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NT Scan
Okay... I have to ask because I'm going OUT OF MY MIND!
Is it just me or is anyone else (or has anyone else been if you're beyond that point) TERRIFIED of the NT screen and of the risk of your baby having downes or some such???
I'm SOOO scared. I mean, I know that many women who are older than me have perfectly healthy babies every day. I know several women in their early to mid 40s who've recently had babies and no problems at all (thank God) but I can't help feeling scared. And I know no one can "reassure" me because the fact is that I am in the higher risk category and the only way I'm going to be able to calm down is to do the scan and to be told things look fine. Then I'll still do an amnio later but a good NT result will go a long way to helping me calm down. But I just want to know if I'm the only one who's losing it over this.
Is it just me or is anyone else (or has anyone else been if you're beyond that point) TERRIFIED of the NT screen and of the risk of your baby having downes or some such???
I'm SOOO scared. I mean, I know that many women who are older than me have perfectly healthy babies every day. I know several women in their early to mid 40s who've recently had babies and no problems at all (thank God) but I can't help feeling scared. And I know no one can "reassure" me because the fact is that I am in the higher risk category and the only way I'm going to be able to calm down is to do the scan and to be told things look fine. Then I'll still do an amnio later but a good NT result will go a long way to helping me calm down. But I just want to know if I'm the only one who's losing it over this.
Amnio will check all chromosomes and will tell you with 100% accuacy if there is any risk. Also, you will know XX or XY early!
I drove myself crazy before my NT scan since we had poor looking embryos and I read in some med journal that means higher risk of abnormalities. That was all needless stress, as you know. My ob did say that if my NT scan looks good probabiliy of down's is very low. BUT if it's positive (i.e. high risk) then probability of down's is still low since the scan has a high false positive rate.
I drove myself crazy before my NT scan since we had poor looking embryos and I read in some med journal that means higher risk of abnormalities. That was all needless stress, as you know. My ob did say that if my NT scan looks good probabiliy of down's is very low. BUT if it's positive (i.e. high risk) then probability of down's is still low since the scan has a high false positive rate.
What a horrible experience! I'm glad everything turned out well...what a HUGE relief that must have been! You're right, though...sometimes I wonder if the testing is worth it. In my case, my risk factor was very good...I decided, based on that, not to do the amnio. But every once in awhile that thought creeps in - what if the risk was wrong? What if the baby isn't well? Stupid insecurities. I can't wait for this to all be over...and I am NOT doing it again. LOL.
Tricia
Tricia
NT scans/measurements just give risk factor - no diagnosis of chromosome problems, just a risk factor. It is just a soft marker to indicate potential problems but doesn't give a diagnosis. It is a measurement of fluid around the babies neck.
Many things can cause extra fluid around the next - chromosomal problems, organ problems, heart problems or NOTHING.
I am pregnant with twins (you can see my post from Feb and got a bad NT results for both babies!!!!! one neck measured 3.5mm and the other 4.1mm. A week later she measured 3.25mm and 5.11mm!!!!!!!! She gave us odds of 1:8 for Baby A and 1:22 for Baby B.
My doctor was pretty negative - She told us most likely they both had chromosomal problems and that depending on what it was, maybe the pregnancy would end on its own. She even asked if we still wanted the ultrasound photos or if it would be too strange for us to take them (knowing our babies wouldn't live or were not healthy)!!!!! We were devastated..... She suggested CVS to see what was wrong.
So we decided to get a second opinion before deciding to do anything invasive!
So we went to an excellent specialist, who is also head doctor of a university clinic, this past Wednesday. HE was VERY VERY thorough. He said both babies look very good good - and checked their hearts, organs, extremeties - alll fine. He said that with chromosomal problems usually there is something else wrong too. He gave us odds of 1:50 for both babies. Not great, but much much much better than the odds we had received from my normal doctors ultrasound.
We decided there that although he gave us much better odds and we felt much more at ease after that appt, we still decided there to do the CVS with him because I needed to regain that peace of mind and KNEW he was the right one to do the testing.
Turns out both girls chromosomes are totally normal. All that stress just because of this stupid measurement of less than 1mm of extra fluid more than normal range.
PS. I switched doctors after that drama.
To me it isn't worth it to get an NT scan. It doesn't give you any diagnosis and can cause undue stress.
Many things can cause extra fluid around the next - chromosomal problems, organ problems, heart problems or NOTHING.
I am pregnant with twins (you can see my post from Feb and got a bad NT results for both babies!!!!! one neck measured 3.5mm and the other 4.1mm. A week later she measured 3.25mm and 5.11mm!!!!!!!! She gave us odds of 1:8 for Baby A and 1:22 for Baby B.
