Did/does your doctor offer NT scan?

racegirl723 · December 2010

With my DS, the OB never offered to perform an NT scan. From what I know it is a much more common procedure now and I was expecting that it will be offered at my 13 week appt tomorrow (I'm seeing a different doctor this time around). However, in speaking to a coworker who recently had a baby, her OB said no one in our area performs NT scans and she had to drive to a major city to get one (she's high risk). Now I'm thinking it may not be offered tomorrow.

It's weird b/c I don't exactly live in a rural area (100,000+ city). My sister, who lives in another state, had NT scans with her current and previous pregnancies and thought it odd that it wasn't even offered to me.

So now I'm curious...Did or does your doctor offer the NT scan?

Nickiechan · December 2010

My OB doesn't offer it. The hospital that we are working with is a religious hospital so they don't offer the NT scan. I guess they think that once you receive a positive then you would abort... I don't know. They did however offer it to us if we would want it done at a nearby other hospital and they said they would schedule the appointment for us. We opted out of it. I thought it would cause more stress then is needed. Because if we would get the positive we would want more test done. We where also very low risk, so they said they didn't see a need. I know that some insurance companies don't cover NT test.

runnergrl6675 · December 2010

I'm from a fairly large city and not one person i've talked to has had one done unless they were in a high risk category (age, multiples, history of downs, etc.). I would've liked to have had it done, but my doctor didn't even mention it and neither did I.

Michekke · December 2010

This is my 4th child and 2nd Dr. and neither dr. ever offered the NT scan to me with my other 3 or this one?!?!

IndianaSara · December 2010

I was not offered the NT scan. I was offered the Quad screen and opted out.

TessieF · December 2010

I was offered the NT scan. I do my prenatal visits at a teaching hospital in a major city though.

LIa0909 · December 2010

At my first appointment with the nurse, I was deemed low risk based on health history and the NT scan was recommended but she flat out told me that most people in my risk / health / age category consider it necessary and they by no means expect me to get it.

At my second appointment, I was upgraded to high risk with potential problems of low birthweight, preterm labor. The doctor still didn't necessarily recommend NT scan but sent me to a maternal fetal specialist to assess my condition. During THAT appointment (at a local hospital) the baby was deemed already low birthweight so they HIGHLY recommended the NT scan. The doctor pretty much said that knowing the baby is already small and knowing that the pregnancy is going to be complication, they like to rull out as many other risk factors as possible.

We live in a town of 500,000+ and have the maternal fetal specialists / high level neonatal ICU and childrens hospital for all of Southern Colorado. Its nice having these resources so nearby when they start spouting high risk complications at you but I can imagine the trouble of lack of resources in smaller town. (Colorado only has two level IIIB (the highest) NICU's in the state and they are in the two biggest cities only an hour apart from each other... I can't imagine the added stress of living in one of the mountain towns worrying about weather and traffic and driving all the way to denver or colorado springs if the baby were to start coming very preterm...)

cvl105 · December 2010

My Dr did offer us the NT scan...and we did it.

supermom83 · December 2010

My doctors office offers it to every pregnant woman, but it is not covered by insurance and is pricey (costs $350). I did it with all my pregnancies and plan on doing it again with any subsequent pregnancies. I would rather know and brace myself and be ready if I have a baby with special needs. It's the least I could do given being in that position, to me, being ready is trying to be the best mommy I can be.

LexGator · December 2010

IndianaSara:
I was not offered the NT scan. I was offered the Quad screen and opted out.

This goes for me as well.

Telly21182 · December 2010

LexGator:
IndianaSara:
I was not offered the NT scan. I was offered the Quad screen and opted out.
This goes for me as well.

Ditto, but I am still debating if I'll do the Quad Screen.

chyrstol06 · December 2010

My OB did not offer an NT scan, but did offer a Q screen. I may opt out.

luckyluvr · December 2010

I had to ask my dr. about it, but b/c I'm young and low risk, he said no. I have had the quad with my other pregnancies, and I will have it again with this one. It's just a blood test, but better to know than be surprised.

Becky262 · December 2010

My current OB didn't even know what an NT scan was - which I thought was very weird too because I'm being seen by the National Naval hospital in Bethesda, Maryland. I had one done with DS and my OB was in a small clinic in a small college town in Oregon

You'd think that a national hospital in an extremely populated area of the country would have the best technology and be the most cutting edge, but instead they seem to be about 10 years behind.

aniceucchik · December 2010

my doc last time offered it, but i switched mid-way through last time to this new place and they do not. I still had to drive an hour away the first time and my current OB said he would get me one if i wanted, but i still would have had to travel over an hour away.