’d do if anything came up during the pregnancy (because of the impact on our children) but naively thought it wouldn’t happen to us - my other pregnancies had been straightforward other than needing c sections for delivery.

On Tuesday, we had our 12 week scan and the NT measured at just over 7mm. A huge shock and we were taken into the little room so the probable cause of this could be explained. We were referred to fetal medicine straight away and an appointment was arranged for the following day.

On Wednesday, we went back in where we were scanned again (measurement was confirmed but no other abnormalities can be seen at this point - they say I was just 13 weeks on Wednesday though my dates put me at 12w 5d) and eventually they managed to complete CVS from my awkward posterior placenta.

So now we wait… My bloods came back on Thursday as 1:4 DS and 1:77 E & P but we knew they’d be high because of the measurement and my age. I’m still being sick and feeling nauseous all day every day which feels particularly mean knowing we may have to go through with a tfmr. I have chosen to stay off work while we wait as I’m clearly showing and don’t want to talk about it until we know what is happening (plus I work at a school and know the little children will start to ask soon).

So really I have two questions:

For people who had a similar NT measurement, what was your outcome from CVS? Just hearing other’s stories of both outcomes is so useful at this point - I’m very open and my friends and family know what’s happening and have been great but no one else in our circle has been through this.

If we get a diagnosis and tfmr (which we know we would) I understand the options are medical and surgical. As someone who has had two previous sections, would one be recommended over the other due to risk of rupture? I know I’m only (almost) 14 weeks but if we have to wait for other results it could be much later.

Thanks for any help and/or personal stories. Reading everything on here has been so useful over the past few days.

Hi @Downtherabbithole83 I’m sending you so much love and sorry you’ve not had any previous replies since you posted.

I went through this when our son had an increased NT of 4.7mm and things were ok in the end but it was torturous waiting for the next test etc. We had a ‘greater than’ 1 in 4 chance of DS and I was 39 too.

I hope you hear back from your CVS in the next day or so - we had an amnio as they couldn’t get to the placenta safely so we had to wait until 15 wks (had the NIPT in the interim which came back as low chance). We got the initial results within a couple of days and then the full array in 10 days I think?

Thinking of you and hoping for the best possible outcome - sometimes no reason is found for the high NT which is what happened for us. I hope it does for you too xxx

Thanks @jmm499 for your kind message.

I was hoping to hear today but nothing yet… we are assuming the worst while hoping the results are clear.

The longer we wait the harder it is as our daughters have started asking about why my tummy is getting bigger. So tricky.

Aww the waiting is so hard 😩 It was the hardest time of my life…and also tricky when older children start noticing and asking, we had the same with our eldest. Sending you a big hug Xx

Thank you. Hopefully we might hear something tomorrow.

@jmm499 got the phone call just after 6pm - positive for T21. Medical procedure booked in to start tomorrow.

Absolutely devastated.

I'm so sorry OP xxx

I’m so so sorry to hear this - sending you so much love and strength xxx

I’m so sorry OP. I had an Edwards diagnosis last year after the 12 week scan. It was a horrendous time. I also had medical management. It was intense and painful but quick and I was treated so kindly by everyone involved in the process. Please take your time with everything - the physical recovery, the mental and emotional healing. I know it doesn’t help but you are not alone and you are going to make it through this. Sending strength and love. xx

Thanks all. It’s happening very quickly but I feel that’s the best and we are in doubts about what to do so no point in delaying it.

I don’t really know what to pack or anything… hadn’t really got that far in my thinking but I guess more will be explained tomorrow.

At the time I remember feeling very grateful that things moved quite quickly.

I’m sure everyone has a different experience but the things I found useful were plenty of pants, (took three pairs and wished I’d had more) a comfortable nightie and a couple of changes of comfortable clothes. Pads weren’t really enough in the thick of it, the hospital had some giant incontinence things that were great though. There can be a little bit of waiting around so a book or a tablet might be useful for distraction.

There is usually decent pain relief on offer, I had codeine and to be honest it was great as it just numbed my feelings to it all a little bit.

If you want to ask any questions please do DM me, again not everyone is the same but I know I wanted to be as prepared as possible for what would happen.

The plenty of pants tip is useful! Thank you - I’m already short on anything that fits so I’ll need to pack smart.

I’ll feel better once I’ve asked all my questions at the appointment tomorrow.

Hope your appointment went okay today and you got the info you need ❤️

They were really good thanks and answered all my questions. I also got to see all the paperwork from all the tests which helped.

I took my first tablet yesterday just after lunch so am now in the wait until I go into hospital properly tomorrow. Unfortunately I have been unable to keep any food down since taking the tablet but I don’t know how much of that is stress.

I was exactly the same with the tablet. The second tablets made me even more sick but they gave me an IV anti-emetic which switched it off like a light.

That’s worth knowing - thank you. I’ll tell them as soon as I get in tomorrow that I’ve been really sick and see what they say.

Thinking of you today @Downtherabbithole83, hope all goes as smoothly as possible and you are home recovering soon.

@Downtherabbithole83 I don't have anything helpful to add but I just wanted to tell you I'm v sorry. X

Thanks @IvyAurora and @Thelongwayround for your kind messages.

It was an unpleasant experience but was also over very quickly (3 hours from first tablet to delivery of baby and placenta). It was definitely more like proper contractions than the period pain I’d heard mentioned but I was offered plenty of painkillers (just wish I hadn’t put them off assuming it would take a long time).

We chose to look at the baby and I feel glad we did as it made it feel a bit more real and less imagined if that makes sense?

Now just chilling at home.

Thinking of you.

@Jaybird43 we had CVS which confirmed T21 and we tfmr yesterday.

@Downtherabbithole83 im so sorry - my phone glitched and I didn’t read your update - I have asked for my post to be removed. So sorry xx

@Jaybird43 please don’t worry about it - it was a sad outcome for us but I feel fortunate for the NHS staff and systems which in our case we just can’t fault. The care we’ve had for the past week has been amazing. I also feel lucky to live in a country where we had the choice. I am also lucky to have three wonderful children (2 bios and a step) and the chance to try again if we decide to.

I feel in these kind of situations it’s important to look for the positives.

Sending you lots of love @Downtherabbithole83 - I’m glad your care was good, we found the same. We also had similar timescales, it helped that it was over quickly. I hope you’re able to keep resting and recovering for a few days, or as long as you need. x

Sending you love @Downtherabbithole83 - I have been thinking of you xxx