Is it worth having a NT scan?

[newnamechangeforthistoo]

My local trust doesn't seem to offer them. Was thinking of booking one privately for £189.

Are they more accurate than the blood tests at 15 weeks?

Thinking of going to babybond in cardiff, we went there for a 4d scan 3.5 years ago and it was great but we only went there for non-medical purposes.

Apparently they aren't available on the NHS in Wales. I went and had one at Babybond in Cardiff a couple of months ago and was pretty pleased with it. The lady who did the scan does a lot of NHS scans too and seemed to know what she was doing, and the results came back very quickly.

There's one called "Innermost secrets" or something, based at the Spires in Cardiff, which my GP recommended as well - she knows of the consultant who runs it.

HTH

Thanks louisdog, glad you were pleased with your scan. Did you get your blood tests done there on the day too?

I choose not to have one even though it was available on the NHS and I had to sign a form saying we didn't want one. We didn't have the blood tests either.

I don't know the accuracy difference between having the blood tests alone versus having both but you need to think about what you'd do with the information you would get either way. For instance if the baby was classified as high risk, would you want further tests?

We decided that we wouldn't, so the information would just be a worry.

I'm in two minds about the NT scan. I think the most important thing is to think about what you would do with the results.

It was really special seeing the baby but our 'odds' came back as borderline high for the risk of downs & more so edwards syndrome, which caused loads of stress & worry. It was horrible thinking their might be something wrong.

I had a private scan following my NHS one & they recommended an amino but I realised I wouldn't terminate for a downs baby anyway & if the baby had Edwards they said it was very unlikely to survive, plus it was all very borderline.

If you are one of the many that get low risk results I would imagine it's a lovely day out. Ultimately though it could lead you to thinking seriously about the decisions you would make if all was not as expected.

Thanks everyone - rodeo and spirited, thanks for telling me the other side of the coin too. I guess everyone wants to go in and be reassured but then the results can be a worry in themselves. Hope your baby was ok in the end rodeo.

To be honest I'm not sure what I would do if the results came back as very high risk. I'd be frightened of an amnio in case of miscarriage, so perhaps it would just be a worry until it's born.

I'll have to have a think.

We paid for a NT scan at babybond in England as my mw managed to muck up my dates and so I couldn't get one on the NHS. I chose to have one because of my age (38) and wanted to be prepared for anything. Also I chose to have one because it would arm us with any questions that my MIL would throw at us as she'd said that I was too old for a baby (cheek!).
I guess it's about how you feel and if you think you should be equipped for the rest of the pregnancy. If I was younger, I guess I might not have had one as the risks are lower, but then again, it's how you feel at the time.

Thanks lovemarmite - I'm 35 so nearly 4 years older than when I was pregnant with my first child. I think that's playing on my mind.

Can I just ask, did you have the blood test done at the babybond clinic?

I chose to have the test because of my age (36).

They took the bloods from me at the same time as the scan, in Babybond Cardiff.

I think it was Tuesday lunchtime, and they phoned with the results around 7pm on either the Thurs or Fri.

Thanks louisdog - I was a bit confused as reading the website, it said that your midwife can take the bloods for you, I was wondering if they didn't do it at all the baby bond clinics. Thanks for clearing that up for me!

That's a pretty quick turn around of the results.

I'm sort of more tempted to do it now, my NHS dating scan is not until 15 weeks. I'm 12 weeks now and want to know at least if there is a baby there with a heartbeat etc. I feel like I'm just in limbo if you know what I mean.

From a brutally practical point of view one of the key reasons for having the NT rather than the bloods is if you did have further testing which showed a chromosomal abnormality and you chose not to continue the pregnancy then the method of termination is different.

But really only you can decide whether you are interested in knowing your risk. If you know you would continue a pregnancy regardless then hardly worth putting yourself through the stress.

FWIW I have had 4 NT scans. On one occasion I was given a 1/3000+ odds and went on to have a son with downs. On another occasion I was give. 1/2 odds and had a perfectly healthy chromosomally normal DD. Proof I suppose that odds are just that and there are no guarantees.

TO clarify "blood test" in my previous post refers to the 16 week triple test.

I missed the nt scan cause of the dating of my pg so just had the blood results a d e fed up having an amnio due to very high risk. I can echo highly enough the two posters who asked what you wod do with the results. I had never once considered the consquences of having these tests. As it turned out tge results came back with a happy result, but I won't lie it did have an o going effect on my and my ability to bond with my unborn child. There was other stuff too but it did have axreally beg effect.

To be honest, I'm not sure if I'd carry on a pregnancy regardless. I think it would depend on what was wrong with the baby. If it was something that there was no hope of survival beyond birth/ still birth later in pregnancy etc, I'd rather deal with it earlier than later if that makes sense.

I wouldn't terminate for Downs.

I had a private scan as they are more accurate. Im 39. My midwife said if I'd had just the bloods the result at my age would have been high risk anyway. The scan showed a small nuchal measurement and no soft markers. Peace of mind worth every penny.

Hi newnamechange
just logged back in and saw your question.
Yes we had blood test with the NT scan. They were really lovely and took the time to get the reading of the nuchal measurement and so I had almost a double booking as the LO wouldn't get into the right position.
Definitely worth paying for a scan as we got some great pictures too.

I had one for Dc1, came back 1:11000, great, not a worry at all. Then for this pregnancy I got a risk of 1:153.... on the cusp of high risk. I've spent a lot of time worrying since I got the results. I actually wasn't keen on getting the screening done anyway, DP wanted it. I wouldn't terminate either way so I haven't gone on for further tests, so really me getting the screening has just caused anxiety and nothing else.

As someone else said, if you get a very low risk it's a great day out, if not it just causes stress and anxiety. And as someone else pointed out there are no guarantees it's all just numbers.

So... my advice. If you woulnd't terminate for downs, just try to relax and enjoy your pregnancy and don't bother with the test (I won't next time, if there is a next time!!).

Good luck