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January 2013 Moms
sbevmc09
member
For those doing the NT scan just for the U/S, a question for you
sbevmc09
member
If it turns out that you have a higher probability than usual of some sort of chromosomal abnormality you really won't want further testing to confirm or deny whether that's the case? I'm just curious because I frequently see people saying they're only doing the NT scan to see their LO again and don't plan to do further testing if something turns up in the scan.
I'm mostly curious because I know I don't want to do the more invasive testing so I don't bother with the other stuff. I mean, of course chances are everything is totally fine, but I just can't imagine actually knowing that baby is at a higher risk for something, but then just waiting until birth to see what happens! I couldn't do it.
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Re: For those doing the NT scan just for the U/S, a question for you
It's an optional screening U/S done during the first tri. It has to be at a certain time. I think between 11 and 14 weeks, but don't quote me
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If further testing was not invasive and did not carry risks I MIGHT consider it. Knowing that there are risks and I still won't have a definite answer, I wouldn't do it. Also, even if I knew that I was having a disabled child, it wouldn't change my plans for the pregnancy. If anything I would take the time to learn as much as possible about the condition we would be working with.
Last pregnancy I had no interest in the NT scan. Because my last pregnancy ended in a loss, I am a lot more worried this time and want the opportunity to see our baby 1 more time for the reassurance that things are going well.
1/12/13 DD was born
4/9/16 DS was born
9/17 CP
6/23/18 BFP EDD 3/4/19
This is not surprising since people go to the a/s for the sole reason of finding out the sex.
What I have never understood is how the NT scan ultrasound is ANY different than the anatomy scan in this regard. How many people opt out of their 20 week anatomy scan because they don't want to know about the risk of problems? I will treat any possible abnormalities at the NT scan the EXACT same way I will treat any possible abnormalities at the anatomy scan. Evaluate what the risks are, get advice from my doctors, and perinatalogists if necessary, and make the most informed decision I can about further testing.
They look for the exact same soft markers (plus a ton more) at the anatomy scan than they do at the NT scan. So if you don't want to be informed (or scared) about possible problems with your child you should skip both.
I did it because I think that personally, I could wait until birth. Id have time to prepare for the possibility of something being wrong but could still hope for the best and see what happens once its born.
I mean, I think thats how I feel now. If something actually did come back I might change my answer. I guess its something you'd have to experience to have an answer for.
My understanding is that the NT scan is a combined bloodwork + u/s. The two values together are used to calculate your risk factor. The 20 week u/s doesn't have bloodwork associated with it.
I was told it was for aborting reasons, which is why its done during those weeks. Some parents will choose to abort if there are complications/disabilities but it cant be done after 14 weeks or something like that. Dont quote me though ive never done the research on it, its just what someone told me.
ETA: Ive done the research on the nt scan but not the difference between the two.
This is pretty much how I feel other than opting out last time. Last time I got it because I figured it was a chance to see my baby, and if there were any potential risks I wanted to know so I could try to prepare myself. This time I have those same reasons plus some additional concearns due to my previous loss. If the test came back abnormal I may consider additional testing if it wouldn't put my baby at risk, but unless the baby had a condition that wasn't compatible with life (and even perhaps then) I couldn't imagine this as causing me to make any drastic decisions. I more want the chance to learn more and know what to expect before lo is born.
In our case, we decided to do the NT scan because we don't get to have any ultrasounds until 20 weeks and I'm dying to see the baby & see how things are progressing in there. The second reason is that our insurance is covering the u/s and bloodwork. If it wasn't we probably wouldn't do it anyway.
We won't be going ahead with any further testing if it came to that because I'm not comfortable with the invasiveness of the procedures.
ETA: My OB gave us some examples of the odds of Downs in a problem risk range being something like a 1 in 200 chance, which he stated still meant that even with further testing there is a 99% chance that everything is fine. Yet another reason why further testing isn't for us.
This is true. I didn't mean to imply that the tests themselves were identical. But reality is that they at BOTH medical screening tests and BOTH can indicate there *may* be problems that could not be confirmed without further invasive testing such as CVS or amnio. So if my NT results say I'm at high risk for Downs or a neural tube defect, I will evaluate that the exact same way I would evaluate the anatomy scan telling me that I'm at high risk for Down's or a neural tube defect. You can get the same scary news (or similar scary news) from the anatomy scan that you get at the NT scan - period. If you don't want any scary news about your baby - don't look at it at all until it is born.
