Abnormal nuchal screening test

[Evianfash40]

I went for my 12 week scan for my first baby yesterday and received the bad news that during the nuchal screening there was a lot of fluid around the baby and showed an abnormal result. I just want to see if anyone else has experienced this as it's my first and I found the whole thing really heart breaking at the hospital. I had to wait 40mins for my scan and I knew immediately something was wrong, I shouldn't have gone on my own but I wasn't expecting anything to go wrong having had a good private scan at 9 weeks. The sonographer was very quiet and then just said there was a lot of fluid & skin oedema which was prominent suggesting high chance of chromosomal disorder - downs etc. She then asked if I still wanted a photo, like she'd already written my baby off, then gave me a picture which was not a great angle but I felt like she was dismissive and insensitive - she didn't perform rest if scan - I didn't get to see what was on the screen. I was left in waiting room crying whilst waiting for my blood test as it was the combined test and after I had it they moved to a private room whilst I waited to see consultant. She did another scan which confirmed what the first sonographer had seen and advised me to wait for blood test results which should come to today and to then take the cvs test tomorrow. I am so devastated - and also frustrated with how the hospital handled it - I have no nuchal measurement - so I don't feel like I can put into context how bad it is. I just felt the consultant had totally written off my pregnancy which suggests what they saw was really not viable but no-one has explained to me what they could see. I found it hard to look at the screen because I could see what looked like a normal baby, beating heart with feet and hands. I'm so upset, has anyone else been through this?

@My3boys9910 Having read the thread from the beginning, I’m going to answer in the hopes you can get MNHQ to edit before op reads yours. Her baby (and mine which had trisomy 21) is incompatible with life due to the huge nuchal (10mm+) and degree of hydrops. Hydrops and nuchal this severe indicates a major problem, for example a heart defect. Babies with chromosomal problems like these will usually die and miscarry by the end of the second trimester. No one wants their baby to suffer or to have to go through a late miscarriage so we make the kindest choice. I know you meant well, but your friend’s DD is in the 1% who survive to term and is obviously not as unwell as OP’s baby.

Dear OP, I’m so so sorry to read your thread. I had a TFMR due to Down’s earlier this year. Like you I found that solidarity and common experience with other women was the only comfort I could find in such a dark time.

It’s so hard, this time of waiting, but also know you can explore options for termination. Like Whittington, UCLH (where I was) doesn’t offer surgical abortion after 14 weeks but in the end I found that the medical abortion where I gave birth offered some degree of comfort in seeing my little one. There was a specialist midwife on hand and she was incredibly supportive. I realise it might not be where you are at, but just a thought.

All the best. I’m thinking of you.