Changed my mind about screening

[Sunshinie]

When I went for my booking in appointment the midwife asked me if I wanted the screening for Down's syndrome I said no but then she carried on explaining about Edward's and Patau's. For some reason I ended up saying yes when she said I had to make a decision that day as it depends what type of scan they do. Since then I've gone back to my original decision-that I don't want it, I still can't understand why I said yes.
I've had my letter for my scan appointment through for next week. Can I just tell them when I'm there that I've changed my mind and don't want them to check the nuchal translucency? I did think of phoning but don't want them to change my appointment.

Just tell them when you get there. ☺️

They can check.nuchal.without doing all of the other tests if you are comfortable with that?

I think the only difference is the NT measurements so scan is pretty much the same and you should be able to just tell them and refuse the blood test done the same day. But to bare in mind that the NT measurements are not only an indicator of chromosomal abnormalities but also possible heart problems my sonongrapher said they always measure the NT even if the combined test is declined and will then offer a more detailed ultrasound to check the heart.

Yep just tell them. I didn't have it with my first daughter because it was my first pregnancy and it wouldn't have made any difference to my decision to carry on with my pregnancy. With this pregnancy we had the screening as we felt we would want to prepare dd if there was a problem. The main difference between the scans was the amount of time spent. With dd we were in and out, they confirmed a viable pregnancy and that was it. This time it took a while to get the nuchal measurement so we got to see our second daughter a little longer.

Ok thanks. I'll just speak to them about it when I get there

I said no to screening but starting to think I want it.
Do you think that may also be ok to mention at the scan? Do they still need to take bloods? Can they just measure NT?

I was told I could change my mind to a no but not to a yes, so I said yes rather than say no and not be able to have it if I wanted it

Phone the hospital that you are due to have your scan at and ask.

They asked me at the scan before I started if I consented to the screening.

They usually ask you again at the scan as you would have had to sign a form to say you agree to the screening?? You know They only look at your baby on the screen and measure the fluid behind the neck on the picture right?

No I don't know what's involved in the screening but if that's all it is it should be ok

When you go for the scan, at reception they normally ask and you have to sign if you want the screening, because for bloods they'll have to book you in (either after the scan or at another time) they always ask either way.

Type of scan? They're the same whether they look for those conditionss or not. They'll ask again when you're there, you can decline at the scan.
I said yes to all the screening tests but got to my scan and found out I was over 15 weeks so it was too late. They did the downs syndrome test and blood though. I never really cared about the screening with my first either because... what am I going to do with the results? Nothing. So why does it matter? I would let nature take it's course. A baby with downs syndrome is not the worst thing in the world. They only screen for it because it's easy to screen for, no other reason. I would never have a diagnostic test and risk losing a pregnancy to find out it's actually okay.

You can decline at the time. I personally chose to screen both times (first daughter had Edwards, this baby seems to be fine so far) but only because of the exceptionally high risk of stillbirth in all three major trisomies which can be reduced by good pregnancy management which you don't get if you don't know. I want to maximise the baby's chance of survival. Just adding this, because people seem to think screening is just about termination or not but for me it is very much about optimising the chance of a good outcome.

Just wanted to add that the high NT measurement at my scan led to me having additional cardiac ultrasounds at a specialist Centre. Which indicated a major heart defect. This defect is treatable, but I need additional monitoring throughout my pregnancy, and more key, I will be induced early so that I am in the correct place for immediate treatment (drugs to be administered) which will keep my baby alive long enough for surgery. This condition may also have been picked up at the 20 week anomaly scan. I'm just trying to indicate that it is not only a downs screening test. But looks at different aspects of babies overall health.

I said we didn't want to know the nuchal fold results, but they sent them anyway....

As most people already mentioned, tell the sonographer when you get there. I had my scan yesterday and although I said yes to all non-invasive testing/scanning the sonographer double checked with me if that is indeed correct and if I am still happy to go ahead with this which gave me an impression that I could have changed my decision there and then.

You might find that you are not the only one who has changed her mind by the time the scan is due.

Good luck!