What exactly is a nuchal fold scan?

[spinach]

I know its mainly to screen for downs... do they look for other stuff? trying to decide whether to have one or not.
tia. xx

am pretty sure it takes measurements for a soft marker for downs syndrome and from the length calculates a risk factor also based on age. it only gives you a risk factor and then you have to decide what to do about it. Think if its 1:250 you are asked to think about further testing, doesn't test for any other conditions
I'm ahving one on Tuesday next week

sorry spinach, just been reading about it and a high nuchal transparency reading may also indicate other chromosomal disorders or complications for the baby.
I think the less I read the better off I am

thanks hana, i've read similiar, but nothing goes into much details, it would help to know exactly what they are looking for

I think it notices other trisomies, too. And of course it will tell you about general viability.

That being said, it mostly detects Downs I think. And if you wouldn't terminate for Downs, it may not be worth having the scan in the first place.

whats trisomies?

absolutely - ignorance is bliss sometimes - didn't even think about one with dd, had one with dd2 and now this one. Not as scared as I was with dd2 though. But still..

Sorry, trisomies are when you have 3 of a chromosome, rather than 2. Downs is the only trisomy that's viable, afaik. Other trisomies mostly result in a miscarriage, but can result in a baby that can only live for a day or two, if that.

(I'm not an expert, and am going from memory here.)

Downs is by far the most common trisomy in fetuses.

maybe Edwards syndrome or Patou's syndrome? lots on google about both

sorry, prob giving too much info here ( Edwards and Patous are both trisomies as well) I've had a termination for what we were told was one of these 3 syndromes a few years ago

sorry to hear that hana. I'm not in any risk group and I'm only 30, but i had a general anaesthetic at 4 weeks preg, so tad paranoid.

I guess it's just added reassurance then - ours had multiple abnormalities , not life coompatible. I keep telling myself it could never happen again, but of course it could. we had another dd about 2 years later
good luck with your decision to have a scan

sorry for your loss, thanks for your advice. xx

i am 44 and had two pregnancies this year. the first ended at 8 weeks and 3 days and we later found out the foetus had edwards syndrome. the second, i am still carrying but at 13 weeks 6 days found out after a CVS that the baby has patou syndrome. I shall be terminating this pregancy. anyone been in the same situation and managed to carry to a healthy baby? i ask because am reluctant to go through all the emotional upheaval again.

Janet I am so sorry . I did not want to read and run. I really dont know, but with age the quality of our eggs decreases and that increases the chances of having a child with a disability. The jury is out on whether there are things you can do to increase the quality of the eggs. I think it might be worth consulting with a genetics specialist before deciding on another pregnancy.

thank you for your reply homeandaway, much appreciated. i cry as i respond. as far as i aware the only way we can can genetically test for these chromosonal abormalities is once they egg has been fertilized - be it outside the body (IVF) or via CVS/amnio once you are once you are impregnated. If you or any other reader knows of any other way of testing for chromosonal abnormalites would be grateful to hear of them.

The nuchal fold scan measures a pocket of fluid at the back of the baby's neck at 11-14 weeks. That measurement is combined with results from a blood test (taken at the same time) and also your age is taken into account, then you get a 1 in whatever risk of the baby having Down's, Edward's or Patau's.

The cut-off for whether you're considered high or low risk depends on your hospital and area - in some places it will be 1:150, other 1:200 or 1:250.

Bear in mind that the test just gives you odds of the baby having one of these syndromes - you could have a result of 1:3 and the baby is fine, or odds of 1:100,000 and be the '1'. The only way to be certain is to have a CVS or amnio but these are invasive tests and carry some risk that the NT scan doesn't.

There is loads of advice and support on the Antenatal Tests & Choices board.

The blood tests are really important. Make sure they are done on the same day.

Like everyone has said the nuchal test only gives you your odds. I was 1 in 80 and chose to have an amnio. Next time I would go straight for the amnio as the nuchal really didn't do anything but scare me.

janet613 so sorry, I didn't realise this was an old thread.
So sorry for your losses.

Likewise Janet, I didn't see it was an old thread - so sorry for your losses.

I think you would definitely find some helpful support on the Antenatal Tests & Choices board, including a thread for women who have chosen to terminate in similar circumstances.

thank you for your replies. this is not an old thread. it was posted yesterday, 9th september 2011. so you replies have been helpful. i did have a CVS at the Centre for Fetal Medicine, London as did not suffer a miscarriage. i would have again if necessary. the chances of miscarriage 1%. trusted my clinician, dr nikolodies (spelling?).