At 38 how worried do I need to be before 12 week scan?

[zippyswife]

12 week scan in in 12 days time. I'm now starting to panic that due to my age something bad will be detected at the scan/combined testing.

This is dc3 and with dc2 (I was 34) I was just outside high risk with 1:151. I'm just getting so worked up that my risk is going to be much higher this time.

Anyone fancy talking some sense to me?

Yes me. I had 2nd DC at 42. Bloods gave me high risk although nuchal better than DC1. Midwife said it was just cos of age when they run the calc. Consultant said the same. Had cvs - all fine. DC2 now 4 and perfect

No point second guessing it either - hope it goes well!

Thanks! Yeah I just need to stop worrying about it!

It's understandable that you are worried. I had my 12 week scan 3 weeks before my 39th birthday and had convinced myself there would be nothing there. Obviously there is a risk of problems but it could be absolutely fine as mine was. My only problem was a stubborn baby who wouldn't lie in the right position to get a nuchal fold measurement. I then had the quad blood test and the results were 1:1800. It is so frustrating waiting for the scan and knowing there is nothing you can do but try not to worry.

I feel the same. My scan is on Monday, I'll be over 13 weeks. (I am 37)

This my third pg in the last year or so (dc1), other two ended in mc :(

I am almost convinced we will get bad news on Mon because we had an early scan at 7 weeks and baby (with hb) measured just over 5 weeks (no chance I am out with dates).

It's been a long six weeks!

Fingers x for us both hey? X

Best of luck for Monday patience! I didn't have an early scan this time as I just knew (from previous experience with dcs) that it wouldn't stop me worrying. The fact that baby had heartbeat should be really reassuring. My understanding is that risk of miscarriage drops massively after that.

Thanks for your post doom. I would give anything right now for a low risk like that! It's good to hear your positive experience.

Patience hope all went well today. Thinking of you x

I would suggest you prepare to be high risk - the increase with age is huge! But try not to worry too much about it, there is nothing you can do to help and it's just a case of waiting it out. Might be worth considering what you would do if you are high risk?

I'm 16 weeks pg with DC2, I'm "only" 31 but came out with a very high risk result - 1 in 3 from my 12 week scan. I was glad that I'd already considered what I wanted because I would have felt very pushed to have an Amnio (well CVS which is almost the same) and that definitely isn't what I wanted. Because I'd already thought about it I was able to firmly say no to that and stay in control. Equally if you do want to have the test then having already thought about it you will be more relaxed when it comes up I think.

FWIW it has now been confirmed that my baby has Downs Syndrome - apparently most babies born with DS are born to woman under 35 so please don't feel guilty about age - I'm gathering information and of course am worried but still very much looking forwards to meeting my baby in January :D

Thanks for the advice night. Can I ask how it was confirmed? I think I'd like to have a more detailed scan if I am high risk (if this is an option?) rather than invasive as unless it was found that it was incompatible with life I would want to continue the pregnancy.

Congratulations on your pregnancy x

notnow that is lovely to hear! X

The harmony or panorama blood test, tests for downs, edwards and patau syndrome and can be done as early as 10 weeks onwards.

You won't get it on the NHS as standard (altho I think there's one clinic in London, maybe Kings that are trialling it) and it usually costs ~300 pounds. The results are processed overseas (for Harmony it's in the US) and takes up to 10 days for the outcome.

zippy I had a test similar to the Harmony test called the IONA or SAFE test. They took a(nother) sample of my blood, isolated baby's DNA and tested it for the 3 trisomies (Down's, Edwards and Patau). It's not classed as a "diagnostic" test because it's not considered to the 100% accurate but it is 95%+ accurate so I'm considering it to be a diagnosis.

I had it done on the NHS but was rather lucky to do so. My local hospital don't offer it but a nearby one (St. George's in Tooting which is about half an hour away) started offering it in June and my hospital referred me there and I had it done.

If you refuse the CVS and the Harmony-type test isn't available in your area you can of course pay for it privately - £300+ - or you can do nothing which is what I was expecting as I didn't know it would be available. If you do nothing you will have extra scans and they will try to find the "soft markers" but at 12 weeks it is usually too early to see much - mine was anyway.

Best of Luck - hopefully you will be low risk anyway x

I was 41 when I had ds2, and was classified as very high risk 1:2. We were, however, able to see the nasal bone at the scan, which was seen as an indicator of not having down's.

FWIW I had the scan for information only to be prepared for when we met ds2. I had done a lot of reading and met many parents online like Notnow, who reassured me that their children were every bit as loving and fun and unique as a child without an extra chromosome (if not more so), and who dispelled many of the awful myths about life with a baby with Down's Syndrome.

When I had my last baby I was 34 and risk 1/350.
With this one I am 35 and my risk is 1/18000.
So please try not to worry, enjoy your scan.

Thank you all for your lovely words and reassurance. When I was borderline high risk with ds2 I researched a bit about Down syndrome and became comfortable with the fact he may be and felt at ease with it. But it's lovely to hear all your comforting words too.