Nuchal fold scan?

[Berniep]

Hi,
I had my first midwife appt today and I was told I would be offered the nuchal fold scan with my dating scan. I used to think I would always have this scan if offered it but after what my sister went thru last December i'm not sure now, she had a nuchal fold scan and was told it showed a high risk of down's, edwards or pateau's syndrome, she was offered a cvs test (like a amnio but sample is taken from placenta and not fluid, done earlier in pregnancy) while waiting for her test we read up on the 3 syndromes together, we already knew about down's and she decided she would keep the baby if it had down's but when we read about the other 2 syndromes the prognosis was not good and the baby if it survived to birth would only have a matter of days/months (depending on what syndrome) to live. She told our parents and her hubbys parents and a few close friend's and got a mixed response she went thru weeks of arguing particularly with our dad on what she should do, my dad said even a baby with down's that has a much longer life expectancy than the other 2 syndromes would still put a huge strain on their family and as she already had 3 kids my dad wanted her to terminate if there was any problem at all, she however didn't agree. Anyway she went to the hospital 4 times to have the cvs and on the first 3 occasions the placenta wasn't in the right place, finally a week before xmas she had the test done and a few days later was told everything was ok. She went thru a very stressful few weeks what with family giving their opinions and the test itself and to be honest i don't thin i could go thru all that. So should i say no to the nuchal fold part of the scan? if it came back high risk i really don't think i could have the cvs or the amnio and i certainly wouldn't tell anyone but my hubby after what my sister went thru. Me and my hubby spoke to each other when my sister was going thru what she was and both of us said if we were offered the scan we didn't think we would take it but we also said if we did do it and did do the cvs we would keep a baby with down's without a doubt but would have to seriously consider the other 2 as it wouldn't just be myself and my hubby going thru it, it would be our 2 children too.
What would you ladies do? would you have the scan and go from there? am i just worrying for no reason after what my sister went thru? after all if it wasn't for her i wouldn't have the thoughts i have.
Hope this thread doesn't upset or offend anyone and i am grateful for any replies xxx

 

[Chellepot]

The scan doesnt hurt and it will give you an indication of risk. You dont have to have any other tests after the scan if you dont want, regardless of the outcome so if the scan DOES show high risk at least you can prepare yourselves for the possibility, especially if you have decided that a downs baby wouldnt change your decision to continue the pregnancy. The other more evasive tests are there to give parents that want to know at high risk a definitive answer so they can decide what they want to do.

This is only my perspective of course, although I accepted the offer in the end I couldnt have my nuchal scan anyway because the baby wouldn't move lol.

I hope all goes well whatever you finally decide

 

[Berniep]

Thank you, i'm just worried if i have the scan and it shows a high risk for the sake of my other children i will feel as though i should get a definate answer as to what we would be facing. If i don't do the scan will i regret it when i get to a point in my pregnancy when its too late to do it? xxx

 

[libbymarks198]

i would do it, i would keep the baby no matter what but i think you need to be prepared for a baby with special needs its a lot of hard work and a lot of money it is best to know as early on as possible

 

[Berniep]

Thank you xxx

 

[ermm23a]

I do not think I am going to do this test. I have thought about it, and I wouldn't abort the baby even if something was wrong, and I have heard that the nuchal screenings have a lot of false positives.

 

[HippieJess]

My doc offered the NT scan. She told me its a 3 part test. I'll have the scan at 12 weeks followed by bloodwork at 16 weeks. They'll review the results of the scan & bloodwork & if they come back as high risk, then I'll be sent for an amnio.

 

[kiwimama]

We decided not to go ahead with the tests. I think the tests can be wrong alot of the time, like in your sisters case and can cause a huge amount of stress.

 

[MilosMommy7]

i would do it just so i'd prepare us mentally since i wouldnt end the pregnancy if the results werent good. it's nice to know ahead of time. but that's my opinion. i had bloodwork taken at 16w with my son to test for downs and stuff. everything was fine. but the next few days were killer. waiting for the call that was going to come, or wasnt going to come.

 

[Chellepot]

Thank you, i'm just worried if i have the scan and it shows a high risk for the sake of my other children i will feel as though i should get a definate answer as to what we would be facing. If i don't do the scan will i regret it when i get to a point in my pregnancy when its too late to do it? xxx

You may well regret it, if you are in doubt at all over this test then whatever decision you take will niggle away at you as to whether you have done the right thing. However, there are other ways you can prepare. If the scan shows you are at high risk you can research into down's so that you know exactly what you are facing should it happen that your child has it, however as has already been said in this thread; a lot of women who are shown to be high risk at the scan have had further tests which have proved everything is fine. I suppose it really boils down to your ability to cope if you discover your baby does have down's when it is born. If you decide not to have the test you won't have any idea at all and if you have the scan giving a risk indication but no follow on test at least you can be prepared for the possibility. I think whatever you decide you and your hubby should make the choice together so i you do decide to skip the scan you take a leap of faith together and support each other. xxx

 

[debgreasby]

I'll share my experience with you. I have 4 gorgeous perfect children. I was happily pregnant with #5 .. the thought of problems were far from my mind.
Off we went to our 12+4 scan. Baby was waving and kicking, we were so happy. Then the sonographer said tat she had spotted a problem.. our baby had a VERY high NT measurement.
We were given an appointment at a bigger hospital for 2 days later. I knew from the look on the consultant's face that the prognosis wasn't good. Our baby had what is called a CYSTIC HYGROMA and the NT measurement was 8mm.
We opted to have a CVS there and then, because i knew i didn't want my baby to have to be tested after.

The CVS confirmed that our baby boy had Edward's Syndrome.. a condition not compatible with life. He was suffering. We made the decision to let him go.

There's so much more to the story, but those are the basic facts.

I am now pregnant again and waiting for my NT scan. I always said i would NEVER end a pregancy, but you honestly can't say that until you are in the position.


Sorry this is long... i guess i just wanted you to see another side to it.

 

[Gen79]

It sounds like most of the problem was with the discussions, not the tests. Just have the tests and don't tell anyone about it!