Anyone else not having the Nuchal Test?

[Aworryingtrend]

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?

I'd didn't have it. Wouldn't have had the amnio so no point. At the time I thought the only people that would have it were people that for whatever reason might think their child might have one of these conditions. After I'd refused it and talked to friends it turned out that nearly everyone else i knew did have it. Was quite surprised.

We've opted not to have the NT test either. I'm 35 this time, and I only had the anomoly scan last time, no gender identification either.

These things make no difference and wouldn't make my baby less than 'perfect'. I work with risk ratios so I find the whole thing most worrisome and unnecessary when a woman is at her most vunerable anyway. I know a lady on another board who was given a 1 in 2 chance of having a Downs baby, and when the baby was born, she didn't have Downs.

Any baby I have will be loved and wanted, so so-called 'imperfections' are an irrelavance.

No tests for me either. Refused any sort of tests with DS and DD, as I would no way have risked the amniocentesis. Chatted with the MW about this at my booking in appt this week and she was chuffed I had read up on everything. I can't say I know of anyone else who has refused the tests though, so pleased to find there are others who have taken the same decision :)

I'm about 34 weeks now and chose not to have the test.
I guess it depends what you're going to do with the result.
It can only give you an estimate of risk and as I'm 40 mine was going to come back as high risk anyway, so I didn't see much point.

The scans are helpful for seeing brain development, any heart defects, etc

I have had two babies in my 40s.
I was booked in (without my consent) for nuchal scans.
In fact with DC5 I had specifically asked not to have the nuchal scan because I knew they would book me in without asking.

Both times I got grief because 'we are going to have to cancel your scan and try and book you in for regular scan now'. So both my scans were late which worked out to my advantage because they were able to tell me the gender (personal reasons for needing to know asap).

Its a personal choice and I have no issue with other people chosing to have them or even demanding them.

I wouldn't assume that everyone who has the test would then go on to have amnio if it came back high risk - or indeed would opt for termination. For some people, knowledge is all important and being able to prepare yourself for a high probability of a chromosomal problem.
And of course it's not all about deciding to terminate, as chromosomal abnormalities may lead to miscarriage anyway - again, it can be about being forewarned.

We chose not to have it done.
Neither am I having the triple test for downs or spina bifida.

It's all personal choice really but as the results of any of these tests won't change the outcome of my pregnancy I would rather just not know.

I didn't have any testing with my DD, I wasn't eligible for the NT scan and didn't think the bloods were reliable enough. I was 31, first pregnancy, everything went well, she is perfect.

4 miscarriages later I am now pregnant with DC2, I was eligible for NT scan this time so I did that and the triple test. I had some abnormal blood test results that indicated a possible issue with my placenta/growth of baby, so because of that I was referred to a high risk dr and had an extra scan at 25 weeks and I have another one booked for 30 weeks. If any growth issues are found then I will continue to have further scans and be closely monitored.

Everything is looking ok so far, but I am really glad with my history that any possible problems are being looked at, I think I would worry more if I hadn't had the extra care/scans etc.

So IMO it can be helpful even if you don't intend to ever get an amnio. Downs is not the only thing they are testing for there are other issues that can be discovered which may need monitoring.

Coincidentally, I was discussing this with my mum and sister today even though we made the decision a while ago. I'm 25 weeks.

We choose not to have the NT scan or blood tests and I had to sign to say that I had refused the tests. I didn't have a particular objection to having an extra ultrasound scan or blood tests but didn't think we'd find the information useful.

We wouldn't do anything with the resulting risk estimate:
We tried for over 5 years to concieve this baby. We decided that we didn't want the extra risk of miscarriage (however small) by taking more invasive tests. We also wouldn't terminate for conditions like Downs. We hope our baby will have the good fortune to be entirely healthy but if he/she is not, then they will still be our baby and we will do our best to cope with the difficulties they may face. It's not just a case of trying again when its taken so long to concieve (we have no idea how long it would take if at all) and I just feel blessed to be pregnant.

And the indefinate risk calculation wouldn't be helpful for us:
We thought a high risk result would have us worrying, probably unnecessarily, for the rest of pregnancy. A low risk result could also give a false sense of security about our child's health when its no guarantee, our baby could be the one.

We were satisfied that as no anomalies were noted at the 20 week scan that any condition our child might have is not so debilitating that it affected the basic development of their essential organs.

I don't make any judgement on those who choose to have screening though. I appreciate that in different circumstances we may have made a different decision. Both of our mothers had amnios for subsequent children after carrying babies nearly to term who were still born (my angel-sister had Edwards - anomolies picked up at 20 week scan, mum persuaded to have an amnio she didn't want initially so that if the baby died it wouldn't need a post mortem , we don't know what my DH's lost siblings had). I understand why they made the choices they did (and both had healthy youngest children after their loses).

Although I don't disapprove of screening, I think the way that it seems to be routine is problematic because I think some people agree to the first lot of tests (perhaps thrilled they'll get an extra chance to see their baby) without really thinking about what they will do with the high risk/low risk information.

I'm also not certain why the emphasis seems to be on Downs Syndrome when it is a condition that can be lived with a good standard of health and happiness.

another twin mum who could only have ntt scan not blood tests combined, my consultAnt was very blunt and told me id need to follow it through if they found a problem and what would i do with the information if possible problem, worse case was we could have 1 healthy baby and one that may have.problems? we could then have amonio which could cause miscarriage and because they are id both could be at risk, also if one was very poorly may lose both babies :( we decided against it, i did worry id made the wrong choice, but all looked ok at 20 week scan so fingers crossed x