Anyone opt out of the NT scan?

maxine06 · January 2012

My 12 week appt is tomorrow. I am on the fence about the NT scan and the first tri blood work. Any one opt out or want to share why you made the decision to have it done or not?

Thanks!

lily225 · January 2012

We have never done one. What is will be and we wouldn't ever terminate a pregnancy so we figure, why add the extra stress. Especially when there are so many false positives it seems.

leffe1 · January 2012

We didn't have one our 1st pg and probably won't do one this time. It was just our personal decision not to do it.

mommygrams0730 · January 2012

lily225:
We have never done one. What is will be and we wouldn't ever terminate a pregnancy so we figure, why add the extra stress. Especially when there are so many false positives it seems.

this. i think it's really important to think about how you would feel about this results and also know that technology has improved but still can be wrong.

i didn't with my first, and didn't with this one either.

OCIrishBruin · January 2012

I did it last time and will do it this time, without question. I believe it is critical to have as much information about the health of my children as I can so that I can seek the best medical care if necessary and prepare for what may be coming my way.

I find the arguments to not have an NT scan because people wouldn't terminate regardless to be a bit too simplistic and I would be offended if someone were to imply that my decision to have an NT meant otherwise.

af2004rn · January 2012

We have always opted out.

1. There are so many false readings that it seems to cause people to make choices that are unnecessary. I know far too many people who were given a wrong diagnosis and had healthy babies. I know women that were told everything was fine and had babies that had genetic issues.

2. We would never terminate a pregnancy.

3. If there truly is a medical issue, I would learn about it at the 20 week ultrasound and would still have plenty of time to adjust.

lildevil968 · January 2012

We declined with both LO's because the results would not have changed the outcome of the pregnancy.

pixieprincss · January 2012

We are declining this time. We did it with DS and while the NT was fine, the correlating 15w bloodwork showed an elevated risk of problems. It just led to worrying, consults with a genetic counselor, and many tears. At the 20w anatomy scan we could see that he was fine, but that doubt just lingered the rest of the pregnancy.

The anatomy scan can give us an idea if there is anything that we want to prepare for. 20 weeks is still plenty of time for us to prepare and realistically, anything we'd do prenatally in an extreme case couldn't be treated in-utero before that point any way.

urbanmamacountryheart · January 2012

OCIrishBruin:
I find the arguments to not have an NT scan because people wouldn't terminate regardless to be a bit too simplistic and I would be offended if someone were to imply that my decision to have an NT meant otherwise.

Good evening folks. I've been lurking here for a few weeks, but finally feel compelled to make a comment.

I am nine weeks along with my second child and heard his or her beautiful heartbeat for the first time today at my first appointment. At this appointment I also declined the NT scan and quad-screen.

I have worked in both a genetic counseling clinic and a DNA diagnostic lab, and believe my arguments to personally decline these testing procedures to be well informed. The NT scan and quad-screen (or triple screen if that's what is being offered) only inform the patient of an increased risk. They are not boolean in nature. In order to confirm a chromosomal abnormality, a CVS or amnio needs to be done, and both of these procedures pose the risk of spontaneous abortion.

God forbid my little bean has a chromosomal abnormality, a 20-week ultrasound will detect this. And I will therefore have this critical information approximately a month an a half later than if I elected to have the NT and quad-screen, followed by a CVS or amnio. Since I would never terminate, regardless of the baby's prognosis, this month and a half is simply irrelevant in the larger play of the pregnancy and my family's life.

Therefore, my decision to decline the NT scan is based on the fact that I would not terminate and am not willing to subject my pregnancy to the risk of a CVS or amnio. This is not simplistic and I would offended if someone were to imply that my decision to decline the NT scan was otherwise.

OCIrishBruin · January 2012

urbanmamacountryheart:
OCIrishBruin:

I find the arguments to not have an NT scan because people wouldn't terminate regardless to be a bit too simplistic and I would be offended if someone were to imply that my decision to have an NT meant otherwise.

