Unable to do nuchal translucency measurement

[Lovelostnfoundx]

So I had my 12 week scan earlier this week and baby was too busy showing us it’s rather impressive dance moves to lay flat and still enough for the sonographer to do the NT measurement! She tried three times but as soon as baby felt a little prod, it was up and active again.

She said not to worry as they have a back up for naughty babies and I can come back for the blood test in a few weeks and by the 20 week scan any abnormalities will be all over and visible. We walked out quite happy and excited to have seen such a cute little display and then my worry set in as I processed what she had said.

I’ve seen other people in the same situation have been brought back for another scan attempt and I am also under the impression that the blood test is just a risk factor and it’s the combined result that gives the best results. I may be wrong so any light anyone can shed would be helpful. This is my first pregnancy so I’m constantly worrying.

I don’t know whether to just relax as she seemed quite unconcerned or concerned that I’ve got to wait until February for the next scan to show any abnormalities. Should I be offered another scan? It seems a bit horrible to be so nonchalant that any abnormalities will be all over the baby in another few weeks. A few weeks is a long time when you are worried and bonding with your bump. Any advice would be appreciated.

I would push for another scan, the test combines the measurement with blood results and other factors.

I had an nipt test last time, and I am having one again. I didn't bother with the NHS test, although I had the 12 and 20 week scans.
It costs around £500 to have it done but the results are much more reliable than nuchal fold test. You can also find out your baby's sex.
You can have the test from 10 weeks.

Thanks both. I think I’ll call my midwife when she’s on duty tomorrow and explain what’s happened. I just didn’t want to sound silly like I was an exception to the procedure pushing for another scan. Then I will look into private options if there isn’t an option to get another one.

I had the same. After tap dancing on my cervix for the first half of the scan, baby decided she'd take a nap in the exact position that the sonographer couldn't quite measure the nuchal fold. And no amount of persuasion would make baby move. The sonographer did reassure us though, that what she had seen looked 'thin and normal'.

Since ultrasound is booked weeks in advance, I would've been long past 13+6 by the time I could be seen again. It's also not an emergency, so I wound up with the quadruple blood test. It only tests for Downs, and isn't quite as accurate on its own compared to the combined test.

The blood result came back low risk for Down's (

@Dyra Thank you - that explains the blood test. You have given me more info there than they gave me at the hospital! That makes more sense now why it sounded like a different test to the normal one. It also puts my mind at rest that we are not just being left to wait and see. I just wish she had given us some reassurance as you had!