NT Scan/ First Tri Screen

agran · June 2011

I am so torn about whether we should do this. We are pregnant with our first from IVF so I get really nervous about every little thing. I worry that a false positive will send me over the edge. I know we won't terminate even with bad news, but feel we could possibly be more prepared.'

Did you do it? Any good reasons why or why not? Just looking for advice and wishing I didn't overanalyze this whole preganancy.

ssinca · June 2011

We opted out after the measurements and stuff (very technical, I know) came back ok. I doubted myself after I walked out of the office, but quite a few ladies on this board made me feel better about my decision. The doc also helped confirm we made the right decision at our 16 wk appt.

Jess.O · June 2011

We're going to do it. We won't terminate based on any results but I think it would help us prepare. Also, I'm pretty sure that the results are more of a "your risk is about a 1 in 500 or a 1 in 20 chance that xyz could occur." So, they aren't telling you yes or no, really. Does that make sense?

I'm just learning that many parents opt out of this screening. I didn't really realize that when I first became pregnant but I think it's interesting- we kind of don't see why not to get it but that's just us. I'm sure others (who actually have been there) will chime in tomorrow. GL with your decision.

Sinafey · June 2011

Jess.O:
Also, I'm pretty sure that the results are more of a "your risk is about a 1 in 500 or a 1 in 20 chance that xyz could occur." So, they aren't telling you yes or no, really.

That's exactly why we opted out. If I remember correctly the doc also said there was a very small chance of harming the baby, too. If it'd come back positive for something, even with very good odds, I would've been super stressed and it wouldn't have helped anybody.

Jess.O · June 2011

Sinafey:
Jess.O:
Also, I'm pretty sure that the results are more of a "your risk is about a 1 in 500 or a 1 in 20 chance that xyz could occur." So, they aren't telling you yes or no, really.
That's exactly why we opted out. If I remember correctly the doc also said there was a very small chance of harming the baby, too. If it'd come back positive for something, even with very good odds, I would've been super stressed and it wouldn't have helped anybody.

Really, how? I think I'm confusing two different things. I thought this was just a blood draw and an u/s to measure how long the baby is at the time. I know there can be risk with amnio and CVS but I thought this was different... Does this include one of those?

Ricola · June 2011

We did it, because we wanted to be prepared in case something is "wrong". If the NT scan shows a high probability of having one of the 3 trisomies they test for (13,18 and 21, which is Down's Syndrome), they will do further testing that would include amnio/CVS. The NT scan itself is just an u/s and b/w, so nothing that could harm the baby. They measure the length and the nuchal fold on the u/s and check for the development. I thought it was pretty cool to see baby make flips and wave at us!

Taytee · July 2011

Do it.

A friend of mine recently lost her daughter Maggie at 3 weeks old. But she'd known there were issues early on since the NT scan showed thicking and close monitoring for the next couple of weeks revealed there were definitely going to be issues that were most likely incompatible with life. She felt strongly that it not only helped them prepare but also made her appreciate every kick and roll that much more. She loved being pregnant even though she knew that Maggie would most likely never see the nursery so lovingly painted yellow. Termination was never EVER considered by her and her husband. They loved their daughter just the way she was and every day from the moment of conception to the day they removed her from the ventilator was God's gift to them.

If it's a "false positive", then you get to be one of the many people who can answer this question 1-2 years from now to say "I had a false positive and he/she is just fine!!"

Part of becoming a parent is overcoming some of your fears. And the worry part? It never goes away. When you're PG, you worry that somethings wrong with the baby. Once they are born with "10 fingers and toes", you worry about SIDS. When they get older, you worry about.... it just never stops. This is one worry you can either put to bed, or it will be short lived.

I don't know many women who don't overanalyze their pregnancy So it's not just you honey! You're a mom. That's what we do.

Taytee · July 2011

Jess.O:
Sinafey:
Jess.O:

Also, I'm pretty sure that the results are more of a "your risk is about a 1 in 500 or a 1 in 20 chance that xyz could occur." So, they aren't telling you yes or no, really.

That's exactly why we opted out. If I remember correctly the doc also said there was a very small chance of harming the baby, too. If it'd come back positive for something, even with very good odds, I would've been super stressed and it wouldn't have helped anybody.

Really, how? I think I'm confusing two different things. I thought this was just a blood draw and an u/s to measure how long the baby is at the time. I know there can be risk with amnio and CVS but I thought this was different... Does this include one of those?

NT = The NT test uses ultrasound to measure the clear (translucent) space in the tissue at the back of your developing baby's neck. Babies with abnormalities tend to accumulate more fluid at the back of their neck during the first trimester, causing this clear space to be larger than average.

First Tri Screen = Blood test to look for other genetic markers.

IF either of those are positive, some women chose to have an "invasive" amniocentisis which carries a small risk of miscarriage or premature labor.

