Hi Everyone, I posted this in the second tri forum as well, but thought I would try here too...
I am just moving over from the first tri board (I'm 13w 4d today!) and I have spent the past week stressing out over my first trimester screening results Here is what happened:
I went for the scan at 12w 4d, and the baby looked perfect. Heart rate was great, limb measurements were great, everything was there and developing as it should, and my due date was exactly what it had been in my past scans (6w, 8w, 10w). During the u/s the little guy was taking a nap, and was in a difficult position for the NT measurement. The doctor had me lay on my side for a while, but that didn't help, so she used the scanner thing to try to shake the baby awake. He/she would jump up and kind of readjust, then settle back in. Basically, as the little guy was in a jumping/readjusting position, she would freeze the frame to measure the NT. I watched closely and mentally logged all of the numbers as she measured. The lowest measurement was 3.2, and the highest was 4.2.
After the scan, the doctor told me that my NT measurement was too high and of concern. She said the next step was a CVS or an amino, and she sent me to talk to the genetic counselor. The genetic counselor threw a bunch of numbers at me, and seemed incredibly grave and serious and assured me that I had "done nothing to make this happen." She said she would send my blood work out to complete the screening, and give me my risk assessment once it came back. But she all but told me that the odds were not in my favor. Fast forward four days, and my blood work came back perfect. Given the increased NT, I was still a "screen positive" and my odds were 1:92 for Tri21, and 1:92 for the other trisomies.
This is what really concerns me though:
I asked the genetic counselor what my NT was recorded as, and she told me 4.4. I watched extremely closely as the NT was measured, and did not ever see it at 4.4. Also, in the time since the scan I have read several medical studies, and doctors are not only not supposed to measure the neck when it is hyperextended (as my baby's was while he/she was trying to adjust), but they are supposed to take the AVERAGE of all measurements to assess risk.
I opted against the CVS and amino because I would carry this baby regardless, and didn't think any risk of harm was worth knowing for the sake of knowing. I did opt for a more definitive blood test that uses my blood to test the baby's DNA, and I am still waiting on these results.
I guess I am just wondering if anyone else has been through something similar, or has any advice/feedback/input for me. From everything I have read on this forum and others in the past week (probably too much...) this test seems like a crock and incredibly ineffective and anxiety provoking.
Sorry for the long post and vent, I could just use some support right now during this terribly waiting period...
I am just moving over from the first tri board (I'm 13w 4d today!) and I have spent the past week stressing out over my first trimester screening results Here is what happened:
I went for the scan at 12w 4d, and the baby looked perfect. Heart rate was great, limb measurements were great, everything was there and developing as it should, and my due date was exactly what it had been in my past scans (6w, 8w, 10w). During the u/s the little guy was taking a nap, and was in a difficult position for the NT measurement. The doctor had me lay on my side for a while, but that didn't help, so she used the scanner thing to try to shake the baby awake. He/she would jump up and kind of readjust, then settle back in. Basically, as the little guy was in a jumping/readjusting position, she would freeze the frame to measure the NT. I watched closely and mentally logged all of the numbers as she measured. The lowest measurement was 3.2, and the highest was 4.2.
After the scan, the doctor told me that my NT measurement was too high and of concern. She said the next step was a CVS or an amino, and she sent me to talk to the genetic counselor. The genetic counselor threw a bunch of numbers at me, and seemed incredibly grave and serious and assured me that I had "done nothing to make this happen." She said she would send my blood work out to complete the screening, and give me my risk assessment once it came back. But she all but told me that the odds were not in my favor. Fast forward four days, and my blood work came back perfect. Given the increased NT, I was still a "screen positive" and my odds were 1:92 for Tri21, and 1:92 for the other trisomies.
This is what really concerns me though:
I asked the genetic counselor what my NT was recorded as, and she told me 4.4. I watched extremely closely as the NT was measured, and did not ever see it at 4.4. Also, in the time since the scan I have read several medical studies, and doctors are not only not supposed to measure the neck when it is hyperextended (as my baby's was while he/she was trying to adjust), but they are supposed to take the AVERAGE of all measurements to assess risk.
I opted against the CVS and amino because I would carry this baby regardless, and didn't think any risk of harm was worth knowing for the sake of knowing. I did opt for a more definitive blood test that uses my blood to test the baby's DNA, and I am still waiting on these results.
I guess I am just wondering if anyone else has been through something similar, or has any advice/feedback/input for me. From everything I have read on this forum and others in the past week (probably too much...) this test seems like a crock and incredibly ineffective and anxiety provoking.
Sorry for the long post and vent, I could just use some support right now during this terribly waiting period...
It was such a relief, but I'm still going to go for an early anatomy scan at 16wks so they can make sure that everything has resolved. 
