Anyone say no to the NTS?

tsharon · October 2012

Just curious. At our ultrasound on Tuesday, the Doc said he would be referring us to a genetics counselor, and that we would need the Nuchal Translucency Scan. Any further testing would be our decision.

Well B and I feel the same way...no abortion regardless. I feel like no matter what happens, God is in control. I also don't need to know beforehand to "prepare" myself. I'm sure some people do. I just don't want to spend the next six a half months torturing myself over the what-ifs.

Anyone else turn down the NTS?

Tigger & pooh · October 2012

Sure lots of people do. It is personal decision. Let your doctor know and you can discuss how you want results given or not given to you. Although I do want to remind you they aren't just looking for downs. My friend found out at 20 weeks her baby had severe spina bifida and anencephaly missing part of her brain. I can't imagine not finding out until the baby was born possibly stillborn to find that out, but again it is a personal decision only you and your dh can make.

technigirl · October 2012

I did the screening, even though I would never consider abortion either. As PP said, they do check for other, possibly more dangerous abnormalities as well. I wanted to know what I might be in for, and I wanted reassurance that things would be OK. For most people, the screening results in peace of mind. However, it is a very personal decision and I'm sure there are a lot of people who choose not to do it. Best of luck to you in your decision.

dhreczuck · October 2012

I heavily considered not getting it done, mostly because in my first pregnancy I got a false + on the Quad screen and I just don't have much faith in these screening tests and I know a couple that had a wonderful NT scan only to find out after birth that their son had DS.

But knowing what this couple had to go through in order to get their child proper developmental and educational care, I would want to know ahead of time. I would never terminate but there's a ton that you have to educate yourself on in terms of giving your DS child the best opportunities.

So next week I'm doing the NT combined with the Harmony blood test which supposedly is 99% accurate and that will be it, nothing invasive in anyway. My OB isn't even going to do pelvics on me until absolutely necessary, she did caution me to expect positives on the screening tests solely due to being 40, that's why we both think the Harmony test is a good idea.

Animeg2+1 · October 2012

Sometimes, I think the doctors feel they need the peace of mind.

AddictedToLipBalm · October 2012

dhreczuck:
But knowing what this couple had to go through in order to get their child proper developmental and educational care, I would want to know ahead of time. I would never terminate but there's a ton that you have to educate yourself on in terms of giving your DS child the best opportunities.

This is very important, and I'm in complete agreement. I'd add this: since the NTS & bloodwork, as well as other prenatal tests, do check for other abnormalities besides DS, ones that could possibly require serious immediate critical care for a newborn, it's important to know about that ahead of time. That way you can be sure that medical staff is properly prepared for the delivery, and that the hospital is equipped to take care of your LO.

All this being said, I opted for the NTS / bloodwork in addition to the Materniti21 test. The combined results were enough to give me complete peace of mind.

capstone52501 · October 2012

I agree with the original poster. we opted to not have any additional testing done except for the level 2 ultrasound. We feel God is in complete control of this pregnancy.

mbw410 · October 2012

I didn't get it done. My thought process was why receive information that could potentially make me worry. I don't want to pass that stress onto the baby, and it isn't diagnostic.

mamawolf71 · October 2012

We aren't doing it. We talked with our OB about it a lot and just decided it wasn't for us. Abortion is not an option for us. We will do a level 2 ultrasound at about 20 weeks and just go from there.

dodo1202 · October 2012

Tigger & pooh:
Sure lots of people do. It is personal decision. Let your doctor know and you can discuss how you want results given or not given to you. Although I do want to remind you they aren't just looking for downs. My friend found out at 20 weeks her baby had severe spina bifida and anencephaly missing part of her brain. I can't imagine not finding out until the baby was born possibly stillborn to find that out, but again it is a personal decision only you and your dh can make.

We have the same reason of taking all the non-invasive screenings so that we can have full prep if our LO can be stillborn.

teralane · October 2012

I went ahead and did the NTS and recently had the quad screen done as well. The only reason I did it is not only am I 35, but also overweight. I just want to make sure I take as much precaution as I can. These tests are strictly a personal choice, so make sure you make the right decision for yourself.

JuliaJAG · October 2012

dhreczuck:
So next week I'm doing the NT combined with the Harmony blood test which supposedly is 99% accurate and that will be it, nothing invasive in anyway. My OB isn't even going to do pelvics on me until absolutely necessary, she did caution me to expect positives on the screening tests solely due to being 40, that's why we both think the Harmony test is a good idea.

This is what we did this time (I don't have a ticker yet b/c I'm still in shock, LOL, but I am 17 weeks pregnant). DH and I would NEVER have an abortion, not for any reason, ever, but there is some value in knowing of any issues ahead of time. For instance, many Down syndrome babies have heart issues that need surgery ASAP... something like that could affect where you choose to deliver your baby.

We had had so many miscarriages before our first miracle baby, we mainly did the NT scan to get a peek at him and have the reality sink in that we finally were expecting a living baby!! I did end up with a triple screen that was "screen positive" for Down syndrome (1/88 chance), and I kept getting pressured to do amnio, something DH and I were adamantly against because of the risk of miscarriage/pre-term delivery. With this pregnancy, the Harmony test had just become available, so we did that instead... mainly so we wouldn't be pressured to do amnio! It's turned out to be wonderful peace of mind to get a TRULY negative result. I believe knowing for sure either way is a blessing.

Watergirl21 · October 2012

I turned down everything other that the ultrasound and honestly I am not even sure that is necessary. I just think 30 yrs ago it was rare for a women to even have an ultrasound.

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