NT Scan results have me panicked

asl71476

So, our NT scan results are in. Our u/s is absolutely perfect - no markers for Down's, etc. Everything looks beautiful.

My bloodwork however tells another story I guess. I'm 34, so I know that due to my age I've got somewhat of a bigger risk of issues than someone in their 20's. My doctor called me today and told me that I went from a .5% risk, to an "elevated" risk of 2% of having a baby with Down's Syndrome. I have no family history of it, nor does my husband.

She's got me scheduled for a 2nd level u/s to further look into things. I'm really trying to focus on the 98% chance I have of a healthy "normal" baby. The worst part honestly is that she called me while I was in my lunch/prep period at school, and then I had to back in to class and teach 8th graders - 3 of whom have extreme special needs. The last thing she said to me was "I don't want you to panic." Um, okay.

I know I shouldn't completely freak out, but I wasn't prepared to hear that my baby looks fantastic on screen and not perfect on paper.

Are ANY of you in the same boat?  

mommy411

did she give you your numbers?

1:300

1:1200?

Birdies08

pigtails1031:

did she give you your numbers?

1:300

1:1200?

I'm assuming when she said 2% she meant the same as 1:50

OP- really don't let it worry you. While that's "elevated", like you said, there's still a 98% chance everything is perfect with your baby. I hope the next u/s shows you wonderful results and you can stop worrying (well, ok, I know that's never going to happen- but at least about this). 

ETA: Oops! Left out an important # there... 

gymnst1013

Birdies08:

pigtails1031:

did she give you your numbers?

1:300

1:1200?

I'm assuming when she said 2% she meant the same as 1:50

OP- really don't let it worry you. While that's "elevated", like you said, there's still a 98% chance everything is perfect with your baby. I hope the next u/s shows you wonderful results and you can stop worrying (well, ok, I know that's never going to happen- but at least about this). 

ETA: Oops! Left out an important # there... 

Exactly.  And even better than that - the 2% isn't a 2% chance of Downs.  It's a 2% chance of being that 1 in 50.

musiscout

On my local board, some one went through second and maybe third levels of prenatal testing. In the end she found out there was no problems. The baby is a really good baby too- the ones that smile and rarely cry.

asl71476

Yep - it's 1:50 based solely on bloodwork. 

After asking around to a few friends, and friends of friends, it seems that quite a few of them have had similar experiences, that all ended with healthy births. I'm hoping the same for me.

Gymnst - thanks for posting that it's a 2% chance of being that 1 in 50. I hadn't thought of it that way. I think I might have exhaled for the first time since 11:15am today.

Thanks for the kind words ladies! 

Michekke

I have a friend that got pregnant at 36 and she said that they AUTOMATICALLY sent her to a specialist bc they ASSUMED there would be something wrong?? The baby was absolutely PERFECT! But they did an NT scan and said she needed to come back for a second one. And she asked, does the baby look fine on the ultra sound and they said yes and she was like well no need to worry and if he is then we will deal. But like i said , he is perfect! So try not to worry so much( yeah right i know) Good Luck girl!

jengon

I got the exact same phone call yesterday.  My NT u/s had great results.  They said everything was perfect.  Then I got a phone call saying that my b/w came back with a different story.  Pretty much the same as you.  At first I was freaking out.  I was actually on the road to my dr office for another u/s when I got the call.  So I told them about it and the tech was measuring the baby again and still coming back with great results.  I think the thickness was 0.9 or something really low.  She checked some other stuff like the nose, heart, and fingers (don't know what those mean) and still everything was perfect.  She told me that the blood work has false positives a lot and told me she didn't think I had anything to worry about.  She really put me at ease.  I have another apt in the morning where my dr will talk with me about the results.  He didn't have the paper work at the time.  I'm pretty sure I will end up getting the other 2nd round NT scan also.  But I still feel a whole lot better than I did after the phone call.  It was very unexpected after hearing how great the u/s went.  I hope you can relax and feel better.  I honestly think you may have gotten a false positive as well.  I'll let you know what my dr says tomorrow. 

redfish08

Very similar story to what happened to me the first time with DS.  Our risk came back at 1:120.  We were referred to a genetic counselor and a perinatologist to perform a level II u/s.  The genetic counselor was awesome, and our level II u/s came back normal.  After the u/s, they adjusted our risk to 1:240.  However, we still elected to go through with an amnioscentesis.  It was quick and painless.  Within three days, we had our FISH test back which showed totally normal results, and then the final results were back in a few weeks. 

I'll be honest with you, it was an extremely stressful period of time for us.  We told no one about it, not even family, because we wanted no input or "well-meaning" comments.  My husband works in OB, and we made the decision to move forward with invasive testing because we wanted to be totally prepared for any and all outcomes.  It was the right decision for us.  But, it was our decision. 

 I also felt so much more comfortable with the perinatologist when discussing our options.  I remember asking her how common amnios were, and she said to me, well, if you have one today, you'll be my fifth one today.  I trusted her and her opinion, and that helped us decide what to do next.

I wish you all the best as you evaluate your options.  Just remember that it's your decision to make (including your DH), and no one elses. 

NovNYC2006

My doctor told me the blood work tends to have a lot of false positives too.

 Try not to stress too much (easier said than done, I know!) 

asl71476

jengon:

I got the exact same phone call yesterday.  My NT u/s had great results.  They said everything was perfect.  Then I got a phone call saying that my b/w came back with a different story.  Pretty much the same as you.  At first I was freaking out.  I was actually on the road to my dr office for another u/s when I got the call.  So I told them about it and the tech was measuring the baby again and still coming back with great results.  I think the thickness was 0.9 or something really low.  She checked some other stuff like the nose, heart, and fingers (don't know what those mean) and still everything was perfect.  She told me that the blood work has false positives a lot and told me she didn't think I had anything to worry about.  She really put me at ease.  I have another apt in the morning where my dr will talk with me about the results.  He didn't have the paper work at the time.  I'm pretty sure I will end up getting the other 2nd round NT scan also.  But I still feel a whole lot better than I did after the phone call.  It was very unexpected after hearing how great the u/s went.  I hope you can relax and feel better.  I honestly think you may have gotten a false positive as well.  I'll let you know what my dr says tomorrow. 

This made me feel SO much better. I know that doctors have an obligation to give it to you straight, and I'm by no means upset with my OB, but it was like the sky turned black while I was on the phone with her. I've got my Level II u/s set up for 12/17, which now seems an eternity away, but I'm doing my best to keep a positive outlook. Keep me posted on your appointment!