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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

NHS nuchal vs private?

14 replies

vannah · 17/05/2007 14:15

Hi, I just wondered if anyone had tried the nuchal scan thats available on the nhs? I had a private scan done with my first pg, that was about 2.5 years ago, and ive heard that since then, my local hospital does them too. I was told they measure the fluid but dont check for nasal bone as apparently this is just a 'theory'.
The private scan i had done some years ago did both.
Also, can anyone recommend a good place in london for a private nuchal scan - the one where I had the last one done has shot up the prices unreasonably so.

thankyou
vannah

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ska · 17/05/2007 14:17

yes we did but this was in 1999 and 2000. friends (younger than me) had their's done by smae chap but privately. he was lovely in all cases even when he found things amiss.

incy · 17/05/2007 14:29

Must say I was not very impressed with the NHS nuchal fold test - mainly because it took a week for the results to come back whilst at the fetal medicine centre it was given to me on the day.

I personally found the NHS scan very impersonal and rushed - I wasn't told what they were looking at and they didn't check the nasal bone etc.

Fetal medicine centre on Harley street is excellent but does cost £150.

Holly29 · 17/05/2007 14:30

Hiya

I have had both my scans done at the Fetal Medicine Centre on Harley Street and I love them. the nuchal cost £150 but well worth it as you spend over an hour and a half there, having blood tests, then detailed scan and consideration of nuchal fold and nasal bone and everything. It is hugely reassuring and the sonographers are lovely.

incy · 17/05/2007 14:30

fetal medicine centre

Lemmiwinks · 17/05/2007 15:06

Definitely go with the Fetal Medicine Centre over the NHS, they are fab. I've got a close friend who did her nuchal scan on the NHS around same time I had mine done and there's no comparison in my mind, in our experiences. Sometimes you do get what you pay for. I don't know if this was just her experience but they did not combine the blood work at the same time they did the scan and they did not look in such depth at the baby other than the nuchal translucency and the nasal bone, nor did they give her much advice or discuss much anything about it all. When I went to the FMC, they looked at literally evey chamber of the heart, the brain, the arteries, the umbilical cord, etc etc. For me, that gave me tremendous piece of mind knowing they looked at a whole range of issues, not just the nuchal translucency and nasal bone. Plus, you are given your results right then and there, not a week or two later like on the NHS. Well worth it in my mind and they take as long as they need to, no rushing the appointment. The baby wasn't cooperating for ages and would not go in the right postition but they were so patient and just let me stay all day and wander around and keep popping back in till the baby was in the right spot. They have all the time in the world for you and spend ages discussing any concerns with you. Plus, you get loads more copies of the pics of the scan than you do on the NHS and they are much more clear. Not something very important in the grander sceme of things but definitely an added bonus. Best $150 I ever spent and it's lovely to know the money goes straight back into fetal medicine research and everyone who works there is so kind and friendly.

Aloha · 17/05/2007 15:08

I could not fault the expert scanning I had at Kings, where the nuchal fold scan was actually invented. Superb attention to detail. I have many, many complaints about Kings, but the scanning was fantastic.

WanderingWanderer · 17/05/2007 15:13

Just on this same theme, I have been offered a combined nuchal/bloods test at my local NHS hospital and it costs £150. This is a new service apparently. Wonder how many takers they will get, as I checked the price of the same test at the place I had a previous nuchal scan for my last pg (very plush, private centre, very thorough and detailed, instant results) and there it is £130! Can't believe the NHS is more expensive than a private, specialist scanning centre

Fingernails · 17/05/2007 19:06

Lucky all of you - I'm in Edinburgh where there's no NHS nuchal scanning and it costs ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY POUNDS to go private. I'm pretty furious about it to be honest - I'm lucky and can afford it but many others clearly can't. It seems shocking to me that a straightforward and non-invasive test exists that can be done early in pregnancy and the NHS won't pay for it, thus ensuring that anyone who can't afford the tests and would want to terminate a pregnancy is forced into a situation where they will have to give birth.
Strongly-worded letter in the post, I think.

ScaryHairy · 17/05/2007 19:10

I had a nuchal scan on the NHS as part of my booking scan. It takes no time at all and they gave me the results there and then.
Why don't you go for the NHS nuchal scan and see what you think. If you don't trust them after that, pay for a private scan.

Moorhen · 17/05/2007 19:38

Just wanted to second everyone who plugged the Fetal Medicine Centre. My experience was fantastic - not just the scan and tests, which are supposed to be more than 95 per cent accurate (compared to the 60 per cent accurate quad test my local hospital would have given me FOUR WEEKS LATER - 60 per cent accurate only slightly better than a guess, IMHO!) but seeing the LO in 4D moving around and kicking. Was one of the most moving, happy experiences of my life and worth every penny of £150.

BTW, is it just me or is it a bit off for people to ask you "what would you have done if the results had shown Down Syndrome"? I've been asked that quite a few times now, and it seems just incredibly intrusive, to me. We are not talking close friends and family, either!

Original poster

vannah · 17/05/2007 21:23

thankyou for your replies everyone. That has confirmed my original instinct to book a private scan.
Scaryhairy, I would have had the nhs one done first, only they are offering me it at gone 13.5 weeks. Even then I dont know if its a nuchal or just a dating scan that Im booked in for, the woman on the phone wasnt listening to me at all.

And i think I would rather have the nuchal done at 12 weeks,...?

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Original poster

vannah · 17/05/2007 21:24

forgot to say - thanks for the positive recommendations about the fetal medical centre. Will look them up.

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superloopy · 17/05/2007 21:35

I had my 12 week nuchal scan done today at the Fetal Medicine Centre and it was fabulous.

The scan is so thorough and not rushed at all, she seemed to check and double check everything. We also got about 8 photos which are wonderfully clear and detailed.

I paid for this scan as we are moving to Australia to live next week and I still hadn't had my NHS booking in appointment with the midwife yet.

alondonmum · 23/05/2007 09:26

I am very supportive of the NHS and have had 3 NHS nuchal scans. In my most recent they didn't do bloods as well and gave me a high risk nuchal score (1 in 200). They then took blood but I have to wait a week for the results. I couldn't cope with the anxiety and booked in to Fetal Medicine Centre £150 (we should all be on commission!) and I had the scan yesterday. With bloods (results same day) and other markers taken into account the FMC reduced my risk to 1 in 1000. So now I'm not even considering CVS. The experience was lovely - clearer pics on machine. The nhs scans are just as accurate, but the problem for me was cutting back on the blood test which meant they weren't getting the full picture on the day. Perhaps go for NHS and then if you feel you need more info - go to FMC.

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