Good evening folks. I've been lurking here for a few weeks, but finally feel compelled to make a comment.

I am nine weeks along with my second child and heard his or her beautiful heartbeat for the first time today at my first appointment. At this appointment I also declined the NT scan and quad-screen.

I have worked in both a genetic counseling clinic and a DNA diagnostic lab, and believe my arguments to personally decline these testing procedures to be well informed. The NT scan and quad-screen (or triple screen if that's what is being offered) only inform the patient of an increased risk. They are not boolean in nature. In order to confirm a chromosomal abnormality, a CVS or amnio needs to be done, and both of these procedures pose the risk of spontaneous abortion.

God forbid my little bean has a chromosomal abnormality, a 20-week ultrasound will detect this. And I will therefore have this critical information approximately a month an a half later than if I elected to have the NT and quad-screen, followed by a CVS or amnio. Since I would never terminate, regardless of the baby's prognosis, this month and a half is simply irrelevant in the larger play of the pregnancy and my family's life.

Therefore, my decision to decline the NT scan is based on the fact that I would not terminate and am not willing to subject my pregnancy to the risk of a CVS or amnio. This is not simplistic and I would offended if someone were to imply that my decision to decline the NT scan was otherwise.

I appreciate your well thought out response. Your reasons are not simplistic at all and I respect that they are absolutely the right choice for you and your family. My comment was not aimed at people who have such well reasoned responses.

FollyOne · January 2012

I did not have one done. It was not recommended.

CoreysGal · January 2012

I am also in the "we will find out anything we need to find out at the anatomy scan" camp. Again, know too many friends who were given unnecessary worries due to the results of their NT scan.

Girolle · January 2012

I'm having my baby in Switzerland where NT scans and bloodwork are routinely recommended and it would be a fight to opt out of them, I just had mine. That said, I can't imagine opting out of it. I was nervous going into it but the reassurance of seeing the baby, knowing that my baby was healthy and there is a 95% chance I don't need to worry about Downs or other chromasomal problems was incredible for me. I am young and I've had a miscarriage so I am not sure I would do an amnio or other invasive testing, but getting this information through safe and non-invasive tests does not seem to have much downside to me, regardless of your personal stance on terminations (which seems a little besides the point) since one can always opt out of further testing, make their own decisions about going forward. I just can't imagine turning down the opportunity to learn more about how the pregnancy is going, especially when the tests are so low risk.

Mizsoccer83 · January 2012

af2004rn:

We have always opted out.

1. There are so many false readings that it seems to cause people to make choices that are unnecessary. I know far too many people who were given a wrong diagnosis and had healthy babies. I know women that were told everything was fine and had babies that had genetic issues.

2. We would never terminate a pregnancy.

3. If there truly is a medical issue, I would learn about it at the 20 week ultrasound and would still have plenty of time to adjust.

This is what my DH and I decided as well. Unless there is a reason that might put us at a higher risk of any genetic concern (which there isnt), we decided there wasnt an immediate need (not to mention I have heard amniocentisis can have potential harm to the baby-but I would ask about that before considering it absolutely true).

Best of luck!

MWoodside · January 2012

We opted out for both pg. I wouldn't terminate regardless. If the testing showed a higher risk for me I wouldn't do CVS or an amnio due to the m/c risks associated with them. I have seen SO many people get elevated numbers & then go on to have perfectly healthy kids. Knowing myself & my tendancy to worry I know I would be a wreck the entire pg if I was found to have elevated risk. I wouldn't enjoy it and I would be anxious. The 20 week scan should detect any health issues anyway, so for me the NT scan is not something I want to do.

Also, although I am a total type A planner I just don't feel one can ever prepare for having a special needs child in advance. I am sure people disagree with that, but to me it's one of those things that you adapt to once it's occurring.

Anyone opt out of the NT scan?

Re: Anyone opt out of the NT scan?

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