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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Anyone else not having the Nuchal Test?

35 replies

Aworryingtrend · 13/04/2012 09:58

I am 13 weeks and have my dating scan on Monday (already had scans at 7.5 and 9 weeks) and we have elected not to have the test for chromosome abnormalities. We seem to be in a minority as many people on here and in RL are having the tests. Our feeling was that even if it came back high risk we would never have an amnio due to the risk of miscarriage so what would be the point? But then I understand that it would make us feel more prepared if the baby wa born with Downs syndrome.

Is anyone else not having it and just having the dating scan?

OP posts:

ellybett · 13/04/2012 10:06

We haven't gone for the NT, currently pg with dd2. We knew that, same as you, the results wouldn't affect our decision.

Dd1 was born thankfully healthy, our age is in our favour and I am a worrier! So if any results were questionable I know I wouldn't have enjoyed this pregnancy as much as I have.

Lizziewhizzie · 13/04/2012 10:09

Howdy, we opted not to have it for the same reasons as you and after a good discussion with the midwife. If our results had come back high we still wouldn't have had amino as I would be too scared o would lose the baby. The way I see it I'm young fit and healthy so I'm letting nature take its course. I agree knowing would help me prepare if our baby was downs but also it would cause me to stress and I really want to enjoy this pregnancy not be scared. Maybe I'm putting my head in the sand but hey, what will be will be! We have also chosen not to find out the sex.......maybe it will make me push harder haha.

KitCat26 · 13/04/2012 10:32

We didn't with either of ours. There is nothing we would have done if results came back high so it was just easier not to. The sonographer seemed a little taken aback when I refused (was to be done at same time as 12 wk scan) so I guess most people do. With regards to being able to prepare for a baby with downs I figured (not sure if this is right or not though) that something may show up on the 20wk scan.

I do have a friend who went for all the tests and the results came back that their little one had downs. They continued with the pregnancy, were able to prepare themselves and the hcps monitored baby much more closely. Their little girl was born early, she's 3 now she is an absolute delight.

Quills · 13/04/2012 10:32

We're not, and we didn't with DD either. We both knew we'd keep the baby whatever (especially this time around after it took nearly 3 years to conceive), and like you we wouldn't have an invasive test even if the results came back high risk. If I got a 1 in 100 result, say, I'd spend the rest of my pregnancy worrying, and as this is going to be our last baby that's the very last thing I want. This baby is a blessing, and if there are challenges beyond the normal stresses of a new child involved, we'll manage - a few months' advance notice wouldn't help in any way, for us.

blondiep14 · 13/04/2012 10:36

17 weeks with DC3 and didn't have the tests with this or other 2 pregnancies, for all the reasons above.

woopsidaisy · 13/04/2012 10:37

I didn't have it, nor did any midwife discuss it with me at any stage.

I have always been quite surprised that so many people on here seem to get it. It must be quite popular.

DH and I both agree that we wouldn't do anything with the results anyway, so there was no point. We just had dating scan. Don't know sex either! This is DC3!

Tiago · 13/04/2012 10:45

We're not having it either. I have had two MCs and absent a condition incompatible with life I will be having this baby.

All the NT test does is give you a percentage 'risk' - you then either have to have the more invasive tests or spend your pregnancy worrying about whether you will be the one in however many. If there is a serious problem you are likely to find out at the abnormality scan.

ballroomblitz · 13/04/2012 10:51

I'm also 17 wks and we didn't with this pregnancy. Decided we wouldn't do anything should the test come back high risk so there was no point in worrying ourselves. Explained this to the midwife and she seemed pleased enough that we had thought our reasoning through, although I got the feeling we are in the minority refusing the test.

I have a ds with a previous partner and ds has chromosome disorder - not genetic just one of those things but would have been picked up in amnio. Should I have found this out during my pregnancy I would have been terrified and panicked after reading half the stuff on the internet. I was in and out of hospital with pre-eclampsia and ds had IUGR so was freaking out already. After speaking to his geneticist and becoming involved in some organisations that deal with his diagnosis I take it all the information on the 'net with a pinch of salt. I'm glad I found out at his young age but I'm glad it wasn't when I was pregnant.

