Nuchal translucency screening question

[daisiema]

Hello everyone, just wondering if anyone has info on this as I have never heard of it but my doctor wants me to do it :) I will be 35 can you tell me how yours went???what are they able to find out?

[jenandjon]

I am 35 and had the NT with my dd at 13 weeks.  I would try and get the test done early in the time window because the NT will be at its largest at 13 weeks.  I had a 2.74 level and from the research I did, anything over 2.75 was cause for caution.  So...I freaked out for the next 6 weeks.  They did a level 2 ultrasound and none of the other markers were noted for congenital problems, that combined with my 16 week blood tests convinced me to turn down the amnio as it had a greater risk of miscarriage than the tests were showing.  Everything turned out fine and dd is wonderful.  Best of luck.    

[magnolia55]

I had these tests done. I was 39 at the time and my results were the same as for a 25 year old. I opted not to do the amnio after the results of these tests because I had a higher risk of m/c from the amnio than of having a baby with Down Syndrome. I was extremely nervous waiting for the results, and stiff as a board during the ultrasound, but it was worth it for my piece of mind.

[Janey0]

I had this scan at 13 weeks and never again!!! I was one who got a high result (4.4mm) And i had to have a cvs and extra heart scans and weeks of tremendous worry. Thankfully, all came back all clear and all the fluid had gone at my 20 week anomaly scan, so if i hadn't have had this scan at 13 weeks i would not have known a thing about the fluid.
I'd think twice before having it if i were you, because there are allot of false postives and it really is not worth all the worry.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

[Heather5]

I had it done at 11 weeks, 2 days, and just got the blood test results at my appointment on Wednesday. I'm also 35. On the ultrasound, they're basically looking at the fluid behind the baby's neck and also looking for a nasal bone. The blood test checks your HCG and PAPP-A levels. Based on my age and the ultrasound (which looked good), my risk was I believe about 1 in 500 or so, but the blood test decreased the odds significantly to 1 in 4,700 for downs and 1 in 7,900 for trisomy 18. I have heard, though, that this test is notorious for giving false high risks, so just keep that in mind.

Based on my odds and the fact that I've had two miscarriages in the past, I'm not doing an amnio. I've never made it to my second trimester until now, so I'm not taking any chances this time...

Best of luck with everything!

[stillwaiting52]

I had the test done with my son but it didn't change my statistics any, if I ever get pregnant again I think I will have the amnio test to know for sure. The risks of harming the baby are about 1 in 300 but it was enough to prevent me from having it last time....

[Yinzer]

The First Trimester nuchal translucency screening is a test which uses ultrasound images and blood tests to predict your risk of having a fetus with Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome).  The ultrasound measures the fetus from head to rump (crown/rump length) and also measurs the thickness of the skin behind the fetal neck.  This information is combined with your age and also blood tests to formulate a new prediction or "risk" for you.  NO ONE is ever zero...no matter how young they are.  But the test can change anyones age-related risk so that the patient can consider other genetic testing (if the results suggest a increased risk) or refuse other genetic testing (if the results suggest a decreased risk).  

Sometimes, due to the fetal position, the fetal age, or maternal body habitus, the test cannot be performed because the necessary images cannot be obtained.

Keep in mind that this is only a screening and is not 100% conclusive.  If you absolutely have to know for sure, then a CVS (chorionic villi sampling) or amniocentesis could be considered, however they are not without risk to the fetus.  There is also blood work available at around 16 weeks which also screens for chromosomal abnormalities as well as spina bifida.