Nuchal fold of 2.4-2.9 in need of happy outcomes or anyone in the same boat?

[mumoftwoboysS]

I'm 17+6 and at my 13 week scan the sonographer said the nuchal fold was 2.4 and I saw that on the screen. When my results came back it said 2.9. I phoned the hospital and questioned it and they said it's probably a mistake so I'm sticking to it being 2.4! I know it's still within the 'range' of normality but of course I'm worried as it's quite high. anyone else had this and gone on to have a healthy baby? Anyone going through it now?

My risk ratio also wasn't great- was 1:267 because of my age (36) then they adjusted it with my blood results to 1:350 so not much better. I'm not sure why as they didn't explain anything to me but I do know my platelet levels are low.

Sooo, I'm a bit wobbly about it all, trying not to worry but worrying none the less! My anomoly scan is in 13 days and it just seems like an eternity to wait. I had the idea last night that I could see if i can get a private scan via Bupa since my DH has family cover but maybe I should just wait it out.

There have been mistakes/delays the whole time with the NHS- I didn't find out my blood results till my 16 week appointment which was at 17 weeks because they couldn't fit me in. My mw had to call the hospital to get them as they hadn't sent them on- rubbish!

I don't really want to have an amnio due to the misscarriage risk and I'm assuming they'll refuse one on the NHS as I'm within the normal range. sigh. Just really don't want this to ruin my enjoyment of my pregnancy.

This is my 3rd and I had NO complications or anything out of the norm with my first two and I think that's why I'm struggling with these things even though at this stage things seem to be going ok.... but I just don't know for certain

any views/advice/stories?

oh and to top it off my MW has been really unsupportive and unsympathetic even saying in a text that she didn't know how to reassure me- wtf??

I expect the midwife was very clumsily saying you didn't need to worry tbh. At 13 weeks 2.4 and/or 2.9 are perfectly normal. You do not have any complications or anything out of the norm. If you had, you would have been referred for an amnio.

There is nothing wrong, abnormal or complicated about any of your results. They are in the normal range. I hope this means you can relax a bit more, if not enjoy it - I do not know when we began to think about pregnancy as something to enjoy, it will always be a state of anxiety/anticipation.

Hi mumof, just seen your post and wanted to say hello and try not to worry...your odds are extremely low still and although you might not be reassured until you get more info at the anomaly scan, its not that far off and would mean you could avoid an amino. anything under 3mm is considered ok I think. good luck x

This is very similar to me a few weeks ago.

I went for a private scan which was worth every single penny. It was still the dating scan period of my pregnancy though so a bit different from you. It seemed so much more thorough than the NHS scan so I'm considering a private anomaly scan too.

There's lots of good advice on my thread including about the Harmony Test if you want a non-invasive definitive answer.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/1791062-1-255-chance-of-Downs-syndrome

Hello, I had an NT of 2.4 mm at 13+1 and it came back low risk, 1:740. I'm 35, so similar to you. Not sure if this reassures you but try not to worry, 2.4 is pretty normal at 13 wks I'm led to believe x

The sonographer at my scan said if his wife was pregnant and had a nuchal fold reading of 3 he wouldn't be worried in the slightest x

I had a similar measurement with dd at 11w6 (I think it was 2.8). My risk ended up being 1/160. DD was fine. Ask them at the anomaly scan if there are any soft markers for Down syndrome but 1/350 is very low risk. Unless you have money to burn I wouldn't pay for a private amnio or harmony test with a risk that low. It's a 99.8% chance that the baby will not have a chromosomal abnormality.

Private scans are not any better than nhs scans. They are not more thorough at all they just make more of a show of it all unless you count the specialist centres in London perhaps., Most of the sonographers are nhs and do a bit of extra on the side or they trained in he nhs and jumped ship altogether. All sonographers will have been original trained in the nhs as that is the only way to train properly.
A nt of 2.4 is fine. It sounds like your risk would have been worked out from the 2.9mm nuchal if that is the one he sonographer put down. so the risk you will have been given is your risk at its very worst and it is still classed as low.
Hope hat reassures you a bit x

Please excuse my typos x

Thanks for all your replies! Really appreciate it and yes I do feel more reassured! I think after MW agreeing that 2.4 was a bit high, what tipped me over the edge was a comment a friend/acquaintance said on friday when I told her my risk ratio, she said aren't you having an amnio? Like I really should as it was such bad odds! I shouldn't have let it get to me- I don't think she realised how her comment sounded.

