4.9mm result at 13 week nuchal scan

[Mumsstar14]

Hi everyone I'm 13 weeks pregnant and had my nuchal scan last week. To my horror I was told my nuchal measurement seems to be 4.9mm which I know over 3mm is high. Ever since I just feel lost, confused and worried. I have an appointment to see a specialist tomorrow to have more in depth scans, I've been all over the internet looking up similar stories but I wondered if anyone has anything to add to my story. I'm just so worried. Thanks

Sorry you are going through this. Post on the antenatal tests and choices board on here. Loads of info and advice.

Also when I was going through issues to do with testing I phoned the arc helpline. Really helpful.

Good luck.

www.arc-uk.org

Thank you x

Did you have combined screening as well ?

Hi. No I haven't had the bloods. I just went for
the scan and they told me the NT result was 4.9mm and I've been referred for further scans. They said with a NT of 4.9mm a blood result wouldn't satisfy them everything was ok even if it was low risk so no point having it x

Best results take into account bloods and nuchal to assess overall risk.

I had a 4mm result 4 years ago which came out as a 1 in 4 risk of downs on combined screening.
I had a CVS which came back normal, and after that fetal cardiac, renal, brain and just about every bit of him scanned..... then weekly scans with the consultant until 28 weeks when they concluded he was perfect :-)
He was born a 10lb whopper at 39 weeks and was - and still is perfect..... I also read at the time of several others who had large nuchals and everything turned out ok.

I expect they will offer you a CVS (you might want to read up on it beforehand). At 13 weeks it is hard to do detailed scanning as everything is so small so it. Make sure you have someone with you at the appointment tomorrow- write things down if you need to and ask if there is anything you don't understand..... at my hospital there was a dedicated screening nurse who was available on the phone anytime.

I hope all goes well at the appointment- if my experience is anything to go by this could be the first of many scans and appointments...... but each is a little milestone if nothing serious turns up
x

DD1 had a NF measurement of 11.6mm, admittedly much worse than with you so things didn't go well for us, so we didn't have the bloods and went straight to fetal medicine a few days later. It was surprising just how much the fetal medicine consultant was able to see on the scan.

"Best results take into account bloods and nuchal to assess overall risk."

I can see why there would be little point in doing the bloods for you. The NF on its own has moved you into a high risk group (this clearly is just a risk and things, as with rightsaidfred, might be fine). The bloods are a screening test simply to establish who is high risk and who is low risk, so they are not going to add anything.

The next steps might be suggesting a CVS or amnio to see if there is a chromosomal problem, repeat scans, and full fetal echos (heart scans) at 16 and 23 weeks.

I found the Fetal Medicine midwives to be very helpful right the way throughout, so do feel free to ask them questions and for them to go over things again.

I didn't use them myself but lots of people have also recommend ARC www.arc-uk.org/ for advice.

Thanks everyone for replies. I thought myself even if goes well tomorrow it will be the first of many scans. Fingers crossed eh! X

The bloods are a screening test simply to establish who is high risk and who is low risk, so they are not going to add anything.

But within high risk and low risk there is a lot of variety e.g. 1/40 is different from 1/4, very different (likewise 1/350 and 1/10,000 are both low risk - but very different).

Hope it is going well today, mumstar.

squizita, a NF measurement of 4.5-5.4mm gives a risk of 1/3 of a chromosomal abnormality and a 1/2 of a normal karyotype with no complications. Blood tests aren't going to change the next steps. As nothing is going to change, there is no point doing an unnecessary test.

fetalanomaly.screening.nhs.uk/leafletsforprofessionals leads you to a list of guidance including the leaflet called 'Nuchal Translucency greater than or equal to 3.5mm'.

Hi thought I'd give my experience, my fold measurement was 5.5 which two weeks later had dropped to 3.4 but according to my hospital was just below normal. My risk came back at one in 75. I was offered cvs and animo but refused, as i didn't think it was worth the risk. Don't gete wrong the wait for my 20 week scan was terrible. But all seems fine and they used my new favourite word NORMAL! At the end of the day everything is your choice, go with your instinct. I hope everything goes well for you.

mumsstar How did it go today?

Was not good news for us I'm afraid my little baby had no heartbeat :( I have to go in tomorrow to have the baby by taking tablets etc. Not a good time. H&h 9months to everyone x

Oh, I am sorry, mumstar. There's nothing that anyone can say now that can make anything feel a lot better but there are lots of us here on MN who have dealt with things like this and are willing to listen if you need someone to talk to. Hope tomorrow is as physically easy and uncomplicated as possible.

Thanks. I'm just holding on to the fact that it's common that it must have been an ill baby and it's for the best x

Oh mumsstar I am so sad to hear that. I hope you have lots of support in real life and as others have said there is lots of support on mumsnet from people who have been in similar situations. Look after yourself x