12 week scan.

[lil_misss23]

Im booking my 12 week scan. Which I understand this is when they do the check for down syndrome. Is there anything else they can check for without doing the needle into your stomach thing? They only do that if they think you have a higher risk hey? How much harm is there in getting one done anyone? Thanks.

[Hopeful1977]

It all depends on what shows up in the NT scan and the nasal bridge.  I had mine last week and I was told that is the NT scan is 3 or higher then you are at a higher risk (regardles of age) and if it is anythign lower, the risk is lower (but not gone!)  then they look to see if they can see the nasal bridge. If it is present and the NT scan number is low, you are at a MUCH lower risk like 1 in 600 or so.   IF the NT scan is low but the nasal bridge is small or not there, they say that is still a marker for down syndrome and the have to get the blood work back to see if the risk is higher or lowered.  Thats what happened to me!   The NT scan was 1.5 but they couldnt get a clear pic if the nose so they started preparing me for the worst outcome.... scary..


If my blood work came back and it was not good, they wanted to do a CVS (scraping of the placenta before 14 weeks) or Amnio (needle in belly after 15 weeks) to get a definitive yes or now that the babay will have down syndrome or not.  Lucky for me the blod came back great and they are going to wait for my 16 week blood work but everything is looking good!

Only if something is not progressing they way they think it shoud will you have to have either the CVS or Amnio done!  GOOD LUCK!

[Helenk38]

I'm going in for mine in a couple of weeks. You don't have to do the needle one, I'm going to get the scan and bloodwork. My OB said that should be good enought for my age, at 32 my chance is 1 in 500. If you're older like in your 50 than it jump upto 1in 8. So if you are young then you should skip the needle which come with a small risk of miscarry. I hope I get all my facts right but ask your OB to confirm.