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Original poster

nuchal fold scans

55 replies

allatsea · 31/03/2003 19:05

Does anyone know how many weeks pregnant you must be before having a nuchal fold scan at Salisbury hospital? We had one with dd1 and am now 6 weeks pg with no.2. We had disappointing results first time round with a combined nuchal fold scan and blood test and opted for an amnio to find out for sure. Although everything was ok, it was a very traumatic time for all the family so we'd like to know the odds before we tell anyone that I'm expecting to avoid the daily deliberations

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SoupDragon · 31/03/2003 19:07

I thought it was generally between 10 and 13 weeks or something like that.

leese · 31/03/2003 19:23

Yep, is about that - we say between 11 and 13 weeks, but different hospitals will differ slightly. Wouldn't imagine it could be done well much before 10 wks tho'.

eidsvold · 01/04/2003 09:07

It should be carried out between 10 and 14 weeks.

buttercup · 01/04/2003 09:51

what is a nuchal fold scan? is that the first scan that they also use to estimate the delivery date? what does nuchal fold mean? interested as i am 7 weeks pregnant

iota · 01/04/2003 09:57

buttercup - try doing a search in mumsnet - theres been loads of stuff on it - also search the web. The scan checks the neck development in the baby and can give an early indication of Down syndrome. It's a good test as it's non-invasive. I had one as I was 42 when I had DS2 and was worried about the risks.

NQWWW · 01/04/2003 14:25

Nowhere will do it after you're 13 weeks 6 days. I was booked in for one at 13 weeks 2 days according to my dates (in London). When I got there they first measured the length of the baby and said the size indicated it was 14 weeks, and said they couldn't do the scan. I burst into tears and protested until they tweaked the measurements slightly to get a result of 13 weeks 6 days on the machine, and so were able to do it.

What I didn't tell them was that I'd already had one done privately as I was so paranoid. When I phoned the private clinic they said they wouldn't do it before 12 weeks as the foetus was too small to give an accurate result.

Can't help with your specific query about Salisbury - suggest you see your doctor asap and get a contact name for a midwife you can talk to about it. Good luck!

Cavy · 23/10/2003 08:44

Does someone have a phone number/contact for asking about getting the private tests at the Harris Birthright Trust, and which address is it, Denmark Hill or Dulwich? Thanks!

Twinkie · 23/10/2003 08:55

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handlemecarefully · 23/10/2003 08:57

Buttercup,

No its not really. A nuchal fold scan is a specific scan by specially trained ultrasonographers who assess down syndromes risk (I think they do something like measure the volume of fluid / shape of the neck / nose...waffling here, not really sure). Usually they combine your scan result with a blood test to give you a risk factor - mine was 1 in 2000 and something (pretty good I am relieved to say).

Nuchal fold scans are rarely available on the NHS and almost exclusively privately paid for. Mine cost £135

Twinkie · 23/10/2003 09:03

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pie · 23/10/2003 09:10

Apparently only 7% of pregnant women live in an area where nuchal screening is routinely offered in an NHS hospital. So most (unless other risk factors are associated) will have to pay. A CVS carries twice the risk of an amnio of m/c but it can be done 5 weeks earlier.

HTH

Twinkie · 23/10/2003 09:16

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pie · 23/10/2003 09:24

I know what you mean Twinkie...I had a routine scan (wasn't a nuchal) and they saw shadows on DD2's spine and enlarged nuchal fold, even though they weren't supposed to measure it at 14 weeks. I was by myself and was lying down, Dr had CVS kit out, then he said..actually wait 2 weeks have the amnio, it will be safer and we can check for spina bifida...

They can just not give you anytime to 'get your head round it'.

Cavy take someone with you!

Twinkie · 23/10/2003 09:37

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ThomCat · 23/10/2003 10:40

Oh Twinkie, you poor thing.

