NT Scan

turtles7

I want to do it but not sure when mine will be scheduled. I have two appointments on Tuesday so maybe one of those is the nt scan.

Ineedmorecoffee

Didn't do it with my first and not doing it this time because my doctor said I'm low risk so she doesn't recommend it.

chauliodus

I had mine done on Friday. There is no way I would not have done it. It's to look for markers of down's syndrome, tri 18 and 13, but detects other abnormalities such as anencephaly and cystic hygromas so just because you have a normal materniT21 test doesn't mean the NT shouldn't be done. I'm 34 but would have had it done if I was 23. Lower risk does not mean no risk. In fact more babies with down's are born to younger mothers. This is because they have more babies than the 35 and up set and while the risk is lower it is not zero.  While it's a screening test an amino can be set up to confirm (the trisomies). I'm 100% in the more info camp. I'd be more anxious knowing I could know and didn't find out. A normal NT obviously should also not reassure people that the baby will be perfectly healthy, there are lots of things that aren't evident till the anatomy scan, birth or during childhood.

mommymeg143

I have a question that is probably a stupid one. I'm a FTM so this will be my first NT Scan. We are scheduled to have it done this coming Wednesday. When I spoke with the nurse who scheduled it, she said they would prick my finger for bloodwork prior to the ultrasound. Would this be for the M21 test? I would imagine they would need a vile to complete the testing since it seems complex but could be wrong.

dr_pr

MeganMullikin said:

I have a question that is probably a stupid one. I'm a FTM so this will be my first NT Scan. We are scheduled to have it done this coming Wednesday. When I spoke with the nurse who scheduled it, she said they would prick my finger for bloodwork prior to the ultrasound. Would this be for the M21 test? I would imagine they would need a vile to complete the testing since it seems complex but could be wrong.

The NT scan is a part of the first trimester screening test. What that means is that they will take blood at around 10 weeks and again around 14 weeks. They'll compare the hormone levels in your blood, and that will give them more information about any potential problems with the baby. The scan looks for physical markers and is done at the time of the first blood draw. This is different from any of the non-invasive prenatal tests (M21, etc) which look at the actual fetal chromosomes and not maternal hormones. If your doctor didn't say you were having M21 or another NIPT, then you are having the quad screen instead. There is no ambiguity about the M21 test being performed, because it's so new and potentially very expensive if your insurance doesn't cover it! So it really sounds like you are having the NT.

ETA: It's also rare to have an u/s with the M21. My doctor and a few other docs do it, but it seems most people just get a blood test. If I wasn't getting the u/s, I'd get the NT in addition to the NIPT!

CPM13

We have it at 12 weeks ( a week from tomorrow). I am 40 so it's pretty highly recommended. I think being informed is always a good thing, plus it is another chance to check on the babies.