Neucal Scan?

[MrsCornishBadger]

Hello everyone
I am 34, 9 weeks and we've just had our first midwife meeting - and we can't decide whether or not to have a 'neucal' (sp?) scan at 12 weeks along with the normal dating scan. I'm sure you all know more about it than we do - it is to check for any detectable problems like downs, but as our midwife says it may just lead to more investigations and worry. But then, may be we'll worry without it? Did anyone have it, or not, and how did you decide? (The £150 might be a factor. . . )

I had a nuchal scan with all mine but had no intentions of having any invasive tests should the results have come back high risk. I just wanted an idea of what to expect.

I had a nuchal scan with all mine but had no intentions of having any invasive tests should the results have come back high risk. I just wanted an idea of what to expect.

Me again, I've looked at the 'Downs High Risk Please Advise' thread since posting my previous - already I feel more informed and apologies for writing before looking around properly - but it does reinforce our quandry rather: This is our first child and we are totally in love with it already. I know about Downs' in particular and would absolutely not terminate if it were detected. As for the other conditions which may be detected, how on earth would one be able to balance a decision? My husband is catholic which adds another element. But on the other hand, someone mentioned that there are some detectable condidtions which are treatable during pregnancy.
Does everyone go through this debate? Thanks dear MNers

i'd have the nuchal scan for sure. i'm 18+5 weeks pregnant with baby no 2 and i had the scan with both pregnancies; got my anomaly scan this friday and i'm a lot less nervous now that i've had an earlier scan as well. apart from looking at the fluid behind the baby's neck and doing the blood tests for hormone levels, which is well worth doing in most cases imo tho i know opinions differ, you get to see your baby! for me, a single mum though not by choice this time, this was a crucial part of the bonding process. and being told that everything they could see looked fine was incredibly reassuring at the time. i guess i had my own reasons. but both my experiences of the scan were really positive.

I was offered one with this pregnancy (they are offering them to all women here now) but I declined it.

Feel the same as you that I wouldn't have a termination anwyay and I had an anomoly scan at 20 weeks so we could see then if anything was wrong.

It's a personal choice though

MrsCornishBadger - It sounds as if a nuchal scan wouldn't affect any decision you might make anyway - in which case I would probably skip it - although I didn't realise you had to pay in some areas!!

Many things which cannot be detected at the 12 week scan CAN be seen by the 20 week scan. The condition of DS's leg was picked up then. It made no difference, there wasn't anyhting that could usefully be done before he was born, but it was very very helpful that I knew and was prepared before birth. I think that other things that can be treated in utero (like kidney conditions of the baby) would be picked up through other symptoms - or at the 20 week scan. But I'm no expert!

Im 11wks and am going to be having this scan. To be honest its more for my dh's peace of mind than anything else but im going along with it just for the chance to see my LO on screen before the 20wk scan. I dont have to pay for the scan which is why i think dh decided he wanted us to have it, i think if we had to pay it would have been another matter.

When discussing it with my midwife she did say that unless i knew the results could alter my feelings on this pregnancy then it wasnt really worth having it. Whether you decide to go ahead and have the scan or not im sure you will make the right decision.

Thank you so much everyone, Cathblowsout candles, do you think you feel more bonded with the N scan than you would with the normal one? Glad it was so magic for you.
Does anyone know - is there anything that can be picked up by the N scan that would not be seen at 20 weeks?

I am no expert mrs cornish and i have had the nuchal with two out of my 5 babies. ( i was 34 and 37 at the time)
From what you have said i would not go for it - all it does is give a probability and raise a lot of questions. Save your money and go for 3d or something more fun. the 20 week scan is very thorough and if you would not terminate anyway i would save yourself the stress! hth

I did not have a nuchal fold scan with my first two babes - and my eldest has down syndrome - which was picked up by hard markers at a 20 week anomaly scan. With dd2 - it would not make a difference and so decided not to. Am now pregnant a 3rd time at 38 and decided to have it ( mainly cause dh wanted me to for his peace of mind) - and cause at 12 weeks here you do not get a dating scan and I just needed to know I was pregnant and to see the baby ( strange I know!)

