Worried about my Combined Screening Results

[AnonymousB95]

Hi all, I am just looking for some reassurance as I have all of sudden become so anxious! I'm currently 17 weeks pregnant. I’m based in the UK and at my 12 week scan (where I was actually 13 weeks measuring a few days ahead) I had the combined screening test. NT came back as 2.3mm and scan looked fine.

I the had bloods taken and got the results a week later. My results were 1/520 for down syndrome and 1/5000 for Edward’s and Patau's. Classed as low risk and no further tests needed. My PAPPA A was also 0.81 and classed as normal. I haven't seen my HCG as it's not in my report - could this sway results?

I never gave this a second thought or worry and recently had a 16 week private gender scan. She took a few measurements, confirmed the gender and didn’t raise anything suspicious. Everything in the report seems normal including size, head circumference, blood flow etc.

However, I recently came across a video of a woman saying her results for T21 were 1/44000. I’ve also asked friends who have had 1/5000 which I think is the new parameters (the lowest risk result you can receive is 1/5000). I didn’t realise women were getting such lower risk results compared to mine and this has made me incredibly anxious about my results.

I don’t know if I am overreacting but I have been beside myself with anxiety now thinking the worse despite not given any reason to be concerned by professionals.

Just for context I’m 30 years old, test was carried out at exactly 13 weeks gestation and this is my first pregnancy.

Now I’m so nervous for my 20w anomaly scan dreading something is going to be wrong. Can anyone offer me any reassurance? Thank you.

Would you place a bet on a horse winning a race at 550/1? I wouldn't. Higher risk is more frequent than 1 in 150. You're still very much low risk. Age is a huge factor. I was 1/100,000 first pregnancy. That went down to 1/3000 ish a few years later.

You’re so right! Comparison if they thief of joy in my case here. I wasn’t concerned at all until comparing my results with others. Thanks for the reassuring comment, and yes my age probably played a factor.

It’s 0:18% chance of a baby with Down Syndrome or a 99.82% of a baby without Down Syndrome. Please try not to worry

I’m stating to panic! I just seen a TikTok of a lady who had similar results to me, hers were 1/510 for DS and mine 1/520. However her PAPA A was low, 0.21, mine is 0.81. Anyway her 20w scan picked up heart and brain abnormalities and other softer markers so she is now being told her baby likely has 1 of 2 syndromes, one being DS. I am now just crazy panicking. Dreading my 20w scan. I know I shouldn’t compare but I started to think my results were OK and I was worrying without reason but now im so stressed🥹

But her papp a was loads lower than you? That's a huge factor when creating odds. Hang in there.

I know it’s just worrying my that our results came out so similar despite her low PAPPA A

Do you know her age? If she's in her mid twenties that level would have dragged her odds right down. Even if your odds are given at 1/10,000, there's still someone who is that one in ten thousand. There is so much to worry about at every stage of pregnancy, but your numbers are not a concern.

Congrats OP and I'm sorry you are so worried.
As a comparison, I'd paid for the NIPT at 11 weeks. The NT was 6.5mm and there were obvious issues seen on the scan, cleft face, umbilical hernia, brain shadowing and more. The NIPT and autopsy confirmed T13- Patau syndrome. I don't recall the combined results.

I'm only sharing the info, to show that T13/T18 in particular, can be seen very early on. You've had 2 normal scans at a later gestation to mine and results were all normal. I'd suggest stopping the doom scrolling and speak to your midwife about your concerns. You might benefit from speaking to a mental health midwife. Its not healthy for you or the baby to be getting anxious and raising your cortisol levels. Wishing you all the best x

I’d stop googling and watching scary videos like that. I was flagged for having low pappa and had to get extra growth scans. I also had something like 1 in 300 for the tests. Luckily it wasn’t until I was much further on that I realised that people could get much lower risks so wasn’t anxious during pregnancy as had no idea.

Baby was fine. He will start school this coming autumn. Despite having growth scans he’s one of the tallest in his nursery.

Papp a was similar to you 0.808 MoM
in having twins. NT for one was 1,5mm and other other 1.4mm. I don’t know my HCG levels. My number for one was 1 in 3500 and the other was 1 in 4000 so effectively that 0.1mm meant a risk change of 500.
which is probably why your score was 1 in 500 with the 2.3mm NT. which is normal levels! It’s a measuring calculator. Numbers generated through a computer. Talk to your midwife.
im 35 btw. So I realise that will make my results lower compared to younger mums.

I just wanted to post an update here🤍. I had my 20w anomaly scan today and our baby girl is perfect. She’s growing perfectly and passed all the checks. Absolutely nothing was wrong. I feel so relieved and overwhelmingly happy!