Nuchal Translucency Worries....

[newmomma2be]

Hi All!

So, this is my first time expecting so I am a nervous wreck with every little thing regarding this pregnancy. I research EVERYTHING and I convince myself of the absolute worst scenarios. My husband told me he is going to block the internet so I cannot make myself anymore stressed than I already am. Also, a few years ago I was diagnosed with OCD and anxiety so everything is just heightened for me. All I want to do is enjoy and embrace pregnancy.

Last week I went for my dating scan and it put me at 8 weeks 5 days. While they were doing the ultrasound, the doctor asked me if I was seeing the perinatologist and I said yes, assuming he was just looking over my paperwork and saw that I had a cousin with down syndrome. My husband later told me he immediately suspected otherwise and knew that something was "wrong" right off the bat. I got dressed and went into the doctor's office and he starts going over what he saw. He starts off with "everything looks good but I am a little concerned with the nuchal translucency, it appears to be slightly thickened". He then proceeds, "I don't want you to be worried and I am not a specialist so I just want you to go get it checked out". Being that a bomb was just dropped on us, my husband and I were both in shock so we politely told the doctor thank you and got up and left.

When I got home, we were both a mess. I then realized, I have absolutely no information in regards to what the measurement was, or anything of that sort. I called the office and requested the measurement. He called back and told me it was 1.11mm. Of course I did a ridiculous amount of research and found that anything under 3mm is considered "normal", but the only information I found was in regards to 11-13 weeks, nothing earlier.

Now I cannot see the perinatologist for another few weeks and I am an absolute mess and consumed with worry. I even called the specialist and she told me that he shouldn't have even said anything because it was too early to take a measurement and that it doesn't mean anything at this point and again, not to worry.

My biggest fear is that within the next few weeks, the nuchal translucency is going to get bigger and bigger as the baby grows. I have not found any information regarding early measurements of the NT so I have come here in hopes that I can find someone who has gone through the same or similar situation as me.

I understand that this is only one of the bunch of tests that they do to determine if the baby has a problem but I am so caught up on it and think that if there is a problem this early, there is bound to be more. I know it's not the right way to think, but I tend to think the worst

I have attached a picture of the 8 week 5 day ultrasound below.

Thank you in advance to all that apply and I hope everyone's pregnancies are going healthy and wonderful!

 

[Princess_3]

Didn't want to read and run. I don't have the answer for you. But I hope everything turns out just fine x

 

[hivechild]

I would trust the word of the specialist over the doctor. She's right that the doctor shouldn't have said anything and worried you. There's a reason the NT ultrasound is done during a certain timeframe and 8.5 is too early for any significant measurement.

 

[Scout]

I would trust the perinatologist. when I was pregnant with daughter I saw both an OB and a perinatologist and, although I loved my OB, the perinatologist was a lot more informed on the high risk aspects of my pregnancy, as well he should be since that's their specialty. My guess is that the reason you can't find anything on the internet is bc a measurement done at your gestation isn't meaningful. It has to be done at a specific time to give the doctor information. And, like you already said, a thickened NT is only one risk factor. And even if you have a risk factor, it doesn't mean anything will be wrong with baby. Oh, and from what I understand only 1% of Down Syndrome is hereditary; 99% is just random, so even though you have a cousin with Down Syndrome it's not likely it would be passed down to your baby. Although, I do understand your worry and I would be too. I was actually quite a mess until I had my genetic testing results back, so I get it. And google is just horrible for pregnant women! GL

 

[alibaba24]

i would be reminding myself they don't look at the nt until your 3 months pregnant for a reason . try to calm down you have said it yourself those numbers Are normal . even though its much to early to even be checking

 

[Maggs]

With my first pregnancy, I'd had my nt scan at 11 weeks and they had to redo it at 13 weeks because I was told you can't get a proper measurement that early on. I think it's only best and accurately measured when baby is 12-14 weeks.