My doctor was pretty negative - She told us most likely they both had chromosomal problems and that depending on what it was, maybe the pregnancy would end on its own. She even asked if we still wanted the ultrasound photos or if it would be too strange for us to take them (knowing our babies wouldn't live or were not healthy)!!!!! We were devastated..... She suggested CVS to see what was wrong.
So we decided to get a second opinion before deciding to do anything invasive!
So we went to an excellent specialist, who is also head doctor of a university clinic, this past Wednesday. HE was VERY VERY thorough. He said both babies look very good good - and checked their hearts, organs, extremeties - alll fine. He said that with chromosomal problems usually there is something else wrong too. He gave us odds of 1:50 for both babies. Not great, but much much much better than the odds we had received from my normal doctors ultrasound.
We decided there that although he gave us much better odds and we felt much more at ease after that appt, we still decided there to do the CVS with him because I needed to regain that peace of mind and KNEW he was the right one to do the testing.
Turns out both girls chromosomes are totally normal. All that stress just because of this stupid measurement of less than 1mm of extra fluid more than normal range.
PS. I switched doctors after that drama.
To me it isn't worth it to get an NT scan. It doesn't give you any diagnosis and can cause undue stress.
Thank you Yvette, I appreciate that.
Although my doctor said that I should be doing the amnio regardless of the NT scan and blood screen because of my age!! And also because the scan/screen only indicates likelihood and can give false results.
I SO cannot wait till I'm past all the testing!!
Although my doctor said that I should be doing the amnio regardless of the NT scan and blood screen because of my age!! And also because the scan/screen only indicates likelihood and can give false results.
I SO cannot wait till I'm past all the testing!!
You know if you have a good NT scan and good results with the triple marker blood test, they may not do the amnio. You're not that old. I wouldn't worry about the NT scan. It will put your mind at ease if nothing else. I had it done and it was nice to get the reassurance and now it's important that I had it done, since I did well on that test something else that has come up isn't as much of an issue/problem. I think with these advanced maternal age pregnancies we get nothing but worries! :(....hang in there!
Thank you all.
But like kellym says, everything I have read has given the NT scan a very high percentage for accuracy. At least, what I have read has said that it's in the high 90s for accuracy but that if you get a high result (as in, you're baby is at high risk) it can be false but that generally a low result is correct.
And thanks kellym, I may not be "old" per se, but I'm old enough to be at a higher risk!
Thing is, now I've started looking into amnio a little more carefully and for some reason, it never crossed my mind to worry about it. It was just something routine one does after 35. I mean, I did know that there exists a small risk but it didn't phase me. Now, I'm terrified of doing the amnio but equally terrified of not doing it!!!
SoCalTricia... thanks... it's good to know I'm not the only one stressing!!
But like kellym says, everything I have read has given the NT scan a very high percentage for accuracy. At least, what I have read has said that it's in the high 90s for accuracy but that if you get a high result (as in, you're baby is at high risk) it can be false but that generally a low result is correct.
And thanks kellym, I may not be "old" per se, but I'm old enough to be at a higher risk!
Thing is, now I've started looking into amnio a little more carefully and for some reason, it never crossed my mind to worry about it. It was just something routine one does after 35. I mean, I did know that there exists a small risk but it didn't phase me. Now, I'm terrified of doing the amnio but equally terrified of not doing it!!!
SoCalTricia... thanks... it's good to know I'm not the only one stressing!!
OH great, My dr. said that it was 95% accurate so now I'm wondering if I should even bother. I go on Monday and we were going to schedule the appt. I'm only 10w 2d right now. Don't stress. Hopefully they will be able to give you enough positives to get you through!! (and you're not old!)
I agree with Pam...don't put too much stock in the NT scan. It may relax you a little, or it may increase your anxiety. And, you're not crazy to be terrified...I have worried myself sick over almost every little thing during this pregnancy. I swear, when it comes to pregnancy, ignorance is bliss. With my first two, it never crossed my mind that I would have anything but a perfect baby. This time, because of my age and the availability of the internet, I went a little overboard on research. And, in the process, I freaked myself out! I have worried needlessly way too often.
I know nothing will help calm you down...but I'm really, really hoping that your NT scan turns out great and you can breathe a little easier. Please let us know how things are going! :-)
Tricia
I know nothing will help calm you down...but I'm really, really hoping that your NT scan turns out great and you can breathe a little easier. Please let us know how things are going! :-)
Tricia
NT scans are very deceiving and definitely not accurate in detecting if your baby will have downs. A high measurement NT does not mean your baby will have downs, as like a low measurement does not mean you will not. My first pregnancy, my son had a high NT I think exactly 3mm which is considered high risk. I read everything on the internet pertaining to NT measurements, which drove me crazy with worry! I was convinced he had downs!! Anyway, he was born perfect, and I bypassed the amnio. As you mentioned, noone will be able to reassure you, so just hang in there, if you're going to get the amnio anyway, I would skip all screening tests and wait. Good Luck!
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