nuchal fold result worrying

[JustBonnie]

I am posting this on behalf of my sil who doesn't have internet access at the moment. she is 12 weeks pg and had a nuchal fold test yesterday which showed too much fluid. They have said this could either mean the baby has downs syndrome or a heart defect or both. She is obviously very worried but couldn't listen properly at the time as she had her other young children with her. She is going back to speak to a counsellor on Tuesday but I am posting here to see if anyone has any experience of this type of result and what was the outcome. I'm hoping that I might be able to give her some good outcomes so she doesn't worry quite so much. Thank you.

No personal experience but I remember a mumsnetter posting a few weeks ago with a similar experience. She then had a repeat scan a few days later and the fluid measurement was fine. Apparently the original sonographer had taken the wrong measurement. Would it be worth your sil going for another private scan before seeing a counsellor. I've also heard that a high fluid measurement doesn't necessarily mean a bad outcome - she may decide to have a diagnostic test though (like cvs or amnio) to find out for sure. I really hope that things work out for her.

A nuchal fold just gives a statistical likelihood of such conditions (based upon her age, length of pregnancy, measurement from behind the neck) and certainly isn't definitive. Can she go back to midwife and /or gp asap to discuss whether she would like further testing or a referral to a specialist for more scans.If she is within 14 weeks she could have a second such scan to double check the measurement for example.

Hi
I went through this about 16 weeks ago.Had a nuchal measurement of 4.6mm, was told either downs or Edwards. Had cvs and came back normal, also had heart scan at 16weeks and came back normal. Have just had a scan at 28 weeks and little baby girl completley healthy.
It has been a really worrying time and very stressful, but sometimes there are no explanations to these things they pick up on early scans. Tell her to hang in there.
Good luck