Concerns about back on baby’s neck on scan

[Lmox]

*back OF baby’s neck

Im looking for some advice from anyone who has been through something similar.

for context, I have one son who was diagnosed with a very rare genetic disease in my third trimester. This wasn’t inherited and my current pregnancy isn’t at risk but I still have a lot of trauma from the pregnancy and his health issues since birth.

i am now 11+5 in my current pregnancy and went for dating scan today. I knew something was wrong straight away because the sonographer asked if they’d picked up any problems in my viability scan and her hand was shaking through the procedure.

she spent a lot of time trying to get NT measurement which was 3.2mm. She said that although this was in range she thinks back of baby’s neck looks abnormal and could indicate a problem. She has referred me to foetal medicine. I asked her if she’s ever see something like this and it’s turned out ok and she said she couldn’t say as she doesn’t follow up on these things. Naturally I’m spiralling and feel like I’m replaying history. Is my body just not able to produce healthy babies?

has anyone been through something like this and how did it turn out?

Oh Im so sorry to hear this. There's lots of posts on here where the nt measurements have been higher and everything has been ok. The measurements are not always right and it also depends on the experience of the sonographer. Get all the testing you can to put your mind at rest. I hope everything turns out well for you.

The NT is near the top of the normal range, and would contribute to you possibly getting a higher risk result on the combined test for trisomies (if they offer you NIPT you should get a more accurate result).

But am I reading you right that the main concern is not actually the NT measurement, but the possibly 'abnormal' appearance of the neck? I noticed that you said the sonographer was shaking right from the start - do you think she might have only recently completed the sonography training and was just nervous?

I recently had a sonographer who I think was a bit inexperienced - she identified what she thought was a problem with the placenta and had to call for a second opinion. The more experienced sonographer had a look and said the placenta was normal. A bit nerve-wracking, but the sonographer absolutely did the right thing checking - that's how people learn, and best to cause me some nerves than to risk missing something.

I appreciated it's worse for you as you have to wait for another appointment rather than just wait ten minutes for a second opinion. But whatever the result, it is much better to know than not to know. Hopefully it is nothing. Try to keep busy and take your mind off it as much as you can. How long do you have to wait for your foetal medicine appointment?