CVS privately - If you've had CVS where did you go and how much did it cost?

[daisy5]

We moved city a few months ago and I fell pregnant soon after - I am 8+5 today. Yesterday I went to chat to the midwife and was rather surprised to find out that there is no antenatal screening at any nearby hospitals until 16 weeks here which seems rather late. Also it is just a blood test which I hear is not that accurate. As my partner is 48 and I am almost 42 then we are more likely to get a high nuchal result anyway, so am considering going straight to a CVS.

The thing is, where I came from the NHS provided these things as part of it's service. So it seems I will now need to pay privately.

Could anyone who has had CVS please tell me where they got it done, at how many weeks, and how much it cost? Also if you happen to know the miscarriage rate of the centre/doctor. At the moment I am only aware of the Fetal Medicine Center in London - but at £450 it is very expensive although I hear they are very capable. I would prefer somewhere a little closer and cheaper if possible.

I thought when I asked the midwife she would have some information on this but they carry nothing and said I needed to do the research myself. Then I went online but struggled to find much.

Strangely I had the quadruple test with my dd at 39 and got a result of 1:2,900 which was amazingly good but realise that has no bearing on this pregnancy.

Many thanks for any information.

I did not get CVS since Fetal Medicine Center got Nuchal results dot on the 12th week and I would even go ahead and say they are the best. You may not need CVS. Yes they are mighty exensive but now at 29 weeks I would not have it another way. This is the only pregnancy I am going to have and it is worth it.

I had a CVS (at a NHS hospital) at my 12 week scan. I did some research before selecting hospitals as it was important to me what tests they offered and not all offer CVS. I understand that amniocentesis (sp) can only be offered at 15-20 weeks and I thought that was far too late! I was told that the chance of miscarrying is 1% (although have since read that it can be 2%).

I had CVS at the Fetal Medicine Centre yesterday. I can't recommend it strongly enough.

If you book an appointment on a Wedensday you can have a nuchal scan and blood tests which will give you a statistical risk. Based on these results you can then decide whether or not to have CVS (which can be done on the same day by Professor Nicolaides). The scan is carried out by an obstetrician, not a sonographer, and includes measurements of nasal bone, checking of heart valves etc which is not done by NHS.

We were told by an NHS registrar that the risk associated with CVS is largely to do with the skill of the operator - the 1-2% is an average- in some hospitals it's much higher. Nicolaides is reputed to be one of the most skilled practitioners in the world. For us that justified the £450 which included all of the above.

Good luck, whatever you decide!

I would also recommend the FMC. They are so lovely there. I had a nuchal scan with my ds and it was brill. I also have a friend who had a cvs with Professor Nicolaides and said he was so caring.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I really didn't want to go down to London but everyone seems to rate this doctor really highly, so I would have great faith in his nuchal assessment. I am a bit calmer today. It's so hard to think about such tests when you've tried so hard to get pregnant and each day will the LO to keep going. I'm not sure I would care if it had anything other than extremely serious problems - but best to know early on.

lol
daisy5

It depends on where you live.
With the last pregnancy, I had nuchal screening at Spires in Harpenden- Its a BUPA centre and very lovely surrounds. We eventually went to FMC to get a second opinion from Prof Nikoliades after our anomaly scan. He was great and well worth the money you pay. IMO, if you will pay all that money, you might as well see the prof himself. so try and make an appt for a Wednesday as he's not there on other days. But be prepared to wait ages in the reception- its not unheard of for them to be running 3-4 hours late.

With this pg, I had my nuchal screening at the NHS hospital.

HTH

I was supposed to have my CVS yesterday at a hospital in Scotland (NHS - so it was free).. However, due to position of my bladder/uterus/baby they couldn't do it (despite making me fill/empty/ fiddle about with my bladder for 2 hours!) I'm now booked for an amnio in 4 wks (I'll be 16 wks). However, the top consultant did do the nuchal scan and nasal bone check while I was there - which was all fine and v reassuring.
This is a bit irrelevant but just a warning that CVS is more technically challenging than an amnio and can't always be done on the day due to the positon and angle required to access a thick part of placenta for sampling - so have a plan B in case they can't get a safe angle for the needle.
Good luck!