That's exactly what upsets me so much, that you were given more advice and info on terminating than you were on what it is to have a child with Down's Syndrome. It's just so wrong. What is it that the medical profession find so awful about the possibility of a child having DS that they automatically offer mothers terminations and no support or alternative advice? Both alternatives should be offered to the parents calmly and fairly and then they should be given time to go away and think what is best for them. I actually think they should also be offered the contact details of a local parent whose child has DS, so it's there if they want to talk it through with another parent and can make an informed decision with no pressure from anyone.

beetroot · 23/10/2003 10:43

This reply has been deleted

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twiglett · 23/10/2003 10:46

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Rhea · 23/10/2003 11:18

I had a nuchal test on Tuesday, with a poor result. The nuchal thickness was 8mm. I have since had a CVS and I am now awaiting the results which hopefully will be through by 4pm today. We have a risk of 1 in 6 of there being a chromosomal disorder - something like Downs or Turners Syndrome. It's all been quite hard to take in.
We already have a beautiful little girl, but the thought of losing this preganacy is very painful, and I can't bear the thought of a termination.
If there is anyone out there who has had a diagnosis of a cystic hygroma (that is what the accumulation of fluid at the back of the head is called) that wasn't related to a chromosome disorder I would love to hear from you.
Thanks

ThomCat · 23/10/2003 11:36

So sorry to hear that Rhea. Please let us know how you get on.

My little girl has Down's syndrome and if you ever want to discuss anything, or even just see a picture of her (that's what I really wanted so..) then please feel free to email me through Mumsnet, I'm here if you need it OK.

In the meantime my thoughts are with you and I hope everything is OK, please do let us know.
Lots of love - TC xx

Rhea · 24/10/2003 11:27

No results were available yesterday so we now wait until 4pm today.
I feel quite positive today, maybe because I can't endure another day feeling so sad.
Thanks for your kind support.
Rhea

Twinkie · 24/10/2003 11:38

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Rhea · 24/10/2003 18:23

Just settled down from the shock of hearing that there is no chromosome disorder with our pregnancy!

We feel quite elated although we know there is still a problem. We have an appointment on Monday to discuss where we go from here, but I can't help but think things are more positive now.

Now a chromosome problem has been ruled out, we have been told that the cystic hygroma is probably being caused by either a viral infection (Parvovirus - Fifths Disease) or a cardiac problem. We still have a long way to go, and I know this is only the beginning.

I will be tested on Monday to see if I have recent anti-bodies to the virus, and then we need to wait to see if a miracle happens and the fluid disappears, or check again at 16 and 20 weeks with more ultrasound tests.

I will keep you all updated.
Fingers crossed...

Rhea

PS If anyone else has had a similar result to this can you let me know where you went from here?

zebra · 24/10/2003 19:55

I'm glad it's not chromosones, Rhea. I didn't have the same diagnoses, but did have "scarey scans" in my first pregnancy, and I know how bewildering that can be. What prognoses are the consultants giving you if it is Fifths disease or cardiac? Aren't "they" very good at treating heart "defects" nowadays?

Linnet · 24/10/2003 22:09

Rhea I am so glad to hear that your baby doesn't have any chromosomal disorder.

I had my first scan yesterday and the fluid measurement was 3.7mm. I was in pieces and I was so glad that my dh was with me. I have to go for a CVS next Thursday to a hospital 20 miles away as they don't do the test in my local hospital. The Consultant that we talked with mentioned Downs and Turners or maybe a heart problem. We're taking one day at a time.

We also have a healthy daughter already and I had no problem with that pregnancy so this came as a huge shock to us. Having read on here that other people have had bad nuchal results with good results from CVS or Amnio and then healthy babies at the end has given me a little hope but at the moment I still feel as if I'm in limbo.

I know you still have a long way to go and I will be keeping you in my thoughts. Good Luck and Best Wishes.

Rhea · 28/10/2003 10:25

Thanks for all your kind support.
We saw the consultants yesterday and have been advised to await the outcome of the blood test for ParvoVirus. This should be back on Friday. Although it doesn't seem likely to be this as the hygroma looks structural and not symptomatic to a virus.
We should also wait for the full cultures from the CVS test, due back in 2 weeks, as this might show a chromosome defect (although no-one is expecting to find one after the intial results).
Its then a waiting game. We have another scan booked for the 17th Nov. This will check on the growth of the baby, and the growth of the cystic hygroma. They will also look for hydrops (fluid) in the abdomen and heart area. If the baby develops these then the prognosis is very poor. Its going to be a very hard couple of months.
I think the consultants are expecting to find a heart defect at the 20 week scan.
Overall prognosis is poor - 30% of miscarriage, 50-80% chance of a serious disorder, 10% chance of everything being okay.
We just have to hope to be that 10%.
I will keep you all updated, and once again thanks for your kind words of support.

Rhea

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