nuchal scanning

[geordiemacminx]

Was hoping to get the advice of the MN counsel..I'm 9 weeks with first after a m/c in June. I have recently discovered to my annoyance (for want of a better word) that I live in an area of the UK where you only get 1 scan at 12 weeks. No nuchal scan, no 20 week scan etc etc etc. Its the whole nuchal thing that concerns me the most.. is it necessary? Is it worth paying the £200+ for a private one? I'm 24 btw.

Many thanks

the nuchal scan is just like a normal scan but they measure the thickness of the bit behind the neck - thicker than a normal range can indicate downs - but it is not definitive.

The blood tests you have at about 16 weeks gives the same sort of inidication.

Depending on those results you could then opt for an amniocentesis to check the chromosones and get a definite diagnosis.

I think I would be more concerned about not having a 20 week scan - they can pick up many more things via that - and might save my money to have that done privately. and I would ask what their rationale is for not having routine 20 week scans.

The nuchal scan will tell you your risk of baby having Downs Syndrome - Whether the £200 is worth it will depend on if this is something you would like to know. If you are having a scan at 12 weeks anyway (nuchal will also be around this time) and you are not interested in the risk then probably not worth it. For DS my local hospital only did one scan at 20 weeks so I did pay for Nuchal scan as couldn't wait that long to check all was ok and also I was an older mum so my risk was increased (I was 32). It is worth noting that the nuchal scan will only tell you the risk of down syndrome - not a definitive yes or no. For me it was worth it because of my age and the reassurance at 12 weeks that all was ok. I sympathise because I know it is a nightmare to only get one scan. Congratulations by the way !

Hi, congratulations on being pg. I paid for the nuchal scan after having a m/c at 20wks for me it was more about reassurance that everything was still okay from my 10 wk scan. I am surprised they don't do a 20 wk scan if you could only pay for one, I'd be inclined to pay for a 20wk. As you can get check that all is oaky with the babe, heart, brain, spine, etc.

Good luck!

I went to the FMC in london which does the nuchal combined with blood tests for an even more accurate result. It is £150 plus travel to London though and still gives you a risk rather than a certainty. THe only way to know for certain is with an invasive test, as I am sure you know.

If it were me, I would decide based what you would do if you found out you were high risk. If you would think about terminating the pg, it might be worth thinking about the test as if you were high risk (admittedly unlikely at your age) you could have a CVS earlier than an amnio. I don't know if you get blood tests at 16 weeks in your area, but if you do then amnio is the only option afterwards as you are too late for CVS.

If OTOH you would proceed with the pg no matter what, I personally wouldnt bother with a nuchal, and would save my money for the 20 week scan. I agree with USAUK mum that the 20 week one is the biggie as they can see so much more. Outrageous that you don't get one on the NHS. Whereabouts are you (out of interest - I am very nosey. On my ante natal thread what you get on the NHS varies enormously).

HTH. And huge CONGRATULATIONS too!

Hi Georgiemacminx - as an older Mum, I opted to have the combined nuchal scan and Addmark blood screening tests done privately two weeks ago, and I personally think it was well worth it, as it's a far safer option than going for an invasive test. The detection rate for the Nuchal is 71% and the Addmark is 89% so we felt it was sensible to go for both. My results showed very low risk - 1:50,000 which was reassuring.

I've only had NHS scans prior to 9 weeks, so no idea if the private scan was more detailed than what you get on the NHS at 12 weeks. The Sonograpaher talked us through the scan, covering every aspect of our baby's development from top of head to tiny toes! We chose to have a DVD made of the scan, which I have watched daily ever since!

They also check and listen to heartbeat and a couple of other things that just help to ascertain that all is going well and your baby is developing normally.

As well as measuring the Nuchal fold, they also look at the development of the baby's nose, as an underdeveloped 'flat' nose can also be indicative of Downs.

Surely at 24 you're low risk, but if you're worried I'd opt for either the Nuchal or Addmark test, and if the results indicate you are higher risk, then perhaps opt for further testing?

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Minnie

Thanks so much for all of your replies. I think I will speak to the sonograper tomorrow when I have my scan (due to m/c) and see what they say. I'm in Glasgow DollyP.

I'd spend it on a decent anomaly scan at 20 weeks tbh

I was just going to add -- if you wanted to have the scan to test out abnormalties or to reassure yourself you still have a baby. Very different reasons, both very valid.

Good luck tomorrow and let us know how you get on.