I don't know why I'm more anxious this time round, its that fear of not knowing and having no control over it all I suppose! (and I think my MW is clueless at giving reassurance!)

hi mythree! Are you on the antenatal threads yet?? hope all is well!

Thanks again, and I think for now I won't go for a private scan, will see how the anomaly scan goes and take it from there.

I think/hope your mw meant 2.4 was on the high side of normal - not high in the big scheme of things. DD's was 2.5 at 13 weeks and she's now a perfectly normal 3-month-old.

Hi mumof, yes I am...I got upduffed straight after you and baby due mid Jan! How are you feeling (bar the nt worry)? What do your two boys make of another one on the way? My little one thinks he has a baby growing in his own tummy...so cute! x

very similar to what my result was for ds2. He's coming up to his first birthday now and perfect and very bright. My results came back as 1:151. i didn't have further tests and i did worry about it a bit during the pregnancy. Wish i hadn't wasted my time Worrying now.

the result for my dd was 3.7. cue much worrying and a cvs test which came back clear. she is 2and a half now and absolutely fine

thanks for more reassuring messages! It's great to hear of others with similar measurements (or higher) with perfectly healthy babies. I have been trying not to worry though I think I'll feel much better once 20 wk scan is here and hopefully all looks fine on the screen. Only 10 days to go...

Mythree- congratulations! Sooo, do you think you managed to get the right colour? I remember you saying you were going to try certain things isn't that right? Are you going to find out? I'm not tho I'm dying to know! My youngest also said that, so cute!

oh, meant to say- my eldest seems happy with the idea and wants another brother!

We had a 3.9 with ds1 and combined tests came back 1:2

He's fine - although we had every test going and were completely prepared for the worst.

Your range sounds very normal. It's really, really scary though, isn't it. Am now 33wks with Ds2 and his was 1.2mm and overall 1:17000 and I still have the odd little fret as we haven't had amino this time so I don't know with a bit of paper in my hand.

If you're still worried at your anomaly scan, explain this to your sonographer and they will explain everything they're doing to you and are very patient ime
X

We too had a high one with DS1 - 4.2 and a 1/40. Despite this triggering lots more additional tests and not a particularly relaxed pregnancy (although in heinsight the best of my 3) we produced a very healthy baby, now 7. In fact at the time I joked he 'probably just has a fat neck' and he did - a real juicy baby.

thanks Belle and Run - yeah I think it's because I don't know for sure and won't till baby is born, its that uncertainty. It's all about risks and ranges rather than absolute proof that all is ok.

If my risk ratio had been high like both of yours I would have gone for the tests too, so I guess i have to trust their methods that I don't need the tests- but in a way i'm envious you got to have the tests to rule out certain genetic disorders at least! (but can imagine the stress/worry must have been awful)

I feel like I'm pushing my luck having 3 somehow so I'm just praying my body can handle a third just as well and all will be fine then I'll thank my lucky stars and not have any more babies!!

mumof The NHS won't tell us in the area that I live. They say it's 'non medical information' (which is true) and are only interested in the health of the child. If something is wrong then they will tell you (or if you have twins). But a friend of mine who is a consultant obs at the same hospital says it's because it takes longer to tell the sex through a scan, and so it's a cost cutting exercise.

So, I have no choice! (Not going to fork out for a private scan) and actually I'm rather pleased as I know if the option to find out was available, I'd be tempted to know, but this way I'll have the best surprise right at the end. And yes, there will be tears of joy if it's a girl, but since the little one has recently decided he only wants a baby brother (called 'Jamie') and because I'm expecting it will be a boy, it will be absolutely perfect either way. Waah.

Oh well I can understand why they do that but annoying for people who really want to know! It would make it easier for me if our hospital did that as I'd be tempted...but DH doesn't want to know!

My SIL just had a little girl last night which is lovely but thinking to myself why is it some people can get a girl first try, when I have to keep trying-lol! I'm the same as you tho, would be brilliant either way as long as baby is healthy but....a girl would be the icing on the cake so to speak!

good luck with your scan -7 days to go till mine- yay!