How are nuchal fold measurements taken?

[maswera]

Hi

Can anyone tell me anything about how nuchal fold measurements are taken in the UK? I live abroad (a developing country, so the only place I could find that does the test is still quite basic) and had it done yesterday. It only measured the nuchal fold - didn't check for nasal bone/do blood tests/etc, so I know is not very thorough. The thing is he measured it twice and took an average. One measurement was fine but the other was quite high (although he said it was fine, but from what he said and what I've looked up since, it sounds like he only considers above 5-6mm as worth worrying about), so now I'm worrying about the higher reading. The lower one and the average seem to be OK, but there was a fairly big difference between the two (over 1mm) which seems quite odd. Can anyone tell me if they've had similar a experience in the UK (or actually anywhere 'developed') and whether it's normal to have a big difference between two readings or to use the average as the measurement?

Thanks, and hope that wasn't too waffly

Hi Maswera

For one of mine the sonographer did it 3 times and took average - for another they did it 6 times (was big) - I know people who've had it redone at another centre and there was a big difference. In UK anything above 3.5mm is outside normal range.

Thanks Owling. Were all of the measurements similar or were there any 'outliers'? If so was the sonographer more concerned with the average or the individual numbers? Thanks

Hi Maswera

When I ad my nuchal scan the sonographer basically keppt 'scanning' until baby bean played ball and was in the right position. She then took a still frame and enlarged the area she wanted - using the cursor, she then measured the nuchal fold. It took her quite a few attempts as they have to be very careful that they only measure the fluid area and don't include the skin etc. either side. My measurements ranged from just under 3mm to her final choice of 3.25mm.

When you think about the size of baby (mine about 7cm at the time) and then trying to measure a tiny sac of fluid at the back of the neck, to the extent of points of a millimetre it can't be 100% accurate. I would think this is why your sonongrapher has taken a few measurements and then taken an average - to be honest this could actually be a better indicator than someone just taking the one.

If your average measurement was good, I'd take heart - it can be extremely easy with a bit of slight hand shake to take a measurement that's a mill out. And I'd concur with Owlingate, I've read people who've had the measurement taken at different centres and the results have been very different.

Thanks Debs. That's the other thing - that I am not convinced the measurement was necessarily all that accurate - as it's not a common procedure here I'm not sure how often he does them. So I don't feel any the wiser really. Never mind, have resolved to not worry and take what comes...

Thanks for your input both

There was one really big measurement but then he redid it and all the others were 'nearer' to each other. I have to say I was never quite sure he did it right anyway - he kept saying the baby was in the wrong position and wobbling the scanner..he said it was 3.5mm and when they rescanned me at 16 weeks it was also 3.5mm. Hmm. I'm glad you have decided to take what comes hope you can put this to the back of your mind now. The 20 week scan (if they do one where you are) may bring more reassurance.

From Debs3013:
"as they have to be very careful that they only measure the fluid area and don't include the skin etc. "

Debs, are you sure of this? I got a reading of 2.8mm yesterday, but the doctor measured from inside the skin on one side and outside on the other side. He did it 20 times and did the same every time. I'm sure of it. I talked to DH about it after the test and he observed the same thing.