Down Syndrome screening - can somebody hold my hand please :(

[ThePoorMansBeckySharp]

I had my scan yesterday that seemed to indicate baby's nuchal fold measured 2.5mm. (I was 13 weeks, two days pregnant yesterday). The sonographer seemed to be concerned by this.

I have been tying myself in knots reading the dreaded Google. My blood test results should be in tomorrow morning. I am dreading the worst

I've always been advised that Googling is the worse thing you can do. Try to keep your mind on other things, I am sorry I'm not very good at trying to be helpful!

Please don't dread the worst, chances are your baby is absolutely fine. I got a 1 in 500 chance which sounded scary until DH pointed out that is meant there was a 499 in 500 chance that everything would be ok. Put your feet up and try not to worry, which I know is easier said than done :)

oh - and don't google!

Hi there BeckySharp - I'm just waiting for my amnio results, so I think I can totally understand your panic. However, although certainly I'm no expert, I didn't think that 2.5mm WAS a particularly high measurement for that gestation? I'm sure that somebody who can speak with more authority will be along any minute..
I sincerely hope that your blood test results put your mind at rest tomorrow - let us know; I've had a lot of kindness and support from others on MN during this stressful time.
Good luck, fingers crossed that your results are fine and your risk very low x
And yes - as the others have said - beware the Googling! (Says she who could now write a (quite possibly inaccurate, entirely Google based) post-doctoral thesis on amniocentesis testing! )

Oh Becky you poor thing. I'll hold your hand. Stop googling, you'll drive yourself nuts! Deep down you know they're just eliminating the possibility.

I have a dd aged 15 with Downs. She's currently blasting the Take That Progress tour through the house, and everytime I make her turn it down, she waits til I'm out of the room and blasts it back up! Flippin' teenagers.

She's the centre of our world and is a right little madam, picking on her little brother, insisting on wearing skirts far too short, misbehaving in school, far too mouthy, she's also extremely pretty in an elfin way and get's away with murder with her 'damsel in distress' act.

She has a boyfriend who also has Down's. He's can charm the leaves from the trees and could run for President of Ireland and win, that boy is something else. Madly eccentric, no filter whatsoever, and freaking hilarious.

This is not going to be your future by the way, because Downs is so incredibly rare, but if you were sitting in my house right now with these two, you'd probably just shrug and and think,

"Jaysus, they're just as annoying as other teenagers, I'm screwed in 15 years either way"

And c'mere, have a hug too (((((((())))))))))

I had my scan last Thursday at 13 + 1 and my measurement was 2.3. They didn't seem concerned but I was, as my last pregnancy was 1.9 at 12 weeks and I am an old bird at 42! I did a bit of googling and up to 3 seems to be within the normal range albeit the higher end, also the measurement is only one factor in their calcs.
If there is a concern they tend to ring so if you don't hear in a day or two, you are probably in the clear. I had a call on the Friday from the midwife that made my heart stop but it was a query about my weight, I was down as 26 kg so they needed to correct it, but it shows how quickly they process it. I'm still waiting for my results but hoping they're ok. Good luck hope it's ok for you and try not to worry while you're waiting.

I'll hold your hand too

I've had some wonderful support here (biccies is one of the lovelies who held my hand!) as I've gone through the agony of screening / amnio.

I can't offer anything more to what has already been said - but you're not alone x

Another hand to hold
I had my test in December, NT was 3.5 plus one of my bloods 2.5 x higher than normal levels.... Gave me a 1:42 chance of downs.....had an amnio ( not nearly as bad as you think it will be ).....and all is fine
Just wanted to show you that I had a higher NT than you and all ok. My consultant said up to 2.5 is normal, and I've known people to have NT measurements of around 9.8 - 12.3 and all was well. It is JUST one marker, and the whole test is just an indicator not diagnostic at all. If you have a high risk result you have a number of options for diagnostic testing. Good luck

Is there a spare hand for me to hold, or shall u just hug you?
I've been through the thoughts you are having right now, and my bloods gave me a 1 in 13 chance of a baby with downs. They couldnt do my NT test as they couldn't see clearly to measure due to other reasons, so I waited until 16 weeks for my hell-week.
However, I posted on here too, and never expected the amount I'd support I got. Biccies and Soozy held my hand big time, and just being able to talk with lovely people in similar positions was amazingly helpful. Do keep talking on here...it will really help you to share those worries. X
People will say don't worry, but it is human nature to think and try and 'prepare' for not the best outcome...I felt like I was on a rollercoaster, and swung to and from optimistic on an almost hourly basis!
We had an amnio too, and had a great outcome on Tuesday this week, but i don't wish the rollercoaster on anyone. Hold on tight and try and take each bit as it comes. Sending lots of hugs x

The NT is only part of the measurement. As others have said, they also take into account the bloods and your age. Our NT was 3.1 (at 11+5), but bloods and age factors ok. So we were "high risk" due to the NT.

We decided against amnio, but had an extra scan at 16 weeks and baby looked perfect. No soft markers. We have our 20 week scan this afternoon!

As others have said, 2.5 isn't that high and I understood that the further you were in your preganancy the higher it may be. So if you'd had your scan at 11+5 like me, it would prob have been even less.

Good luck x

2.5mm isn't bad at all, especially at 13+ weeks. In the old days when they didn't combine with blood tests I doubt you'd even have had it raised as a concern, particularly if you're not very old.