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1st Trimester
NT scan?
Sorry if this has been asked, but the search feature never works for me and I always get an error message.
I go back to the ob March 27, and when I spoke to the nurse she said that they do not offer NT scans at the office. I would need to go elsewhere, with a referral, and since I am not a high risk, and I am only 27 with no family history, that I don't need one. She said I'd be getting a bunch of blood tests done to test for Downs around week 16. Has anyone else had this experience? I'm getting nervous because my friend is due a week before me, and her ob told her it was optional and that if she wants one, to get one.
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Re: NT scan?
My OB's practice has a full radiology department so they offer NT scans onsite.
If you want the scan done, ask for the referral and have it done. I'd check to see if your insurance covers it though, since it is technically an optional test and can be pretty pricey between the u/s and the two blood tests.
Yes, they're definitely optional, especially if you have no risk factors. But they offer you a lot of information on potential problems with the baby, mostly disorders like Downs and the trisomies that are genetically based.
It's a really personal decision. A lot of people say, "I would never ever end this pregnancy, so I don't know why I'd need to know any of that stuff." It's not that easy--even if you can't imagine the news changing your mind about your pregnancy, a lot of women would like to know about potential problems so they are prepared to deal with them at delivery. For example, many babies with Downs are born with heart problems--knowing that you were being blessed with a Downs baby could allow you to prep a pediatric cardiologist to be in the delivery room, so your child would never be at risk. Or, if the scan did reveal a life-threatening abnormality, you could prepare your body and heart for what was to come. I know that I would want to know--if my child was going to be born only to be taken from me, I would want to know that I should cherish every moment post-delivery, instead of reeling in shock and sadness.
Again, it's such a personal choice. I'm one of those people who wants as much info as possible, as early as possible. Yes, an anatomy scan in later pregnancy will probably pick all of these potential problems up, and you might not have to deal with the anxiety of a "false positive" analysis that could lead to other tests (like CVS or amnio). Personally, I'd rather know--even if it leads to more testing. And even if it leads to sad news.
Good luck with your decision--no one can tell you what to do either than yourself and DH. It's a bummer your OB doesn't offer it--that might make the decision easier, considering insurance, etc.
My practice offers and encourages them for all women, regardless of age or risk factor (although they obviously mention them more for those women). I'm at a large academic hospital--it's considered standard care.
My MW's office is the same, you get a referal to a perinatologist at another hospital. I was going to just do the 16 week testing but my sister is pregnant right now with a baby who has Dandy-Walker syndrome (it's a spinal column abnormality), so she really wanted us to do the NT scan in addition to the 2nd tri testing.
ETA: I'm in the same age group as you, but my sister's baby put me in a higher risk category, even though I have 14 cousins and those 14 cousins have 13 babies (including my own) and no other babies have any birth defects or issues. If your insurance will cover it, I'd do it. Otherwise, I'd trust your OB.
TTC Baby #2 - BFP on 12/14/11 @ 10DPO - CP confirmed 12/18/11
BFP #2 on 1/13/12
Well, "my practice" does not offer them to all women
My first OB with DD tried to force me in to one, part of the reason I left the practice. I was 23 with no risk factors.
My current OB never has mentioned getting it done. I think that is more the common practice if there are no risk factors.