First scan-I’m panicking

[Oopsadaisybaby]

Hello mumsnetters, I’m new here but had to join as I’m turning myself inside out with worry and don’t know what to do. I have 2 children who are 13 and 8. I wanted more but our circumstances meant it wasn’t great timing and I thought I had missed the boat. I’m now far to old (I feel) to be facing this but hey, it was a surprise blessing. However, because I’m over 35, I know I have a higher risk of baby having ds and wanted the opportunity to have a nt scan but hospital can only “squeeze” me in for my first scan in 2 weeks by which time I will be 14+5!! I understand covid has made things tricky but now I’m just so worried. My husband works away during the week and I look after the farm, the children and all the admin for his business, selfish as it may be, I don’t think I could knowingly bring a child into the world that would have huge additional needs. Please don’t berate me for it, I hugely respect those who can xx

Could you have a NIPT test (sometimes called harmony)? It is a blood test that can be carried out from 10 weeks. I’m not sure how much it costs but it might be worth doing as you would find out sooner. Though I believe they say it isn’t diagnostic (just screening) but as far as I can tell it is fairly accurate.

I also think the NHS does a quadruple test for those who can’t have the combined test (beyond 14 weeks). I don’t think it is as accurate but they can still do some testing. I believe the quadruple is only for DS and not Edwards’ and Patau’s.

Anyway, hopefully some people who have been in the same position as you will have better advice/suggestions. Best of luck.

Hi Op if you are concerned and can afford it then potentially you want to consider a harmony test as Gennia suggested or a Panorama test. They are basically brand names of a NIPT test and would be able to test from 10 weeks. They're about £500 but a spot of googling will be able to provide more detail.

I would add that the risk is still pretty low even once over 35 (I'm inferring you're not a lot over that age). 35 is such an arbitrary cutoff - your risk at 35 isn't actually all that different to at 33 or 30... It stars ramping up at 37 but even then the unadjusted risk (i.e. before scan/blood test) is only around 1 in 300. It is more than likely you have nothing to worry about. I know it's hard to stop worrying once you have an idea in your head though so NIPT could be an option.

Hiya, no judgement hear I add the harmony test for peace of mind with my little girl. The harmony test is 99% accurate and looks at dna in your blood that is the baby's, so it's extremely unlikely to be wrong! It's the closest you will get to getting a yes or no, unless u have an amniocentesis which unless you are told to have I don't think you will need that. I have researched the harmony test and never read of it giving u a false negative. My results were 1/10000 which is a low risk result, I think if it's high risk it comes back 99% that the baby has downs. It's really worth the money I payed 295 privately ( that's without in-depth scan u can have with it) as my nhs scan was fine. Keep us updated I wish you luck xx