Pregnant after 35

Nuchal Translucency Test??? Help if you can...

I have a friend that is pregnant with her first and she is 36.  She is about 10 weeks along in her pregnancy.  Her doctor is requesting a nuchal translucency test.  She knows that it is a test that can tell her the possibility of her child having DS. 

She is unsure how the test works though?  She is being sent 45 min away from home b/c they do not do this test around here.  She isn't sure how long the test could take as well.  She would like to only miss a 1/2 day of work, but doesn't know if this is some long test.

If you have taken this test and have any advice I/we would greatly appreciate your thoughts. 

Thanks ladies!!  

PPD/PPA Mom...it has been super hard, but I'm making it! Slow steps...
Mom to Carter (6), and Calianne (1).  
Proud VBAC, natural birth, breastfeeding, cloth diapering momma!


Re: Nuchal Translucency Test??? Help if you can...

  • It is super easy.  Just a blood draw and an ultrasound where they measure the fluid at the back of baby's neck.  Mine took less than 20 minutes.  The only thing that would take longer is if baby is not in the right position and they have to wait for it to move around.


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  • Yeah, my LO kept moving around so they had a hard time getting the measurement.  If it's that far away too I'm sure she'll need 1/2 day off.

    She could google it too!  ;)  I think it's a great opportunity to see LO too!  Just make sure your insurance covers it!

    GL 

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  • That's a pretty standard test. I skipped it in favor of an amnio, but if you don't want an invasive test, an NT scan is the way to go.
  • ELF is right...easy peasy.  Just a blood draw and about 20 minutes of ultrasound time.  Unfortunately, my Junebug wasn't in a good position for the tech to measure the neck fold so I had to come back a few days later and try again.  This was also the first time I was able to see the baby clearly, which was awesome.  She can totally do a half-day.

    The NT Scan is usually recommended because it is so non-invasive.  If scan results show a greater risk for problems/issues, then the decision on whether to continue with risker tests, such as an amino, needs to be made.  


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  • Thanks ladies...I will have her read your responses.  Have a wonderful day!!
    PPD/PPA Mom...it has been super hard, but I'm making it! Slow steps...
    Mom to Carter (6), and Calianne (1).  
    Proud VBAC, natural birth, breastfeeding, cloth diapering momma!


  • Mine is scheduled for Monday. It's a special ultrasound that requires special training, and more expensive equipment. That's all. Nothing to be scared of. She'll get to see her baby, and they'll take some measurements of the fluid gap at the back of the neck, and look for a nasal bone. It may take a while, depending on whether or not the baby cooperates, but there's no pain, and all she has to do is lay back at watch the monitor.
  • imageELF4321:
    It is super easy.  Just a blood draw and an ultrasound where they measure the fluid at the back of baby's neck.  Mine took less than 20 minutes.  The only thing that would take longer is if baby is not in the right position and they have to wait for it to move around.
    This. It's no big deal.
  • I had this too...just make sure she realizes that it's NOT a yes/no test.  It only provides you with a level of risk (mine was 1 in 61, but my amnio later on confirmed for sure that my baby was just fine).

    I've just seen so many ladies come back saying they had a "positive" test with this when that is not actually what they have.  It can give you a measure of confidence and possibly ease your worries if your risk is low (1 in several hundred or several thousand), but it will absolutely not tell you anything for sure.  Probability is all you get.

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  • I give a detailed description of the process and my experience with it, along with some tips in this thread: https://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/63042748.aspx
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