This is bad news isn’t it? (Scan photos included)

[Green234]

I had a reassurance scan and NIPT test yesterday, prior to my twelve week scan next week.

I specifically asked about the nuchal translucency. The sonographer said everything looked great, and in the provided photos (such as the first photo), it does look fine. She also said she could see the nasal bone.

We got sent a video of the scan and at one point, baby moves up. I took a screenshot of the point at which (in my opinion), the amnion and the skin at the back of the neck are clearly separated. The nuchal translucency looks abnormal.

I can understand why the sonographer missed this, as for much of the scan the baby was quite still and so it could easily be assumed that (what I think is) the nuchal translucency was just part of the amniotic fluid.

But this is bad news, isn’t it? NIPT results due later this week so I’m just trying to steel myself.

Thank you for the kinder posts.

As for the rest, this isn’t AIBU.

Hope you are ok OP, I'm also baffled by the rudeness and actually I think it's the mark of an informed woman to be proactive and make sure they are comfortable with their care. Frankly some of the threads on here recently have been full of unpleasant responses and it's very sad to see.

Could you have another scan and take them your stills to specifically discuss? No point worrying yourself over something that can be checked.

@Green234 i just wanted to say I hope you’re OK. Cannot get over most of these comments, absolutely dumbfounded by them if I’m honest. I’m pleased some people have been helpful and kind in their replies. Hope your 12w scan goes well.

I’m sorry I don’t have the expertise to advise but just wanted to say you aren’t wrong to research and inform yourself. I’m the same and will look at academic studies and journals, not just ‘Dr Google’.

I also had IVF treatment to conceive my baby and remember the anxiety of scans and unexpected bleeding vividly. It takes a toll that I don’t think some people who haven’t experienced infertility can appreciate.

Take care and I hope your 12 week scan brings good news.

Thank you.

The sonographer is registered by the HCPC so yes I would hope is well trained.

I have emailed the clinic to ask the question so hopefully they will get back to me soon and are able to answer the question either way.

Hopefully it is nothing, but I myself have had multiple miscarriages so I understand your worry. One at which I was told at 10 weeks about the fold so I always analysed this on my scans, I like you would be worried about this so completely understand where you are coming from.
I would call the clinic and ask them to rescan you. I remember when I was told about the nucual fold the person doing the scan said I'm not supposed to tell you this until 12 weeks but the fold looks thick, the next ultrasound the clinic said how she shouldn't of told me etc.
I really hope it's nothing and you go on to have a stress free pregnancy. Try and occupy your mind today, sending love.

I wanted to say huge congratulations on your wee miracle!
I had my miracle when over 40 after years and years of infertility, it’s just wonderful and I completely get where you are coming from.

It can totally derail the excitement and wonder of this, please please try to stop every now and again, quiet the noise of all that could go wrong and savour what is right now.
You are pregnant with a long awaited, much loved miracle.
Don’t let the negative take over completely.
Amazing news! 💗

This 👆

I don’t have any expertise but surely the measurement is taken while baby is still, not while it is moving around? And if it changes during the scan then it would be a very unreliable measure anyway. I think the scan image when baby moves is very unlikely to be clear/accurate due to the technology used so the proper measurement is when baby is still. Try not to worry.

The only advice I can give is that the more you stress and worry, the more it’ll effect your little bubba

While well intentioned, this is categorically not true. And it makes an anxious pregnant woman feel even worse for feeling anxious.

Exactly this. when people say this I’m like great, now I get to feel anxious and guilt over feeling anxious.

also to the people being arsey about the phd, you do not seem to be able to infer meaning or context, or have just opted straight for rudeness for some reason. It’s clearly mentioned so that when posters give advice, or try to understand where op is coming from, we can be informed that the ‘research’ op is doing is research taken from reliable sources, that she has a good idea how to interpret, and not just watching random tik toks or something.
shes not saying she fancies her self as a doctor.

op hope the clinic where able to give you some answers

It’s anxiety talking. You’re clearly pretty clever so you must know that logically it makes no sense that you with a bit of googling has seen something that the trained and experienced sonographer who does this day in day out has missed. If someone with zero experience in your field told you that you missed something on your PhD thesis based on what they’d found googling, would you think for a second that they’d be correct?

