nuchal scans, CUBS and Harmony test???

[weeonion]

Good morning folks.

Please bear with me on this - i am 42 and 13.6 wks pg with DC2 and finding this pg very tough so far. Not feeling very positive and my age has become such a focal point in my mind in terms of risks etc

I was wondering if it is a common practice to give you the nuchal measurement at the time of your scan? I had a dating scan last week where they put me further on than expected and so did the nuchal scan at same time. They didnt give me it and other women on my antenatal thread were told theirs. Hospital said i wouldnt get results of it and blood test for 2 weeks (due to easter hols) which will put me around

I had a private scan and CUBS test booked for this weekend which has been cancelled and they cant see me now for 2 weeks which puts me beyond dates obv for nuchal and nasal bone measurements. I now dont know if there is any point paying all that money for it?

I am thinking i should just go for the Harmony test but not sure if there is an upper limit as to when it can be done and if they will be access my scans/ measurements from NHS? Also - if i get a test booked - it takes 16 + days for results to be back

Sorry if this is all a garble but feel in a bit of a tail spin about it all as time is moving on and if we have any tough decisions to make - it seems to be getting later and later.

thanks

I'm 42 and had DC3 6 months ago, my nuchal test came back at 1:19000 and he was by far the easiest pregnancy. I know a big thing is made about age but please don't worry I know many women who have had babies in their 40's and everything has been fine

thanks foxeym, i appreciate your reply. It is the waiting that i am finding hard and also the idea that the time span to do the tests / scans I wanted will pass.

We havent told anyone about this pg and dont feel i can until i get some reassurance from tests. I dont feel connected to this pg or potential baby at all and it feels like everything is on hold until we hear - which may be weeks yet.

We got the cheaper Nifty test done around this time. Results still take a couple of weeks though.

Mine were cagey about giving any 'false security' before bloods came back. They said 'it looks OK in there' but no measurements.

weeon The Harmony test can be done at any time in your pregnancy. They do note access any data from your NHS records at all, it's completely independent.
I'd say that it probably is more accurate than the combined screening - but there are downsides. It's expensive, and yes, the results take 2 weeks. Plus, the test can fail - I've done it twice, and it failed both times because they could isolate enough fetal DNA from my blood.

They should have told you the nuchal measurement at the time of your scan - did they give a reason? You could phone them and ask, it will be in your notes, and you have a right to that information.
Two weeks is quite long for the combined results to come back, but to be honest, if they find any problems, they will probably call you asap (they did with me). It might not be much of a consolation, but the longer you don't hear anything, the better it looks...

thanks for all your replies.

I rang the hospital to see if i could find out the results and am waiting for them to call back. When i asked at scan what were the measurements like - I was told it was standard for these to go to consultant and reference also made to my age (again!). They said it would take longer due to easter holidays and labs being closed etc.

Taking hope JBrd that the longer i dont hear the better.

I did speak with consultant re amniocentesis and it didnt bother me so much being told the 1% risk of miscarriage etc at that time but now it does more. They have me booked for it on the 10th May and I was hoping to have all results back before then so I could cancel if it seemed risk was low.

I suppose I want every test / reassurance I can get before I start to think of this pg as really viable and am so hung up on risks etc that I am struggling to think beyond that at this stage. With the private CUBS and harmony it is 880 which we dont have lying around spare but I am willing to pay it to find out as much as I can.

Paddy - I cant find anywhere in Scotland that offers the NIfty test - are you in England / Wales?

My family live in Ireland and we want to tell them face to face which requires planning and booking etc to get there. It seems now that it will be the end of May before that can happen really.

Anyhow thanks for your replies. Much appreciated.