KateAggie · July 2011

If we ever have another, I will get every test offered. We opted out with both of our kids, because I have major anxiety problems, and din't want to needlessly freak myself out with a so-called "false positive," and we knew we wouldn't terminate regardless. Then, with my second, we had an u/s measurement that was a soft marker for downs, and it never went away (the marker, that is). I spent the last 2 months of my PG terrified of the unknown, and wishing I'd had testing. I would've actually enjoyed what was probably my last pregnancy if I'd had more info. I will always regret that.

thethomps · July 2011

We opted out, as well. The baby was measuring fine and the results would not have influenced my desire to carry to term, so we didn't see a need for it. We had a "scare" at 36 weeks when I was measuring small but that's because I am 5'9" with a super-long torso. An u/s revealed that DD was on track as far as size.

balihaigirl · July 2011

we're going to do it as long as our insurance covers it (i still need to check on that). i just want to be prepared in case there is something wrong (although we wouldn't terminate). we will not do a CVS though if something comes up abnormal.

Keribells · July 2011

I had it done in March. I opted to do it for multiple reasons.

-I grew up on a State School campus in the residential portion so I interacted with clients that lived in the dorms there often. Many of them had Downs and I knew that if my child were at risk for it I wanted to be able to research and know everything I could prior to the baby arriving. I feel that knowledge is power especially in cases such as this.

-This reason is purely selfish and not test related. I already knew my position as stated above so the other reason I wanted the test was for the sonogram...I wanted to see my little one again.

The test for me involved blood samples that I had to mail/Fed Ex into a testing center. My OB received the results by my next appt and used the blood results along with the sonogram findings to determine if I was at risk or not.

amyliisa · July 2011

Keribells:

I knew that if my child were at risk for it I wanted to be able to research and know everything I could prior to the baby arriving. I feel that knowledge is power especially in cases such as this.

-This reason is purely selfish and not test related. I already knew my position as stated above so the other reason I wanted the test was for the sonogram...I wanted to see my little one again.

The test for me involved blood samples

Ditto all this. We had this done with our first, because insurance covered it, it is the least invasive of the genetic testing, and if we were at higher risk for any of the Trisomy's, we wanted to be able to prepare ourselves (we wouldn't have terminated). I was 35 at the time, so that was also a (slightly less important) factor.

This time, we just had it done a few weeks ago. I'm 38 this time, so my OB has me seeing a perinatologist, who had us talk with a genetic counselor and we again opted to the this test.

You get an u/s, which does what Taytee explained - measures a gap in the back of the baby's neck (Nuchal Transluscency). You will also have your finger pricked, and squeezed so that 4 (or is it 5) large drops of blood come out, which they have you drip it onto this paper that gets mailed to the lab and analyzed. They like to see the gap in the neck between 1 and 3mm. If it's larger, they take that into consideration along with the blood results, to formulate your odds for having a baby at risk for Trisomy 13, 18 or 21.

At my age, the average risk for Downs (T-21) is something like 1 in 150 (or 200 maybe?). After my test we learned that my risk is 1 in 3600. The risk for T-13/18 for a 38yo woman is 1 in 199, and my actual risk is 1 in 4100. Basically my risk is the same as that of a 20 year old, which we thought were really good odds that there's not an issue with this baby. So we opted out of any further testing (which we probably would have done anyway, due to the risks involved with CVS and amnio).

Bottom line, I would do this test, even if you know you wouldn't terminate anyway. IMO, the NT test isn't a conclusive enough test to use to make a decision on termination (but that's just me). It just measures whether you have increased odds for one of the Trisomy disorders. If you do have increased odds, you have the option of further testing to try to narrow it down. If you don't, you have a little bit of peace of mind, and a few extra pictures of your babe! Win/win, if you ask me!

smb29 · July 2011

We did the quad screen the first time and the NT Scan/bloodwork the second time. I'm a planner, and I wanted to know if there would be issues. Honestly though, it never occured to me that it would be anything wrong and we hadn't really thought through the next step (would I get an amnio or not) and I wasn't really educated on what the numbers meant either prior to taking the test. It was really really tough emotionally when our quad screen came back with an increased risk of downs. We opted for the amnio. This time the NT Scan/bloodwork came back normal so we didn't have to make the decision, but I probably would have done the amnio again if needed. Bottom line, for me there was no question of getting the test because I wanted as much info as possible, but really think through what you would if the results were less than good - could you live with the possibility? would you get an amnio? would you terminate?

agran · July 2011

Thanks everyone-- still not sure where we are at hopefully we can come to a conclusion this weekend. My doctor this morning really tried to convice us to do it so I think we're leaning that way. It helps a ton to hear everyone's opinions and reasons for their choices.

So glad I finally get to post pregnancy and mommy questions. :-)

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