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Original poster

Nuchal Fold Scan 1st mum, very worried by result please help me

46 replies

3frenchhens · 23/12/2009 21:11

I know and appreciate that so many others on this thread I am sure are going through much worse than myself. I am a 1st timer and am so lost. At the hospital they told me nothing other than they had to do bloods to make calculation and than spending alot of time doing the measurement over and over again.

The fold measures 3.3. baby was not being too co-operative. I thought the normal range is 2.5 to 3.5? So I am the high side of normal? My blood results are ready next tues or wed. I am 22.

I am very anxious about this and would really appreciate support. I am a panicker by nature and this is getting to me as we already had a bleed few weeks ago.

Anyone have any advice or support? I am more worried as my dear friend's sister had a terrible late termination due to abnormalities just makes the reality of a very cruel world at times even more obvious.

Please help I am so teary and confused I cant think straight. Just waiting all over xmas when i think i should be happy im still pg after so very long.

I very much appreciate any words of help and ssome tissues

OP posts:
Original poster
3frenchhens · 23/12/2009 21:13

I really hope i have not offended anyone i really did not mean too in the slightest.

OP posts:
playftseforme · 23/12/2009 21:18

Hi
Not an expert but I've referred to this website in the past
Hope you get good news soon

www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/antenatalhealth/scans/nuchalscan/

Original poster
3frenchhens · 23/12/2009 21:26

Thank you very much. I hope so too. I am trying to be strong for dp as well as both of us a mess will not help. I need him. Why on earth they cant do bloods and scan together i would wait a couple of hours or so than this.

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mummyof1butnotforlong · 23/12/2009 21:27

I can understand your concern. Did they look also for the nasel bone?? The blood tests will give you a much better adjusted risk, but remember all these screanings only ever give you at % not a Yes or No. The link above is a good one, let us know how you get on.

Original poster
3frenchhens · 23/12/2009 21:27

I am 11 and 6 if this helps

OP posts:
mummyof1butnotforlong · 23/12/2009 21:28

Did you have the bloods same day as the scan?? They should be able to fast track the result for you.

mummyof1butnotforlong · 23/12/2009 21:29

Sorry what do you mean 11 and 6???

Original poster
3frenchhens · 23/12/2009 21:30

Yeah they said my results will be next week. Even if its xmas i sort of thought nhs carries on regardless?
What should i do?

Is this a high result?

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mummyof1butnotforlong · 23/12/2009 21:33

Sorry, am I right in thinking all you know at the moment is the NF measurement in 3.3?

You don't have any other results do you??

Original poster
3frenchhens · 23/12/2009 21:35

Oh i mean i am 11 weeks and 6 days pg.

i will of course let you know. I have no idea if they looked for a nasal bone they did not say would this be on my report?
they said brain development and hands and feet all looked normal. i had to have the heart beat pointed out i no nothing.

OP posts:
Original poster
3frenchhens · 23/12/2009 21:35

yes that is all i know

OP posts:
Original poster
3frenchhens · 23/12/2009 21:38

on the letter it says 3.32 mm

OP posts:
Original poster
3frenchhens · 23/12/2009 21:39

Also says heart appears normal and the amnotic fluid is normal basic anatomy seems normal at early gestation. further more detailed anatomical checks will be performed later

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playftseforme · 23/12/2009 21:39

I am waiting for my bloods too - I was told that I would get a call if there was cause for concern within 48 hrs, otherwise they would just post the results and I'd get them after Christmas. Maybe the same applies for you, and you could assume no news equals good news?

mummyof1butnotforlong · 23/12/2009 21:41

"Most women given a high risk (one in 150 or less) will go on to have a baby without Down's. Even with a risk as high as one in five, your baby has four out of five chances that he does not have Down's.

The only way to know for certain if your baby has Down's is to have a CVS or amniocentesis"

It must be so hard to measure carefully the NF. Sit tight, do some reading about CVS, DS etc, but try to stay positive, the odds are the baby will not have DS. I can totally understand how worrying this must be but ask lost of questions to your midwife, have a good chat tommorow of you can, worrying is not good for you or baby. xx

Original poster
3frenchhens · 23/12/2009 21:42

That does make me feel bit better. 48 hours is xmas day i guess. i dont know when they would call. i am dreading it if they do. Good luck playftseforme

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Original poster
3frenchhens · 23/12/2009 21:44

Thank you mummyof1.... I will sit and pray for good news. My midwife was horrible when i met her but i will call her and see if she can shed some light on situation- if she is indeed at work. took her over a week to get in contact with me last time i called her.

OP posts:
MollieO · 23/12/2009 21:47

If you are near London and want a second opinion I can highly recommend the Fetal Medicine Centre in Harley Street. They can do a nuchal fold scan up to 13 weeks and do bloods at the same time. You get the results whilst you are there. My NHS odds were pretty poor but the results at the FMC were completely different and very reassuring.

IMoveTheStarsForChristmas · 23/12/2009 21:54

don't worry for now, please. you're well within the normal range, try to stay calm x

you're very young and the chances of anything wrong are minimal. x

Original poster
3frenchhens · 23/12/2009 22:09

thank you mollie not really too near london but def will keep it in mind was it expensive if you dont mind me asking. Thank you also i move the stars i will try to calm down and wait pray and hope. I am still wondering about calling midwife tbh im not sure she could say anything kind i feel she may worry me more

OP posts:
MollieO · 23/12/2009 22:21

I think it was £150 but that was 6 years ago. The prices should be on the website.

pepperonipizza · 23/12/2009 22:27

I know it's a really worrying time and you're dying for information, but try your very best to relax until you know more. Once you get the results back (which will give you a 1 in X chance of having genetic abnormalities), then you can start to think about what you want to do. It's a complicated mathematical calculation that is used to get the 1 in X number - takes loads of things into account like your nuchal fold measurement, bloods, your age, weight - all sorts. I was worried after I got my results back as I had slightly strange blood results, but an okay nuchal fold result - when they were combined together it made a higher risk than I was expecting and that worried me. The doctors were all really keen to tell me that you can't take any of the results in isolation and you have to look at everything combined - so for you, maybe it's best to try not to focus on the nuchal fold measurement and just try to wait until you have your overall risk.

I hope that's helpful - I was so worried and was googling like mad after mine and I was so cross with myself, telling myself to try to relax (MUCH easier said than done!). But things might be better than you're thinking anyway, you never know.

Try to have a lovely Christmas x

IMoveTheStarsForChristmas · 23/12/2009 22:31

My private scan was about £160 2 1/2 years ago - was worth it at the time as the NHS didn't offer the test then.

IIRC, Mine was about 3.1 but had a final test (after the blood test) of 1 in 17:000.

Please try not to worry and enjoy Christmas. x

cassell · 23/12/2009 22:34

The measurements are really hard for them to get accurately - when you think they are trying to measure to 0.1mm on something that is constantly moving! And they will always be over cautious and double check with blood tests (because of the fear of being sued) so I'm sure you don't have anything to worry about.

I also had to have bloods done as the nuchal fold measurement was higher than "average". The result came back low risk and I'm pleased to say Ds is absolutely fine. I hope that the same happens for you.

Also at 22 you are really low risk anyway

everylittlebeat · 23/12/2009 22:42

You poor thing - you sound so worried

Try not to let it overshadow your Christmas - you're so young, the risk of Down's is very low. Let us know what happens. x