KeepingAwayFromTheJoneses · 13/04/2012 10:51

Didn't even get a dating scan in my area, so I went for the NT at Bupa, as a dating scan as well. We had a 20 wk anomaly scan but the date of the appointment they gave me was for 23 wks, and I didn't want to wait that long. Are all these people having the NT on the NHS?

I found the midwives said there was no point in having it done unless you were sure you would terminate, which I found a bit odd, as I am the sort of person who likes to be prepared. I found the implication that wanting to have a scan meant that I would automatically terminate a bit annoying really.

ballroomblitz · 13/04/2012 10:53

That should read not hereditary Haven't had my coffee yet!

Original poster

Aworryingtrend · 13/04/2012 10:56

Thanks all good to know there are others in the same boat, as some of you have said there is definitely a feeling of people being taken aback that we are not opting for these tests. Keeping Away AFAIK everyone I know has had theirs done on the NHS, btween 11-13 weeks.

OP posts:

Spice17 · 13/04/2012 11:02

I too deliberatley elected not to have it. I'm alomost 15 weeks. I asked my MW if it was unusual and she said it was, only about 10% don't.

She also said not having it can mean 'dealing with any possible heartbreak later on' which did make me think about it again but having worked with people with downs, I just couldn't justify it (but that's just my personal opinion)

I think it is a sensitive issue though, mys sis in law is 5 months and she had it and would have had a termination if it came back a definite (after amnio) but all OK. I felt that I couldn't really talk to her about it because of that.

I feel better knowing other people haven't had it though :)

PrincessWatermelon · 13/04/2012 11:22

I had it, as thought it was very normal to do so. Didn't really think it through, just assumed that it would be fine.

When it came back 1:89, we wished we'd never had it done! I did not want to risk a mc at any cost, so we paid for an extra scan at 16 weeks at Fetal Medical Centre. All looked normal, as it did at the 20 wk scan.

I have now relaxed and am thoroughly enjoying my pregnancy now (29 weeks).

For any subsequent pregnancies, I won't have it done.

AlpinePony · 13/04/2012 11:25

With my first child I chose not to because I wanted him "no matter what". If however the abnormality scan had revealed incompatible with life I probably would've terminated.

I did have it with the second, it came out low risk - but someone has to be the 'one' so I'm not really sure if there was any benefit.

mrswee · 13/04/2012 11:29

I didnt have it the first time becuase we had decided what ever will be will be but I am going to this time as I already have a child to look after and I personally want to be prepared if next one was to have a bigger impact on the family than first imagined IYSWIM.

I am not prepared for the worry it might cause though, I was happier not to know in some ways but I find life fairly challenging as it is right now with work/toddler/life balance so i would definetly want to prepare my mind if things were to change with all that.

designerbaby · 13/04/2012 11:39

If you wouldn't have an amnio if your results came back high risk then I can't see the point anyway ? a high NT reading doesn't tell you anything for definite. Both my DDs had off the scale NT readings and were fine...

For DD1 there were some other soft markers that meant we were told there was a high probability she had Edwards syndrome ? we chose to have invasive tests as it's a not-compatible-with-life diagnosis, and I needed to know on that basis, but wouldn't have done if we were talking about Downs. We declined the termination we were offered (at 12 weeks before the further tests ) and thankfully she turned out to be 100% healthy.

We had a NT scan with DD2 as it was routine where we are. Because DD1 had had a high reading I wasn't too worried about it, but thinking about it, I'm not sure why we did it - it did mean there was a small, nagging anxiety at the back of my mind, which I needn't have had.

You're very sensible not to just have it done, but to think about what you'd do with the information, and if, on that basis it would be helpful or not.

