Worried about low risk antenatal screening result for Down’s syndrome

[Rbollo]

Hi,

I have had my nt screening results back this week , with 1/5000 of Edwards and 1/1700 in ds.

I know these are low risk, but I am quite surprised with the Down syndrome number. My stats are as follows:

nt measurement- 1mm
CRL- 50.3mm
Papp A- 0.61
age-29
BMI- 28

I’m unsure of the HCG levels as not disclosed on the app, but apart from the lower than average Papp A, nothing jumps out at me as high risk so assuming my HCG levels were higher than average.

I was really worried about this result and Google led me to book an NIPT which I should get results for next week. I can’t help but be worried even though the risk is low. Anyone else in a similar position?

It’s low risk, you’re over thinking it. 1 in 1700 is a 99.94% probability your baby doesn’t have Downs. NIPT will provide additional certainty but it is very very unlikely your baby has Downs. Wait for the NIPT results and don’t let yourself spiral over this, it is simply not worth the anxiety.

Would you bet on a horse who has a 1/1700 chance of winning? I wouldn't.

You're low risk. The papp-a will have swung the odds, but you're still low risk.

1 in 1700 is a 0.058% chance that your baby will have downs syndrome. A high risk result is anything 1 in 250 or less.

Hopefully once your NIPT results come back you can relax a bit, the risks really are very minimal- you are more likely to be struck by lightning than you are to have a baby with DS with those statistics.

I remember being extremely concerned after having similar numbers to yours with my first, especially after seeing others with numbers like 1/36000. Everything was all fine. Please dont worry, its such a small chance.

When I had my first baby I had a 1/500 risk of Down's which I was quite happy about, and thankfully they were born without it.

I didn't realise at the time that that was considered high. To me it sounded unlikely that the baby would have DS and I was not worried.

When I had my first child 6 years ago her stats were something like 1:38000. A huge number like that.

When I had my second child (6 months ago) they told me that they have changed the way they report the statistics now. So the largest numerical result you can get now is 1:5000.

Basically she told me don’t panic if you see 1:5000 when you were expecting to see something like 1:38000 - the way they report it has changed. It doesn’t suddenly mean that the odds are massively more likely.

I was 1:700 with my second child, presumably just because I was that much older. But of course 1:700 is low risk.

I think the whole 1 in X figure is a level of precision that's not particularly helpful when the odds are so low. It's the difference between very very unlikely and very very very unilkely.

I had 1 in 7 odds with my first child and even then, that was substantially more likely than not that the baby didn't have Downs (which he didn't).

Thank you to everyone reassuring me! I guess it’s hard when you see people getting 1/5000 and I’m only 1/7000, feels much lower!

comparison is the thief of joy!

I was 1/200 risk for DS and following detailed scan the consultant suggested it would be more like 1/400. NIPT wasn't available at the time. I was happy with those "odds" because for me a child with DS wasn't the worst possible outcome.

If you want absolute certainty then you would need an amnio or CVS but they are not risk free procedures.

I hope the NIPT gives you reassurance to have a continued anxiety-free pregnancy.