12 week scan - all look okay? So nervous this time around!

[Lilfairy]

So I’ve just had my 12 week scan - for baby number 4 and I think because this is definitely my last I am so nervous this time! I’ve been so sick this pregnancy and never before (even though I’ve 2 boys and a girl) and just had family members diagnosed with edwards syndrome and Down syndrome so I’m much more worried than I’ve ever been before. I’m also 36 but now a days that’s not even old. Now I’m looking at this and wondering if the scan looks normal! I know I might sound crazy but hard not to worry at the minute! This was also the best scan they got the rest looked even more blurry! Any insight would be great :)

It looks perfectly normal to me! Did they tell you everything looked OK?

They said they don’t check for anything bar a scull, heart beat and baby in the right place at 12 weeks in UK. I said does this look like others you would scan and she said yes. But then looking at it I thought May be the facial features weren’t very prominent. Although only 11+4/5

More than likely angle of the baby, had my 12 week scan today and had to do a lot of shaking around to try and get baby to move so measurements could be taken. They seemed very comfy sitting on their head which wasn't very helpful 😆

Was this your NHS 12 week scan? They should have taken your NT measurement and given you that information, unless you requested not to do the Edwards/Downs screening?

Yes it was NHS but they didn’t offer this. Is that automatically offered? I didn’t get the option! Wonder what I should do.

They should have asked you if you wanted to opt into the screening, it's one of the main purposes of the 12 week scan (in addition to checking your dates and banks position as you have mentioned). Did they give you a written scan report at all that you can check for any measurements? If not give the hospital a call back and ask them if they took the measurements, what they were and if/when you should expect to receive your screening results. if they didn't take the measurements ask them to book in for another scan to do the screening - this has to be done before the 14w mark or it's not possible to do. It's very unlikely there anything wrong, but if you want more information then they should be providing that to you, especially because at 36 no you're not old by any means, but it is a slightly increased risk.

If the hospital can't or won't help, if you've got the funds and you really want to know you can do an NIPT blood test probs privately, lots of people do these days and it'll give you the same information (and actually be more accurate than the NHS screening scan)

Thank you @LavenderSweetPea as I’ve been so sick this pregnancy and never before and also read that can mean a higher chance of a genetic disorder so I think just got myself in a tizz. I rang the hospital they said they don’t typically do the NT measurement and I didn’t know this was something to ask for until I started researching afterwards - they did book me in for a blood test to check for abnormalities tho in 10 days time (said I’d to be 14 weeks) They said at 16 weeks they don’t do a scan just check blood pressure and bloods again so I’m going to book a private scan then just for peace of mind as well! I think the bloods will be better than the nt measurement but pity I didn’t know to ask! Thank you for responding if you hadn’t I wouldn’t have pushed for the blood test and will feel much better so thank you xx

Ah that's amazing they're going to to the blood test for you on the NHS, that's really good news, even better than having the NT measurement on a scan. Glad it's all worked out, hope all goes well with the blood test 💛

So found a bit of info. Northern Ireland don’t take the NT measurement - and I googled out of curiosity - no where seems to even do it privately. Only real option is NIPT test but it’s around £400.

The quad test is offered but not as accurate as NT interestingly enough!

It wouldn’t make a difference just be nice to be prepared.

Oh, you’re in Northern Ireland. No, they don’t do combined screening (bloods and nuchal translucency) as bluntly there is virtually no access to terminations after 11+6. The blood test you have been offered is the quad test. It is less accurate than other measures. If it’s important to you to know then I’m afraid private NIPT is your best option.

No I’m settled now, it’s not important - and still deciding about quad bloods.

I do feel it should be standard practice in NI too l tho xx

@Lilfairy I'm also in NI and in v similar position - my scan photos only showed the back of the baby as they were facing away the whole time. It's also my 4th baby and I'm 35. I'm 19 weeks now and have my anomaly scan next week that I'm really nervous about and totally agree they should do the 12 week screening here the way the do in the rest of the uk. I didn't even realise bloods on NHS was an option here

Hope everything went okay @sunshowers01 ! I know how nerve racking it is! I’ve tried not to think about it!

I don’t even know if I should go for the bloods tbh as they don’t say anything definitively - the highest chance is 1/150 chance something could be wrong so still you’re worrying! I’ve another 5 weeks to wait 💕

@Lilfairy I hope you don't mind me dropping in on this one and asking a question. I'm based in England, please can you tell me what the bloods/measurements are that you are referring to that need to be done before week 14. I'm only 7 and a half weeks but still waiting to be set up with a midwife. I'm finding it quite overwhelming googling as this is my first pregnancy via IVF after multiple fails. Thank you

Hi @ttcsolomumtobe i don’t really know too much about it all - despite this being my fourth baby but when you have your 12 week scan in England they measure your NT (nuchal translucency) and check your HCG levels - I think if your NT is a higher measurement then you have a higher chance of Down syndrome. These are automatically offered in England but they’re not offered at all in NI. So my scan was like 2 mins long and I’m asking if everything is okay but they don’t check for anything apart from heart beat, scull really. So then the other options to check for abnormalities are - NIPT but it is £400 in NI and the The quadruple screen test blood test which is done for free on the NHS - I actually don’t think this is as reliable as the NT measurement funnily enough. So I think the NT measurement has to be taken before 13/13.5 weeks (which they take in England but not NI) and the quadruple blood test after 14 weeks 2 days but it is free on the NHS.

It’s hard not to get nervous - my first three I wasn’t at all but can understand with you going through IVF. I’ve just had three friends have successful IVF babies though and everything was perfect 💕

I’m 15 weeks preg now and sick as a dog. Been thoroughly miserable since week 4 and it’s nothing like my last preg. Was convinced it was twins/Down’s syndrome or something dramatic. I also have a close friend whose baby had a genetic disorder this year and sadly didn’t make it.

Anyway it turns out my HcG is on the high side of average but not even that high and you can’t especially tell from how sick you are as it seems to be dependent on lots of factors. So your HcG could be very normal. Plus it’s the ratio of HCG to Papp-a that they use anyway so again you can’t guess. I googled the hell out of it and sickness alone tells you next to nothing about anything.

Patau/Edwards syndrome are actually associated with lower HCG so women are perhaps less likely to experience nausea with them anyway.

I’ll be 40 at term and my screening came back even lower than my last preg and lower than the baseline risk or a 25 year old. My NIPT came back as low risk too. I guess it’s stilll early days but shows you never can tell.

Your scan looks beautiful :)

@ttcsolomumtobe don't worry about the bloods and scan for these tests, in England your midwife will make all the arrangements at your booking in appointment. In terms of getting yourself a midwife, your booking in appointment should be in the next couple of weeks. Have you registered and just waiting to hear back?

@LavenderSweetPea I have a call set up from midwife on Tuesday.

Thank you both for explaining