I had NIPT when pregnant with DC2, because I was in the US and it’s standard there, and I asked about nuchal fold and she said they no longer measure it because there’s nothing that the measurement could tell you that the NIPT could not, and that the NIPT is far more accurate. I know it’s an anxious wait but the results will be here soon and fingers crossed all is well with baby. There’s absolutely no reason to think that there’s anything wrong so try not to drive yourself mad and please, stop googling!!

I'm sorry you're so worried about this. I agree that going back to the clinic is the best idea. Hopefully they can explain the scan pictures.

Please stop worrying. There is no such thing as a nasal bone, the nose is composed of cartilage which is difficult to see anyway and the gap you're talking about is probably caused by position. Sonographers/radiographers and obstetricians train for years and can still struggle to read early scans. A little knowledge and Dr Google can lead to all kinds of un necessary worry

I completely understand your anxiety because I've been there, poring over all the academic papers. It's exactly how I react to these situations.

And I understand that in some cases arming yourself with that knowledge, asking questions and challenging medical professionals is what is needed.

But, kindly, you'll get much more conclusive answers in a few days from the NIPT results than anything you (or a trained sonographer) will find out from the scan images. Nothing you deduce between now and then will change the outcome or change your options.

Oh OP, I'm so sorry you are feeling anxious. Like the poster said above, the NIPT is going to be far more conclusive than a scan so I would wait for that. I know you want to do something but I think chasing up scan images or a rescan would be wasted energy when;the NIPT results are usually very quick (I think mine was less than a week?)

Look after yourself in the meantime.

The first part of this message is absolutely spot on!

Hey OP, congratulations first of all. As a new mum who wished her precious first pregnancy away worrying about everything from conception to… well, I’m still worrying now as they nap on me! I see you and hear you. I spent a lot of time researching peer reviewed research too but found it surprising how often consultants would still dismiss my concerns. (They turned out to be right, you’ll be pleased to know.) Honestly, there were times I’d go to appointments almost armed with research from different papers. 🙈 My consultants were great then at explaining why my concerns were unfounded.

To put your mind at rest hopefully, I’d contact them and explain your concerns. Hopefully another second opinion from another sonographer will make you feel much better. If they were a bit of a less reputable company, get the opinion elsewhere at somewhere more reputable and clinical.

Wishing you all the best and really hope you’re proven wrong! 🙏🏼

Request a CVS or amniosentesis, then. Because only an invasive test can give you actual answers, rather than statistical likelihood.

You will read about supposed increased risk of miscarriage with those tests, but that doesn't take into account the type of pregnancy where they are more common.

I had a CVS, it gave us an answer, and we carried on with the pregnancy.

I'm coming on to update this, in case other posters in the future are googling and find a scan photo that looks like mine.

The original sonographer came back to say both lines were the amnion and she saw nothing of concern at the scan.

Sure enough, I was worried for no reason. The baby's nuchal translucency at the NHS scan was within the normal range for the gestation (the measurements ranged from 1.5mm-2.0mm). I am waiting for the screening results, but the NIPT came back as a low risk for the three trisomies in any case.

Thank you to those posters who gave me a hand hold. The anxiety I was going through at the time I would never wish to experience again.

Now I can relax for a while!

Thats amazing news, congratulations and best wishes for the rest of your pregnancy. I want to say again given the negativity you received that it is absolutely reasonable to ask for a a recheck/second opinion if unsure of something. We are the best advocates for our health and our babies, and we should never feel we can't ask questions or more information. xx

Great news!!
i hope you will be able to relax and enjoy your pregnancy from now on.

Enjoy!!

Edited because I didn't rtft....

Mods pleas remove if you get the chance!

Great news OP!

You remind me SO much of myself convincing myself reading academic papers and getting incredibly stressed. And in my case as well it turned out there was nothing to worry about.