nuchal scan

[kentDee]

Hi

I received a letter today from Kings College hospital regarding a nuchal scan. I still havent had my first scan yet (only 5 weeks)and now Im being asked to have a nuchal scan. Im worried, especially as most of my friends never had to have one whilst pg.

Has anyone had one before? Also, do you have to pay for the scan?

It varies from area to area and hospital to hospital whether these are offered, and whether it's to everyone or to a subset of (generally older) women -- and generally if it is offered then it will be the first scan. If they've sent you a letter about it it will be being offered free on the NHS.

Thanks. Im just 29 so is this regarded as old?!

another thing is, the scan date is on a wed in january which means I will have to have the morning/day off, but Im not ready/wish to tell my boss yet. Im a private nanny in london, and my boss isnt the most flexiable of people!

Normally it would be 35 or over regarded as old, but some hospitals offer the test to everyone regardless of age (mine does).

Pretty much any scan or antenatal appointment will be in working hours unless you go private. And around the same stage of pregnancy as you'll be scheduled for the nuchal scan you'd probably also be scheduled for a booking-in appointment with the midwife, which you really do need to attend.

You are entitled to paid time off to attend any appointment for antenatal care made on the advice of a registered medical practitioner, midwife or health visitor, so from that point of view it doesn't matter whether your boss feels like being flexible -- but if you don't want to tell her yet you are going to have to work out your approach because although you can decline the nuchal scan, it will be an issue for your booking-in appointment.

Thanks for your help portAandLemonaid.

I live in Leicester and had to pay £188 for my nuchal scan. I chose to have it as I'm 35, so I'd make the most of it and take it for free if I were you.