NT scan at 12 weeks

McdMaddox · August 2013

Any reason not to get one? My Doc. said it's optional and they can tell if the Baby has Down Syndrome or other issues at this scan. I made the appointment because it's an U/S and who doesn't want one of those. But the whole optional thing threw me...

This is my first pregnancy so I wasn't sure if this is routine or not.

Rrrrrachel · August 2013

We skipped it last time because I don't think it's a very reliable screening and I think it's prone to showing an elevated risk when everything's fine, causing unnecessary stress and potentially amnio. Also we were out a couple hundred bucks per ultrasound.

sexyntexy · August 2013

I got one w/ both pregnancies and will again. We are at a higher risk of having a child w/ spina bifida since my FIL has it. Also it was another chance to see the baby.

Angie&Junichi · August 2013

I didn't have it done, because my insurance doesn't cover it. Check that out. Plus I will love this baby no matter what.

McdMaddox · August 2013

Insurance. - Didn't even think of that. I will have to double check.

If you don't get it would you have to wait until 20 weeks to get an U/S?

Rrrrrachel · August 2013

Yes.

Stasi · August 2013

McdMaddox said:

Any reason not to get one? My Doc. said it's optional and they can tell if the Baby has Down Syndrome or other issues at this scan. I made the appointment because it's an U/S and who doesn't want one of those. But the whole optional thing threw me...

This is my first pregnancy so I wasn't sure if this is routine or not.

They will measure to see if there is a possibility that your child has Downs. They won't actually to be able to tell you with any certainity that your child has Downs. Just FYI.

RocksInTheWater · August 2013

I am having it done. It is optional but my dr. recommended it due to my age.

MrsG325 · August 2013

My dr requires all patients to get it. I just made my appt today actually. She told me it doesn't mean anything about my pregnancy is high risk she just likes having a specialist take a closer look. It's a routine screening for all patients. I've been really lucky with her she offers many u/s I've already had two and I'm 8 weeks. It helps that I'm insanely over worried a lot so she wants to make me comfortable.

apollonia10 · August 2013

We're getting it. Couldn't think of a reason not to.

katieharpiceland · August 2013

We're getting it. Had a friend get it, but it goes along with blood tests. I probably would just take the blood tests, and I know from friends that they take the US here, well, they don't panic about it. If you show up with something abnormal, they don't pressure you in to getting amnio. Plus, its just 10$ or so (depending on conversion rates).

RayRay007 · August 2013

Rrrrrachel said:

We skipped it last time because I don't think it's a very reliable screening and I think it's prone to showing an elevated risk when everything's fine, causing unnecessary stress and potentially amnio. Also we were out a couple hundred bucks per ultrasound.

Pretty much this. They can't diagnose based on an NT/MSS. It shows markers and if you want a definitive diagnosis you have to do amnio, which carries risks of miscarriage. So if you're not going to take that risk (because you don't feel you need to know for certain, or you wouldn't terminate anyway), then you are stressed out about the soft markers for the rest of your pregnancy, wondering if your LO has DS.

I had to make the decision by myself last time and declined it, but DH wants it this time. I guess it'll be nice to get an u/s but I'm afraid it'll show something and then we'll be left wondering until the end of the pregnancy.

Rrrrrachel · August 2013

It's a little better now because you can follow up with one of the fetal DNA tests instead of straight for amnio/cvs.

pineconey · August 2013

We aren't- my doc doesn't do much testing. we get a Doppler at 12 weeks so we can hear the hb for the first time.

MapleLeafMama · August 2013

We didn't have it with DS. But I'm over 35 now and my doctor is recommending I do since the incidence of Downs is higher the older you get.

However, I will say that if it comes back positive, I will not agree to an amnio.

sarahbeth27 · August 2013

There was a really great post about NT Scans on the May 13 board - a friend of mine forwarded it to me a few weeks ago. See the second comment for the goods.

https://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/69872535.aspx

sadurnba18 · August 2013

We aren't ...it will show with 85% accuracy if your baby has downs, which is the same accuracy as the quad screen. The only benefit is that it's earlier than the quad screen and you could choose to terminate the pregnancy based on the results if that's what you decided. My hubby and I are comfortable waiting for the quad

McdMaddox · August 2013

Thanks for all of the info. I guess I need to find out if my Doc. will do a regular U/S at 12 weeks. It didn't seem like he would so I thought it was NT Scan with a specialist or nothing...

Avion22 · August 2013

We're having it done. The results won't change anything for us...we just want to know earlier rather than later if there is any kind of problem.

DemoDoll · August 2013

RayRay007 said:

Rrrrrachel said:

We skipped it last time because I don't think it's a very reliable screening and I think it's prone to showing an elevated risk when everything's fine, causing unnecessary stress and potentially amnio.

