Nuchal Scan 5.3mm - anyone else had this?

[AdiVic]

Hello

Today I went for my 12 week Down Syndrome scan - I thought I was 12 weeks 6 days. During the scan they said i was more like 13 weeks 6 days. I am 36.

The sonographer measured the nuchal fold at 5.3mm, which is apparently an indicator of Downs. I was sent into a consulting room and they got a consultant to come and talk to me - her advice wasn't that positive and I am so upset! I am off for the CIV test in a few days (I think it is called a CIV but I am a bit all over the place - it is like the amniosentesis, but 2 weeks earlier). I will get the blood results back on Wednesday.

I asked if there was a chance all would be ok, and the consultant said it was not looking good - she even 'gently' talked of how I would like to handle the end of life programme.

Has anyone else had such a doom and gloom situation? I have been told there is a chance of Downs or other chromosome disorder such as Edwards syndrome etc, and if the baby doesn't have those, there could be a heart defect. I am so upset and scared - I dont' have any pals who have been through this, so feel really in the dark. Sorry to ramble on. xx

Sending you love and support - I don't really have any advice, I just wanted to send you a virtual hug xx

I posted last week - I had my 12w scan at 12w6 and they told me I measured 13w5. The NT measurements were 3 and 3.1mm (averaged out). I'm 34. They said nothing to me of any concerned, but I googled and got worried as that's on the very top end of normal - was above '95%' on the little chart they printed off :(

Obviously that's not 5.3mm. I completely understand how worried you must be :( All you can do is go for the tests if that is what you want to find out.

I think they have to prepare you for the worst. They can't say it'll be fine just in case it's not. And remember it's only the probability which has increased - it's not a definite yet.

Did they take your bloods? My hospital are going to check to see if there are any indicators in my bloods and put them in a formula with the 3mm and my age and come up with the probability. I am dreading the letter.

xxxx

You will find a lot of women have been in similar situations. I think it is a cvs test you are being offered. There is an organisation called ARC which I hope you were told about -Ante natal results and choices - they offer support and advice to women faced with difficult choices re tests etc. I am so sorry you are going through this. You are not rambling on. Try and take things one step at a time and find a good friend to talk to. You take very good care of yourself. xxx

It's not the greatest of results, and the consultant is sadly right to prepare you for possible bad news.

But that doesn't mean you will get that bad news. Sometimes the NT measures high for reasons unrelated to either chromosomes or heart problems - there are benign reasons too. I have known of several people with high NTs like yours who have had clear invasive testing results and clear heart scans at a later stage.

Hopefully when you get your bloodwork back you will get a better idea of your odds.

Have a look through old posts on the "Antenatal choices" forum here on Mumsnet too.

I am so sorry you are going through this and hope everything works out. It's okay to be really upset.

There is a chance that everything will be ok - we too had this at our 12 week scan with a nuchal of 4mm which increased to 5mm at the scan we had immediately prior to the cvs. The nuchal of 4mm with horrendous hcg bloods of 3.8x normal gave a probability of a chromosome issue at 25% - the 5mm increased it to 50% but it came back all clear. It can also indicate heart problems but again we have had two clear cardiac scans. It can be just one of those things.

Talk to ARC, they are helpful and understanding - we didn't really understand what was going on at first or what it all meant. Just have the cvs if you are comfortable with it and wait until you see what the results are before thinking about what you might or might not do. It's awful - I know as I have been there but there is hope.

Poor you. I have three experiences of this, all different.

I had a great nuchal scan for DS1 (now aged 4 and healthy as an ox)- 1:15000. For another pregnancy 1:20 (nuchal fold 2.2mm). I had a CVS and the results weren't good. No Downs, Edwards or Patau's, but a very serious big chromo duplication that led to us ending the pregnancy. Next time I had pre natal testing (this time an amnio), all was well and we have DS2- the world's most delightful, healthy baby. He has brought us enough joy to heal us from our earlier loss (plus 2 mcs).

It may be OK, but if its not, you may have a different miracle ahead of you like I did. I wish you all the very best. Keep us posted.

Adivic, I went through a total nightmare two years ago when the nuchal scan measure 7.3 You can imagine i wasn't given any hope.
Today i have a healthy and lively 21 month old son.
There is a high chance that there will be a problem, but there is also a very small percentage of pregnancies that will be ok. I hope you will be as lucky as me. From my heart i wish you the best.

OP posted this over a week ago ? Anyone know what happened ?

I just found this

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_tests_choices/1148053-5-3mm-and-1in2-chance-CVS-done-Not-a-good-day

:( Such a sad thing for anyone to go through xx

:-( i am really sorry to hear the news.