However we had already decided that no matter the outcome that there would be no invasive testing - personal preferences here. My chance of having conditions that are highlighted by nuchal translucency screening was reduced from 1 in 58 to 1 in 969 - and despite that the genetic counsellor asked me to consider whether that chance was acceptable and to think about whether I would have an amnio etc.

I think what made it easier was that we had already decided that no matter what - 20 week anomaly scan was it - we would not be having an amnio or cvs no matter the result.

It did make me very cross to have a genetic counsellor sit there and try to tell me what it is like to have a child with special needs - in particular down syndrome - as my eldest daughter sat in the room with us. The high nuchal translucency result can indicate a number of other conditions besides down syndrome - some which are far more serious in terms of life expectancy and quality of life. I guess you need to decide how much you need to know before you have the baby.

IF you need to know your chances of having a child with a genetic condition indicated through nts or would act further on the information - then have the test. If you would not have any further testing and would not act on the results iyswim and then it does seem unnecessary to me.

sorry for the long message - hope it helps.

My friend had the nucal and was given a 1 in 95 chance of downs so had an amnio. The lady performing the amnio said that she did 150 last year and only 3 had come back showing a problem. I think all these tests except amnio and cvs have high false positive results but only you can make this decision.

yes i think it depends on your reasons, because i'm relatively young the risks were quite low anyway, to be honest in my case it was more that i wanted to have a scan before 20 weeks and it seemed a good time to have it. that said i've got my 20 week scan tomorrow and am still petrified! these things are always nerve wracking anyway. i'd just do whatever you feel. there is no right answer!

I had the nuchal scan as we don't get a 20 wks scan here, but I would have been offered one if I had come back as high risk after the scan.

I would not have considered amnio (I don't think, wasn't put in the position so I can't really say) but I would have wanted to have a 20wk scan to check for markers and heart problems etc.

My midwife was quite discouraging and (reading between the lines) seemed to be suggesting that there was no point unless you would terminate if the result came back positive for a genetic abnormality (after amnio obv). I however felt that I would like to be able to prepare myself if that is actually possible or useful.

One thing though which I think isn't emphasised or explained enough: there are NO false positives with these tests, just a risk factor. Even if your result came back 1 in 4 for example, this would still be saying that 75% of babies with this measurement would NOT be affected.

Equally, my very low risk result does not mean that my baby will not have a chromosomal abnormality, just that it is unlikely.

I think your personal attitude to risk is an important thing to consider when deciding whether or not to test and you should make sure that you fully understand the implication of the results.

Thank you all: I think we've decided to give it a miss - que sera and all that. Your comments were really helpful. What a minefield this baby lark is! But how amazing too. Best wishes!

Does anyone know - do they do the nuchal at the same time as the standard 12 week dating scan?
Do they do the bloods at the same time as well?
Do my 12wk dating scan appt, but it doesn't mention anything else. Appt is at the Royal London.

As a "high risk" - 39 and first pg. - I've opted for it, to get some kind of idea if there might be a problem with the baby.

Don't know what I'd do, but don't think I'd risk an amnio. Just think having this info will prepare us for what to expect.

I can only speak from my experience but my hospital did it as part of the dating scan. I was 13wks.

It's very important for the sonographer to be fully trained and experienced at taking the measurements as it's such a tiny thing they are measuring and so a miniscule error can throw the reliability of the results right off. Some places might do it separately for this reason, I dunno!

I got the CUBS test which combines the nuchal measurement, a blood test and maternal age related risk to give the final risk factor. The bloods were taken the same day (which was also my booking in appointment so just one more phial to add to the many being taken for various purposes!)

JuicyLucy, it varies with each hospital (I'm afraid I don't know about the Royal London) but usually if you are being offered a nuchal scan they will tell you when you get the date for your dating scan.

I had the CUBS test which Zippy mentions (nuchal fold & nasal bone measurement plus biochemistry) at the private Fetal Medicine Centre (Prof Nicolaides) as it wasn't offered to me (maybe age related) at my NHS hospitals (The Whittington & Kingston). Also, some hospitals only do the nuchal fold test and not blood. I was high risk for all 3 of my pgs and had CVS which is like amnio but takes place earlier between 11-14 weeks. There is a m/c risk (1% I think).