Is anyone going straight for amnio without NT scan?

[Sunshine12]

I think Im going to have an amnio done no matter what my NT scan results and just wondered if anyone else was considering this and whether in this situation they just skip the NT scan rather than waste money doing it? I havent met with my midwife yet so not sure what the norm is. x

 

[truly_blessed]

Gosh I wouldn't even consider amnio due to the risk of miscarriage. It took long enough to get a BFP without taking what I would consider an unecessary risk.

There probably is no point doing the screening though if you want to have an anmio anyway. Only thing is the NHS might only pay for it if you have a high risk on the NT combined screening, not sure what they're procedure is.

 

[Sunshine12]

Thanks for response. Ill check with midwife. Not fussed if I have to pay for it. Im more scared of something being wrong with the baby than I am of having a miscarriage TBH.

 

[SabrinaKat]

Hi,

I always thought I would have an amnio no matter what as am somewhat older at 44 (43 when I conceived); but our NT/bloods lowered our risk from 1/27 to 1/162 to downs and 1/40 overall to 1/955 to others; my 20wk scan lowered it to 1/300 as the heart and all other soft markers are good. We decided that with the risk of m/c at 1/200 and my overall blood/NT risk about even, not to do an amnio. We were a month or so away from possible IVF, so consider this little one a bit of a miracle and are cautiously hopeful. I know here in Ireland, it is considered routine over 40, and have read that under the NHS, under 40, there has to be a reason, e.g. high risk blood work, so they may require you to do the NT/bloods anyway. We're private here in Ireland as had a terrible public hospital experience when having a m/c two years ago.

best wishes

 

[April2012]

I went in for a CVS at 12 weeks, but decided to have the first trimester ultrascreen instead. I decided at that time I would do an amnio regardless of the results at approximately 16 weeks (the amnio emcompasses the neural tube defects as well). Also, I perceive amnio as being safer than CVS--but that is just my perception. My results from the NT scan/blood came back as follows:

Down syndrome:
Risk based on age alone: 1 in 290
Risk after blood/scan: 1 in 5781

Trisomy 13 & 18
Risk based on age alone 1 in 524
Risk after blood scan: 1 in 10,000

I am still scheduled and planning for an amnio on monday.

 

[Junebug_CJ]

I had a CVS done at 11 weeks and 6 days, because regardless of the result of NT, I would have done invasive testing. At 38, my risk of having a baby with a trisomy is MUCH higher than my centre's quoted miscarriage rate (1 in 104, vs 1 in 1000 for CVS and 1 in 2000 for amnio)... Luckily, the results are perfect!!! I am so relieved...

Good luck hun!

 

[erikab922]

I didn't know you could get amnio without getting a high risk result on the NHS, unless you are planning on doing it privately? I got a 1:5 chance so am having amnio on Tuesday. I read a great article recently about the chances of miscarriage and that the current 1:120 stats we are given are from statistics gathered back before ultrasound was routinely used to guide the needle and that the way it's done these days the chances are more like 1 in 1600.

 

[Sunshine12]

I didn't know you could get amnio without getting a high risk result on the NHS, unless you are planning on doing it privately? I got a 1:5 chance so am having amnio on Tuesday. I read a great article recently about the chances of miscarriage and that the current 1:120 stats we are given are from statistics gathered back before ultrasound was routinely used to guide the needle and that the way it's done these days the chances are more like 1 in 1600.

Perhaps you cant, Im a bit clueless. I need to find out from my midwife. Ill go private if I have to. Its good to hear chances of miscarriage are very minimal. Good luck with your amnio.

Thanks everyone for the responses. Best wishes to everyone having an amnio soon and congratulations to those who have had positive results back. xxx

 

[April2012]

I didn't know you could get amnio without getting a high risk result on the NHS, unless you are planning on doing it privately? I got a 1:5 chance so am having amnio on Tuesday. I read a great article recently about the chances of miscarriage and that the current 1:120 stats we are given are from statistics gathered back before ultrasound was routinely used to guide the needle and that the way it's done these days the chances are more like 1 in 1600.

In the US, private insurance companies (such as mine) will pay for amnio or cvs regardless, if you are of "advanced maternal age"--being 35+ upon delivery.

 

[Junebug_CJ]

I didn't know you could get amnio without getting a high risk result on the NHS, unless you are planning on doing it privately? I got a 1:5 chance so am having amnio on Tuesday. I read a great article recently about the chances of miscarriage and that the current 1:120 stats we are given are from statistics gathered back before ultrasound was routinely used to guide the needle and that the way it's done these days the chances are more like 1 in 1600.

I work in prenatal diagnosis, and definitely! The odds usually quoted are based on old stats. Recent stats suggest much lower risk, 1/1000 to 1/2000, and that the CVS risk is near the amnio risk.

 

[SabrinaKat]

I read that as well, but the material from our hospital said the old 1/200 risk for m/c and I just didn't want to chance it, particularly given that our blood work/NT and continued scans have shown no need; HOWEVER, had our numbers been lower?higher?, we would have had an amnio....

best wishes

 

[MrsRH]

I didn't know you could get amnio without getting a high risk result on the NHS, unless you are planning on doing it privately? I got a 1:5 chance so am having amnio on Tuesday. I read a great article recently about the chances of miscarriage and that the current 1:120 stats we are given are from statistics gathered back before ultrasound was routinely used to guide the needle and that the way it's done these days the chances are more like 1 in 1600.

Perhaps you cant, Im a bit clueless. I need to find out from my midwife. Ill go private if I have to. Its good to hear chances of miscarriage are very minimal. Good luck with your amnio.

Thanks everyone for the responses. Best wishes to everyone having an amnio soon and congratulations to those who have had positive results back. xxx

I work in the NHS and have never heard of having an amnio with out a medical reason for it; I am pretty sure you will have to pay privately

good luck with your decision

x

 

[Junebug_CJ]

Things are very different from one country to another. In Canada, age alone is an acceptable reason to do CVS or amnio, if a woman requests it!

 

[Borboleta]

I had an amnio done after my quad screening came back 1 out of 94 chnces of ds baby. I am so happy I did it although my scan showed nothing wrong with baby. But I had those numbers in my head and couldn't stop thinking about it! Is a healthy little boy and behaved very well doing the amnio.

I know a lady here in the US that had very low chance of down baby during her first pregnancy at 28 years old and she did not do the amnio and her baby was a ds baby. After that she skipped all the blood tests and scans to look for abnormalities and went right for the amnio. She had 3 other normal pregnancies after the first including her last baby at age of 40.

If I decide to have another one I will skip the blood test and go right to the amnio.

 

[Junebug_CJ]

Yes, I am a medical geneticist working in prenatal genetics and I've seen so often "reassuring" first/second tri screens (NT and blood work) that nonetheless end up in babies with down syndrome or other even more severe trisomies. That's why I personally just skipped them, because regardless of the outcome I would have nonetheless pursued definite testing! So glad your friend went on to have 3 healthy babies!!!

 

[April2012]

I am leaving work for my amnio in about an hour and a half. nervous.

 

[Sunshine12]

I am leaving work for my amnio in about an hour and a half. nervous.

Good luck with it hun. Let us know how you get on. xx

 

[April2012]

I will! I am hoping I can relax for the needle and that baby stays far away from it.

 

[Sunshine12]

I will! I am hoping I can relax for the needle and that baby stays far away from it.

You will be fine! Its all controlled much more than it used to be years ago. xx

 

[Junebug_CJ]

Good luck, it'll be fine!!! Keep us posted