The reason the NT scan has to be done at a very precise time is because of the correlation of the measurement of the fluid at the base of the baby's neck at a very specific point in time and how it relates to specific disorders. The NT measurement outside of the specific dates is less indicative of possible problems and is more likely to give inaccurate results outside of those dates.
They look for different things at the anatomy scan than they do during the NT scan. To me, that's the difference. I mean, of course chromosomal abnormalities can = growth abnormalities, but while I do see the importance of the anatomy scan, I don't feel the need to do a separate scan just to look for Down's, Trisomy 18,13, etc. Also, I know with the NT scan (and the quad screen) all they can do is tell you if baby has a higher chance of having a genetic abnormality, not whether there's actually a problem. You have to do the further testing to actually confirm/deny. With the anatomy scan they can definitively tell you, yes, baby's [insert organ here] isn't forming properly. We're likely going to need to do something special at time of birth. Or, there's a problem with your placenta, etc. Just the way I see it anyway.
And that's why it's my choice to skip the earlier screenings because I know I won't want to do the further (invasive) testing. I wouldn't be able to be told baby was at a higher risk for something and then just sit on that info. It's a scary experience to be told that info even if chances still are that everything is okay, KWIM? JMO on everything, obviously everyone has a different opinion about these things and certainly there's no right/wrong answer.
ETA: I guess what I'm saying is, if the NT scan and quad screen could definitively tell you if there's a problem I'd probably do it because it's non-invasive and of course it's a good thing to be prepared if you're going to be dealing with special circumstances, but because the tests can't do that without the further testing I don't bother with them. It's not important enough to me when considering our risk factors.
I would assume that under certain circumstances your doctor might request further testing following an anatomy scan, but it's just a different situation than the NT scan/quad screen.
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They MOST DEFINITELY do look for soft markers for trisomy disorders and neural tube defects at the anatomy scan. Without a doubt they do - as people who do not have the NT scan often hear about these risks for the first time at their anatomy scan. (Have a friend this JUST happened to - no NT scan, anatomy scan gave her a high chance of Down's.)
And look I'm not saying everyone should have both tests. Whatever tests you chose are your choice. But you can absolutely get "bad" indefinitive results from both tests. Why else would people do amnios after an anatomy scan if the anatomy scan was definitive?
I know they're still looking for it, but what I mean is, they're looking at everything. They're looking for more than JUST those things at the anatomy scan, whereas at the NT scan they're only looking for an indication of chromosomal abnormalities, neural tube defects, etc.
For me personally, it doesn't make sense just to go seek out info on things that can't be definitively told with the scan, but the anatomy scan looks at more than just those things.
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I totally understand. The test is not for everyone. But the original question was what will you do if you are using the NT scan for another ultrasound and it comes back with elevated risks of some sort? And the answer for me is that I will do the exact same thing I wi do if I get an elevated risk for something at the anatomy scan. Both are very real possibilities and I know that going into both of them.
The NT scan isnt considered optional for my doctor. I guess you dont have to do it but it is covered here. It came out normal so I didnt get the bloodwork done.
I wanted to go because I had seen the HB but it was the first time I got to hear it.
And it definitely was like an anatomy scan. We got to see all sides/angles of the baby including hands and feet, heard the heart, and we got to make sure there was adequate blood flow in the cord. She looked at much most than just to see if the baby had a "NT defect". Definitely worth it.
The NT Scan is definitely different from the Anatomy Scan. Just in such that they're really looking more at those factors of Spina Bfida, Trisomy ?, Downs... The Quad Screen is done a few weeks later and it's ONLY a blood draw. It looks for the same stuff.
I opted out of the NT Scan. We wouldn't do anything. But I do the Quad Screen because if it does pull something, we're able to find it. BUT - that being said, I had the Quad Screen done in my first pregnancy, was sent for a high-risk u/s and we found out that my water had broken at 15weeks and I had no amniotic fluid. This is the reason I will continue to do a quad screen in my pregnancies. The screen came back with a slightly off number for spina bfida; it was really showing us that I lacked protein from the fluid. We may never had known because the baby was still alive and hanging in there. I had had issues during this pregnancy (I had a hematoma) so we were more on edge of things happening.
Quoting you! Haha. It is between 11 and 14 weeks, you're right.
We're getting it done, but not just for the ultrasound. I really want to know. Like you, I couldn't see something of interest and NOT do more.