No nuchal scan - what would you do?

[Riddzy]

Hi everyone,

I posted a few weeks ago about my 12 week scan. Basically, the baby was too small to conduct a nuchal scan.

The sonographer told me the hospital would re book me for another scan the following week. The problem there was that I had to go overseas for three weeks. The sonographer said by the time I got back I would have been booked in to get bloods done (the quadruple blood test or whatever it is).

Still haven't heard anything, despite being back a week and badgering my midwife. I'm now 16+3 and feeling a bit concerned about this.

Has anyone been in my shoes? What did you do? Should I bite the bullet and go private? If so, how much would that cost??

I may be wrong but at 16 weeks are you not know at the right point for the blood tests for trisomy disorders? I thought the point of having the nuchal was that it cd be done at 12 weeks therefore a month earlier and if it turned out there was a problem and the parents wanted to terminate the pregnancy then it was that bit earlier?

I didn't have the nuchal last time and just relied on the blood tests. Next time round think I will have it as I will be older and risks are greater.

Yes I am at the right point to have the blood tests, but my point is that the hospital is dragging its feet about making an appointment for me and I'm well aware time is passing by.

Can you not ring the ultrasound dept direct to get next available appointment?

I'm confused.. surely a nurse at your gp surgery can take bloods and send them to hospital. What is your midwife saying?

Nuchal scan only gives a 1 in whatever risk factor it doesn't actually give a definate result. Same with the blood tests. Isn't the cut off point for the nuchal scan about 16 weeks?

The nuchal scan cut off is 14 weeks.

I have rung the hospital, they tell me my midwife has to sort it out. The midwife tells me she's told the hospital and they will get back to me with an appointment. Round and round it goes.

Narnia - that is a good suggestion, I will try and speak to my GP today.

The cut off for nuchal is 13 weeks and 6 days as after that point some of the fluid may be absorbed into the baby's body. I think Riddzy is asking if she should push for the bloods? If this is the case and not judging, most people prefer to have any probabilities re downs and other chromosome problems as early as possible in case further invasive testing comes back positive and they would then choose to terminate the pregnancy. You typically would have a cvs up till 14 weeks and an amnio thereafter - an amnio is generally perceived to have a lower risk of miscarriage.

Riddzy if you don't know what you would do if you had a high probability then you should probably push to have it done as soon as possible.

I would phone the hosptial antenatal clinic and ask to speak to the antenatal screening midwife. She will be very keen to make sure you have your tests done if you want them as she is ultimately responsible. To reassure a little, you can have this test done up until 20 weeks, although i realise the earlier the better.

Thanks for your replies.

You're right, Bubandbump. I have no idea what I would do if I received a negative result but I would really like to be informed.

I phoned the antenatal clinic and they said there is no record of an appointment. The GP/nurse at my surgery cannot take my bloods. After some to-ing and fro-ing the woman I spoke to at the hospital finally suggested I go to the antenatal clinic in the morning and just keep insisting someone see me, and be a stroppy cow until they do.

Thanks again.

How frustrating that you can't have your bloods taken at your gp surgery. Good luck at antenatal clinic. This does seem ridiculous.. poor you!

It is frustrating - you just have to push so much to get what you want out of the nhs. I'm not knocking it - it's a great service but it just gets so tiring having to fight the bureaucracy.

I'm just looking at it as a formality, I'm sure everything will be fine. Thanks though :)