Nuchal measurement too big at 12 weeks

[hairymelons]

I'm reeling a bit from my scan today. Nuchal measurement was 3.2. Over 2 is not good apparently. Am gutted and confused and can't stop crying. Think it's just shock- was expecting either no baby or twins or something, not this.

With it being bank holiday tomorrow and Monday they can't do the nuchal translucency test until next week, same problem with all the private clinics locally. Unfortunately, we go away for a week on Tuesday for a family holiday (the entire family for GGP's wedding anniversary, would cancel if it was just us) and as they've changed my dates, I will be 14 weeks when I return which is too late to do the test.

The lovely sister talked me through everything but I still feel a bit confused. I'm not sure if we should even bother with the test because I don't want CVS or amnio, would be too scared of miscarrying. Might have a late amnio, oh I don't know.

Anyone else been through this? What did you do? And, anyone had a this and then baby been ok?

oh you poor thing

i found this article

hopefully someone will be along soon with some more advice

I was told upto 3 is within normal range so it's not that much higher. My understanding and it could be wrong is that it's not accurate without the blood test on the same day. Did they take blood?

If you're happy to have a private scan you could you not arrange for one where you are going on holiday?

Sorry I really don't have any experience or knowledge. I'm sure someone else will though.

No we don't want to terminate. I'm more worried about the potential heart problems/ health problems than the Down's IYSWIM. The hospital doesn't do NT, the sonographer just happened to notice a problem and so took the measurements. So we'd have to send bloods off to a private clinic which they can't do cos of bank hols.
We're going to Turkey, paid for by my in-laws who are so excited about having the whole family together. Just got a text from them saying as much. Really wish we could cancel, could do without the quizzing about the scan.

Sorry, mean to say wouldn't know where to start finding somehwere for NT test in Turkey.

My DD had a measurement of 3.2. The actual difference is between a 1% chance of there being a genetic anomaly with the fetus and a 1.5% chance.

With my blood test results etc the overall risk of downs was 1:700 so not worth having a CVS/amnio etc but I panicked for the rest of my pg. Had a very very thorough 20 week scan which helped a bit but very anxious.

DD is now a very healthy 2.9 yo who is currently talking incessantly about the ballet class she has just been to and how she read a whole story today by herself. No heart problems.

We went to a private clinic (foetal medicine centre) and were basically told it was just one of those things and they don't generally worry about nuchal only unless it is more than about 5mm.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BABY

Sorry for shouting. My best suggestion for what to do would be to have a cardio scan privately if necessary at 17/18 weeks and then the 20 week scan. You can always have an amnio then if necessary. Please don't panic, it is really really likely that everything will be fine.

It is a minimally higher risk of a problem than in any other pg.

I'm so sorry you're going through this

However, if you wouldn't terminate then there is really nothing you can do until your 20 week scan when they will be able to spot any potential heart problems/health problems

Apart from the NT result, which as everyone has said is not actually that bad, did the baby seem OK- everything where it should be etc?

Lots of people on the antenatal tests/choice thread who have probably already been through this

I know it's easy to say, but there's nothing you can practically do to make the situation any better at this moment. But taking time to relax and being with your family would be a good place to start

I wish you all the best

Hi I was in the same boat this is baby #4 and was going to the scan on my own but at the last minute DH managed to get out of work. My nuchal measured 4.6 so way over we had the blood test later that day but had to wait 2 weeks for the result. The combined result was 1:120 (which considering my age of 28 this decreased the odds greatly). We decided to have a cvs but the placenta was in the wrong position and than had a Amnio at 15 weeks which thankfully came back clear.
We had a 20 wk scan with a heart consultant and that looks ok although now they say my fore waters have gone and the umbilical cord only has 1 artery instead of 3 - These are all markers for a genetic problem.
Sorry to waffle on but my point is we had 3 markers that indicate a high chance of defects but we know genetically there is nothing wrong.
Now I just need scans to check the growth as maybe smaller but as the other were 10lbs Im not too concerned.
I know its a shock I was soo blase before all this but try and enjoy your holiday you cant change anything. Good luck x

Thanks everyone. I didn't really realise there was a chance that my baby might be ok- the midwife said the measurement might be large because of a heart problem instead so was thinking it was either chromosomal or heart problems.
Have calmed down now (largely thanks to the stats, tummytime, and link, rubyslippers) and feel like I was being a bit hysterical earlier. It was just a shock I think.
My consultant will perform a scan at 16weeks and Dsis is a doc and is trying to get one of her friends to scan me at 14 weeks when we get back.
Thanks all of you. Feel a bit silly now. At least everything is where it should be.

Hello hairymelons
I had a nuchal fold reading of 2.9mm at 12 weeks - so not much different to yours ........ I panicked, but got a lot of reassurance both on here, and on a telephone advice line (will look at old threads now to see if I can find the number for you - definitely give them a ring). they told me that 2.9mm was nothing to worry about, especially with no other markers.
It still does linger in the back of my mind (baby due in 5 weeks) - but seroiusly, I feel so much better now about it than I did when I first had the 12 week scan and got the news ............
will look for this number for you now ......... xx

Hello - the charity is the ARC and the helpline detalis are:

Helpline: 020 7631 0285 - Mon-Fri, 10am-5.30pm

Good luck x

I think that the nuchal thickness alone isn't a very accurate measure. I have looked into this extensively as had the screening test myself. So without the bloods and a sonographer trained to do the NT (which yours may or may not have been) then that result alone may not be of concern.

