Did you have an NT scan? If so, what were your reasons? Did your OB suggest it or did you request it? If you did not have one, why not?
I did not have one with DD since I knew I wanted the quad screen and I figured the latter would be more accurate. I didn't want to get any negative information but not be able to do much about it, so we waited to do the quad screen at 18w. But I know a lot of people get the NT scan and I'm curious to know if it's something I should request this time.
Thanks!
Re: NT scan?
don't do it.
we learned the hard way.
May I asked what happened? A false positive as I feared or something along those lines? Thanks for sharing.
Our Thanksgiving Day baby 11/22/07
Pregnant with #2 with LPD, uterine polyp/hysteroscopy, DOR (AMH = 0.17), 2 c/ps
Our early Christmas present 12/9/10
We had an NT scan.
1) We wanted to know our odds, in order to be as informed as possible.
2) Our insurance covered it, and it was an opportunity to see our baby again on the u/s.
Catching up on sports news...
Just to clarify there is no such thing as a 'false positive'. The NT is not a positive/negative test. Its a predictor to determine probability. Our probability was high considering we have no history of DS and I was not classified AMA. Was it hard getting the results that said 1/52? Absolutely. What if Alex had been the 1 out of 52??? Then we would have been able to be prepared. I read somewhere one time (it may have been on the March of Dimes website) that the NT scan helps catch somewhere in the upper 80% of genetic disorders that it tests for...far more parents are informed earlier of their child's diagnosis because of the NT scan than parents who get what people like to call the 'false positive'. Because of our 'elevated risk' we opted to have a CVS done at 13 weeks and it ruled out any genetic disorder that the test screens for. Were those some of the hardest days of my life? Yep. But I'd do it all over again to be informed. The way I describe it to my friends when they approach me is...you read reviews for months about all the latest and best baby gear so you can be prepared...so why wouldn't you want to be prepared for the health of your child. I dont look down on anyone who chooses not to - its your choice, and its a personal one. Good luck making a decision.
Thanks, toadslove. It was an intentional shorthand knowing everyone here would know, but you're right in that it's a total misstatement and thank you for clarifying!
Thank you so much for sharing your story.
Do you mind my asking if there was anything that you learned by getting your NT scan and resulting CVS that you wouldn't have likely known by getting a quad screen a month later? I know that would still be a probability, but wouldn't the quad screen likely be more precise? At least, that was my thinking 3 years ago. The only thing that's changed in my thinking now is that I have poor egg quality (though this one has already stuck around longer than the last two did) and I'll be 36 when I hit 19 weeks. There's no doubt I want the info beforehand, but I'm debating whether to to ask for it at 12 weeks this time or whether it makes sense to wait until 18 weeks again, hoping to save a little unnecessary stress *if* that's what it came down to. Thanks again for your insight.
Our Thanksgiving Day baby 11/22/07
Pregnant with #2 with LPD, uterine polyp/hysteroscopy, DOR (AMH = 0.17), 2 c/ps
Our early Christmas present 12/9/10
yeh.
we got an elevated probability.
our story is similar to toads and i had many of the same feelings.
we were like 1/149 for DS.
our background is a lil sketchy b/c we have a really poor family history with my mom being adopted and DH's father not knowing any family medical background.
but yes, like toad said this was a very very difficult time for us until we had a clear answer. i forget exact dates but we right at the point where it was kinda late for a CVS and early for an amnio. (i want to say 14 weeks).
we ended up deciding on a high level US with the perinatologist looking for markers. if markers were found--we would have an amnio.
anyway...things were fine in the end and we had a healthy baby boy and found out the sex at 16 1/2 weeks.
i agree that the more you know the better....i just felt like, in our situation, it was a lot of heartache that i would rather have bypassed.
I get confused when I talk about this because its been so long - but my NT was the u/s. Combined with that I did blood work on the same day (quad? maybe triple screen... not sure of the name but possibly the same thing?) and my age. All 3 of those things are factored in to give the risk assessment. So I guess Im not really sure of the difference - since the quad is just a risk assessment as well. Sorry - I am confusing myself on this one.
No problem at all, and thanks again for sharing.
Our Thanksgiving Day baby 11/22/07
Pregnant with #2 with LPD, uterine polyp/hysteroscopy, DOR (AMH = 0.17), 2 c/ps
Our early Christmas present 12/9/10
Yes, the quad screen is just a risk assessment as well, but my understanding is that it's more accurate than the NT scan. I may be wrong if there's a benefit to the NT scan as well, but that's what I'm trying to get a better understanding of. No problem at all, and thanks again for sharing.
Our Thanksgiving Day baby 11/22/07
Pregnant with #2 with LPD, uterine polyp/hysteroscopy, DOR (AMH = 0.17), 2 c/ps
Our early Christmas present 12/9/10
Same here.