Private NIPT-really worth it?

[newtolineofduty]

Hey everyone! Currently trying to decide whether to have NIPT for Down's syndrome, Edwards and Patau syndrome done privately and just wondering whether it's worth it given it still only gives the estimated risk. I've read that it can replace the need to undergo potentially risky and invasive procedures such amnio but I don't understand how if it still only gives a 1/X chance which is just the same as the nhs? My midwife said how great the private testing is and I'm aware it's more accurate but I'm wondering if it's more accurate enough as I'm struggling to get my head around it! Thank you x

Thank you @

Thank you @bluesky45

@bluesummit so sorry to hear you had to go through that. I think you're right in that being able to make decisions early is so important x

Just wanted to thank you for all your input ladies and helping me to think it through. Decision made to get one booked in x thanks so much x

Hi ladies!!!! So I went ahead with private NIPT testing which I had on Monday. Thank you so much to everyone for their advice in helping me reach the decision.

We have our nhs 12 week scan next week and I'm just wondering should we still have the standard nhs testing too? I guess I'm worried it'll come back high risk which will make me paranoid/doubt the private results even though I know they're more accurate!!!! My midwife said it's fine to have both but I'm wondering if it's sensible given they both screen for the same things?

Any advice much appreciated! Thanks so much! X

@newtolineofduty the NIPT is more accurate than the NHS quad test. The NHS gave us 1:7 for Downs then the NIPT was 1:50000. I suppose the question is will you just worry more if you're NIPT come backs like ours but the NHS one is wildly different?

@Lizlou85 that's what I'm worried about! Xxx

Wow can't believe that difference! I'm so glad we went ahead with the NIPT!

Did you have the nhs one first and then have NIPT as a result? Xx

@newtolineofduty we had the quad first then the NIPt as we didn't want to do the anmnio as it had taken us 3 years to get pregnant.
The NIPT is much more accurate than the quad. The NIPT picks up traces of the Babies DNA in your blood where as the NHS one doesn't. I found after a week of stressing over the 1:7 and having sleepless nights over what it would mean for little one, I was so much more relaxed once we had the NIPt results. I still had a niggle in my mind, right up to Little ones arrival last Thursday. Personally if I fell pregnant again, I'd go straight for the NIPt and not the NHS one.

@Lizlou85 that must have been so awful for you-the exact same thing happened to my friend who got 1/5 chance although she went for amino.

Congratulations on your baby! Enjoy all those gorgeous newborn snuggles! Xxx

I'm in Ireland so obviously different health system but my third was an unplanned and very unexpected pregnancy and my mind was all over the place so I paid to have it done as it helped put my mind at ease and relax about the pregnancy. It was worth every cent. I had my test done by my gp on the Monday and he rang me on Thursday night with the results. It was crazy already knowing that I was having a little girl and I was barely 11 weeks pregnant

@minniep I know it's crazy to think we could know the gender in afew days!!!!!! We're going to wait and have a gender scan rather than finding out on the phone though! X

I have had 3 scans in the last 2 weeks on the NHS. Sonographer told me there are no known risks and it uses sound waves that the human ear cannot detect and therefore does not affect baby at all. They think babies are aware of the scan but probably just because the pressure of the wand puts some pressure on the amniotic fluid. However you could always check that with the clinic.

@newtolineofduty the mad thing was I didn't find out on my other two children I wanted it to be a surprise when they were born (and it was obviously) . It was crazy that I had such a different mindset on DC3.