Would second ringing ARC - they are great.

Vickyob - interested in your cord issue. Did they say it was a 2 vessel cord? I have the same thing but apparently national guidance is that it is not an indicator for very much. In fact it is a 'normal variant' apparently so they tend not to mention it - though at my scan they did.........Good to hear there are no problems though.

Thanks both, will give them a call.

i don't know anything about the measurements etc, but I would say that if you don't want to go on this holiday because you want to get a scan or bloods etc, then you are perfectly reasonable and it is ok. i would cancel if i was in your boat and feel it was justified. You need to do whats right for you and not feel guilty about it.

Thanks kalo. Problem is GGPs are both v elderly and not well so (sorry this is a bit bleak sounding) they don't think there'll be another holiday with us all there. They'd be devastated if we didn't go- I can't do that to them.
I'm really not desperate to have the NT now- I've calmed down quite a bit. Will have the scan at 14 weeks and take it from there.

Hi sorry you're feeling so stressed. I had a NT done a couple of weeks ago and was told that a measurement up to 3.5 was OK. I've also read that the NT reading should only be done by someone trained in that field - not sure if your sonographer was?

Ringing ARC sounds a good idea. The hospital should also have a screening co-ordinator who you could talk to.

I'm sure the odds on your baby being fine are far, far higher than that initial fear lets you believe. Take care.

My nuchal measurement was high but with all the other bits and bobs risk of downs was 1 in 1700. So on its own it is not an accurate assessment. Particuarly as 3.2 is not massive. I was told to have a heart scan for the baby at 20 weeks (all was fine) as it can be a sign of heart problems but only an increased percentage risk. Did they see a nasal bone? Apparently this is a positive but not always possible. I know it is impossible but try not to worry. If you wouldn't have the Amnio then just try to think positive as much as you can. Are you having the triple test?

What's the triple test?

Triple test is blood tests at 16 weeks which also give an indication for Downs etc. Nuchal scan is more accurate if done with blood tests but might be worth mentioning if you're worried about it.

Oh hairymelons, so sorry you're upset

It sounds like the hospital have done a crappy job of explaining things to you. Very unfair to drop a bombshell on you without explaining the implications.

If you've decided to go on holiday, make sure you make the most of all the doting family members - let them entertain DS and fuss over you while you sit by the pool. God knows you deserve some feet up time

fifitot - No its a one vessal cord apparently it happens in 2% of pregnancys and is most common if your white, over 40, have diabetes and have had 3 or more previous pregnancies. Of all those I have had 3children and am white.
I was told that this was a marker for Downs but I think this one is just a madame giving us all these 'markers' when nothing is wrong.
Im having to have extra scans to check the growth and more likely for a prem birth.
Im all for testing but I think sometimes we have access to too much info.

Vicky - think we are probably talking about the same thing. The consultant told me that the cord has 3 vessels; one vein and 2 arteries, in a 2 vessel cord there is ony 1 vein and 1 artery. Think that's the confusion - 1 artery cord but has to have 2 vessels as otherwise wouldn't work at all!

There is no link with Downs - have checked and discussed with at least 2 obstetricians. They used to think that but there is no real proved link. I am suprised you were told it was - just shows how you can get misinformation!

Just as an aside - I have a dd who was born with down syndrome and a heart defect - at 8 weeks old she underwent two open heart surgeries and has never looked back. In fact the anticipated cardiac minor repair job that she may have needed as a teenager is looking incredibly unlikely. She is very healthy and her heart defect is one of the most common found in children with down syndrome.

In fact it was the heart defect detected at 20 weeks that indicated the possibility that she had down syndrome. We were told by the fetal cardiologist given the type of heart defect - if she was born without down syndrome it would be incredibly rare. Serious heart defect but repairable and very high success rate in terms of the surgery.

FWIW - an increased nuchal fold can indicate a number of conditions other than down syndrome. I know a lady who was given a chance of 1 in 1200 of having a child with down syndrome and she was the 1 - however her little boy was born without a heart condition. One thing a raised nuchal fold can indicate is heart conditions that are not related to down syndrome amongst other conditions.

The fact that is was a sonographer who is not a specialist in nt screening as well as no bloods taken - I would think that the measurement alone is not a true indication.

As to other health issues with down syndrome - our daughter has none. She is incredibly healthy, rarely has time off school for illness. Other than having tonsils out - which happens to lots of kids and has nothing to do with her having down syndrome.

Something that was said to us - when the fetal cardiologist told us about dd1's heart defect - he offered us an amnio with Prof Niccolaides - the man to have an amnio from is possible. I said it would not change the outcome - that dd1 would be born no matter what - he said there was no point putting myself through the stress of an amnio ( as I was 21 weeks by then) if I was not going to act on it.

We went away and read up on her heart defect - we knew what it was like to live with ds to a large degree - between dh and I we knew at least four families who had children or adult members who happened to have down syndrome. It was not scary for us. We waited for dd1 to be born.

Almost 8 years later - I would not change a thing.