Nuchal Translucency Scan?

[septembersong]

Looking for some advice ... am 10 weeks pregnant, age 41. Yesterday I had a dating scan, thankfully all looking as it should at this stage, but I've to go back in 3 weeks for head measurements (baby too small just now). Given my advancing years, I enquired about an NT scan but it is not offered at the hospital I attend, so if I want it I have to go private. My question is ... given that I will be scanned at 13 weeks (plus 2 days), is it worth going private for an NT scan? Would they not be likely to pick up a problem at the regular scan? Also, I am to be scanned again at 20 weeks (fetal anomaly) and then growth scans at 28 and 34 weeks. I am also having the AFP blood test at 16 weeks.

Any thoughts/advice most welcome!

I am a older first timer. I had a nuchal scan at 11 weeks, but I think it can be done 11-13 weeks. I have to say it was very reassuring as they gave me a low risk result. I have just attended my 16 weeks midwife appointment and they haven't taken any more blood for Down's because of my nuchal resutls.

The Nuchal scan can be done up to 13+6.

If they don't offer the NT then the NHS sonographers probably won't be trained in doing NT measurements. So no, you won't get the same info from having a normal scan - plus the most accurate test is when they combine the NT measurement with blood test results and your age to give your risk factor.

It is definitely ok to do it at 13+2 weeks. I had an 8 week scan and because my fetus was measuring slightly smaller than should have been, my obstetritian suggested that I see him at 13 weeks. I am doing this privately. Imho, it is important to see a highly qualified professional. NHS seems to have old equipment (judging by the letter I got requesting that I come for my NCT on a full bladder) and I do not trust them, and hence, I am going privately. Definitely, money worth spent imho...

septembersong, my hospital/trust doesn't offer NT either, and I had it done privately. I assume that it's an issue with staff training and also equipment suitability, but I wouldn't have got any NT info from any of my regular scans.

I noticed on my private NT scan that all the way through, the resolution/quality of the image was much higher/clearer than at the NHS hospital, so they either have better euqipment, or it's on a higher setting, or it's being used differently. Either way, the images were in a completely differnet league, and given that the NT measures a very small thing (a couple of mm), then I suspect that the quality of the equipment will be a factor.

Plus as japhrimel says the scan needs to be combined with your blood test results and age (and bloods need to be taken within a certain timeframe of having the scan), and your NHS hospital won't do this.

I also found it reassuring having the NT, and actually nice to see the bean again!

D

So I have a question, I'm having my NT scan next Tues - I'll be 12+2 - the appointment was sent ot me following booking appointment. If you have that, does it replace the usual 12 week scan? Is that a silly question, I'm new to this pregnancy thing...x

It's usually a combined scan - they do the measurements for dating as well as the NT measurements.

Thank you, I've been wondering but had no idea who to ask.