Have a LOVELY pregnancy ? wishing you all the best...

db
xx

mrswee · 13/04/2012 11:50

Designerbaby - I am shocked you were offered a termination we were offered at 12 weeks before the further tests in response to NT reading.

reading this is making me think again about maybe not having the tests after all.
I'm 36 will 37 just before this one is born, I was 33 when I have my last. so that was my only reasoning.

harrygracejessica · 13/04/2012 11:59

We didn't with the last pregnancy as they weren't playing ball game for the scan so she couldn't do the scan part so I told her not to worry. It was twins so couldn't have the blood test to go with it. We wouldn't have done anything if it came back High anyway.

caija · 13/04/2012 12:01

Hi everyone, I am 12+4 with dc3 and had my scan yesterday, baby wasn't in a good position to do the screening but after I spoke to midwife afterwards I decided I won't be Gettn the downs test/nt screening. I also have a ds age 5 with a chromosome disorder to a prev partner. Also not hereditary. Be good to talk ballroom blitz?

designerbaby · 13/04/2012 12:24

I know Mrswee:

"With this combination of soft markers you have about a 90% probability of your child having Edwards syndrome. At the very least it has an exomphalous which can be fatal. We can arrange a termination for you now, if thats something you would consider..."

Or words to that effect. Actually almost exactly those words. They're burnt into my memory forever .

Thankfully, English is our first language and we were able to refuse this and ask for further testing. She had neither Edwards nor an exomphalous. Or anything else for that matter and is now a healthy four year old.

I get both furious and tearful to this day when I think of that conversation, and the three weeks we had to live with this information before we got the all-clear.

Having stared down the barrel of that one, Downs stopped feeling like a big deal, TBH. Anything which meant our child would live we would have dealt with and that went doubly for DD2. Which is why we refused any further tests for DD2 and therefore why the NT scan we had for DD2 was a bit pointless.

db
xx

caija · 13/04/2012 12:28

Aww that's awful designerbaby that's one of the reason's I don't want further tests...

SneakyBiscuitEater · 13/04/2012 12:34

I didn't have bloods or nt with any of my 3 as we wouldn't have done anything with the results. DD1 had some soft markers at the 20 week scan and we were offered an amnio which we declined. It turns out she is chromasomally fine but she did have some physical problems.

A lot of folk trot out the "as long as it is healthy" or "as long as its normal" line and it annoys me (who has mobility problems with a genetic aspect) and DH (who had a minor facial defect).

I understand that some people would think they couldn't cope with a child who has disabilities but I hate it when people project those values onto others. I have had people incredulous that I didn't to pre implantation genetic screening with my kids (would have got it on NHS) preferring instead to just shag and see! Heaven forfend that I get a kid with the same condition as me who may not live past 35. Sorry - rant over.

Midgetm · 13/04/2012 13:25

We nearly didn't have it as would not want further tests. When we told the sonographer this he said maybe we shouldn't have it as it can cause unnecessary worry. However as I am over 40 I chose to have it for reassurance and knowledge more than anything. Because of my age my risk will prob be high but I know now that the measurements were good so that has stopped me worrying for a while. Totally understand why some would choose not to. The focus on downs I find weird. It's the more life limiting conditions that would terrify me and perhaps change my attitude to further testing.

Spice17 · 13/04/2012 13:53

Midgetm, you have said it exactly for me 'The focus on downs I find weird. It's the more life limiting conditions that would terrify me and perhaps change my attitude to further testing'.

Desperately trying not to get on my soap box here but Downs children and adults are very capable of living (mostly) independent lives and having jobs, relationships, all the things I would want them to have.

I find it a little bit offensive that Downs seems to be the focus, especially knowing lots of Downs adults with full and happy lives.

I'm truely not trying to upset or offend anyone by saying the above, just how personally I feel about it. Am a bit passionate - as you can probably tell! :)

OneOfMyTurnsComingOn · 13/04/2012 13:57

I'm not having it, as I too don't want an amnio. DP in full agreement.

Also, I'm not worried if the baby had Downs Syndrome. Would certainly not terminate because of this.

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