Nuchal scan in Oxfordshire

[sausagedoesnotroll]

I'm 12 weeks pg and have my scan on Wednesday. At my booking appointment my midwife told me that things have changed since I had DS and you now get the nuchal scan as a matter of course, rather than having to pay.

Last time our scans were a bit a-typical, because of a suspected problem, so I had an early scan and not a dating one as 12 weeks. Can anyone tell me if they do the nuchal at the same time as the 12 week "dating" scan? Just wondering what to expect.

Yes, your NT scan is done at the same time as the dating scan, though I think I'm right in saying that it has to be between 11 and 13+6 weeeks for the NT scan to be effective (so don't push the boundaries if you think your dates are suspect).

I've never had just a dating scan, but the NT bit didn't take that long. They had to get the baby into the right position for the NT measurements and a slightly different one to measure the length (i.e. do the dating bit) so it was possibly a bit longer than it otherwise would have been, but generally only took about 15 minutes in total. I don't know what Oxfordshire PCT do, but my PCT took bloods on the same day - I think some PCTs will get you to give bloods at 15 weeks instead.
Nothing that out of the ordinary really

Thanks.

Owing to DS's appalling sleep record, we are pretty confident about our dates!

Yep at the JR the nuchal measurement is taken at the normal 12 week scan. They then do the blood test just down the corridor. You can choose not to have the nuchal measurement and bloods on the day if you dont want them done.

Hope this helps

Yes, it was the same for me this time at the JR now done as a matter of course. However, just to warn you that they don't look at all the different markers that a private scan would on the NHS version, it really is just the nuchal fold. I was told that this was because of time constraints.

Personally, I wanted the most thorough scan possible, and certainly not a less thorough one than I'd had before, so went to a private clinic anyway. Beard Mill Clinic if you decide the same.

Yes, I wanted a thorough scan so I went to Mr Impey's clinic at the JR - he's great.