Also we were out a couple hundred bucks per ultrasound.

Pretty much this. They can't diagnose based on an NT/MSS. It shows markers and if you want a definitive diagnosis you have to do amnio, which carries risks of miscarriage. So if you're not going to take that risk (because you don't feel you need to know for certain, or you wouldn't terminate anyway), then you are stressed out about the soft markers for the rest of your pregnancy, wondering if your LO has DS.

I had to make the decision by myself last time and declined it, but DH wants it this time. I guess it'll be nice to get an u/s but I'm afraid it'll show something and then we'll be left wondering until the end of the pregnancy.

Actually there is a new blood test out there that is non-invasive and tests the maternal blood. Insurance will cover that test if your risks during an NT scan are alarming. That blood test is 99% accurate.

DemoDoll · August 2013

McdMaddox said:
Insurance. - Didn't even think of that. I will have to double check.

If you don't get it would you have to wait until 20 weeks to get an U/S?

You can ask your doctor or the perinatal center for the codes they would use to bill the NT scan, then call your insurance and give them the codes. Mine was 100% covered and I was 25 at the time with no risks.

DaisyJanie · August 2013

DemoDoll said:

Rrrrrachel said:

We skipped it last time because I don't think it's a very reliable screening and I think it's prone to showing an elevated risk when everything's fine, causing unnecessary stress and potentially amnio. Also we were out a couple hundred bucks per ultrasound.

Pretty much this. They can't diagnose based on an NT/MSS. It shows markers and if you want a definitive diagnosis you have to do amnio, which carries risks of miscarriage. So if you're not going to take that risk (because you don't feel you need to know for certain, or you wouldn't terminate anyway), then you are stressed out about the soft markers for the rest of your pregnancy, wondering if your LO has DS.

I had to make the decision by myself last time and declined it, but DH wants it this time. I guess it'll be nice to get an u/s but I'm afraid it'll show something and then we'll be left wondering until the end of the pregnancy.
Actually there is a new blood test out there that is non-invasive and tests the maternal blood. Insurance will cover that test if your risks during an NT scan are alarming. That blood test is 99% accurate.

For those googlers like me, the test is called MaterniT-21:

https://www.today.com/health/new-prenatal-test-gives-parents-more-information-less-risk-bonus-1C8142743

MrsT1024 · August 2013

I had it done with both DS and my last pregnancy. It is just a screening that we used to determine if we needed additional testing. With DS, things were perfect and the rest of the pregnancy was stress-free. With my last, the NT scan was 6mm and basically allowed me to start mentally preparing myself for the realistic possibility that the baby wasn't going to be what we expected. It opened the door for genetic testing and I guess in a way, it made the miscarriage easier to handle. Had I been under the assumption that things were 100% fine when I lost her at 15 weeks, I would have been completely blindsided. Knowing something was wrong (even though we never actually 100% find out what caused the loss) didn't make it easy but definitely was better than if I had no prior knowledge of a complication. Not sure if that makes sense but I would definitely recommend having it done if you have any trepidation regarding your pregnancy. I personally won't be able to fully relax with this one until the NT scan comes back with a good number.

AcaAwkward · August 2013

We did not do the NT scan last time because we were very low risk for chromosomal abnormalities (bc of age and family history) and I wasn't too keen on the idea of the odds-based results.

This time, we are opting to do one of the noninvasive fetal DNA tests that give you a definitive answer as to whether your baby has any chromosomal abnormalities (it will also tell us the sex as a bonus). Even if our insurance doesn't cover it, my OB's lab is only charging $145 for this test. It's worth it to us to know for sure so we can prepare if anything isn't normal.

Rrrrrachel · August 2013

Maternit-21, harmony, panorama, they're all different brand names for pretty much the same thing.

b-ruth · August 2013

I definately will do the NT scan. With my first they said I was low risk and no family history so it was not necessary. I did it anyway for the ultrasound. The fluid they measure was high at a 4.2mm. It turned out that it was not a chromosome issue but a heart issue. I was thankful that we found a marker early on for it and that we knew something was wrong. From there we planned accordingly with extra monitoring to get ready for LO birth. Not trying to scare anyone just telling my story and why I want one again.

SB31 · August 2013

We did it last time and will do it again even though I have crappy insurance and it's not fully covered. If there's a chance that something is wrong, I want to be prepared and make arrangements so my baby gets the best care possible.

McdMaddox · August 2013

b-ruth said:

I definately will do the NT scan. With my first they said I was low risk and no family history so it was not necessary. I did it anyway for the ultrasound. The fluid they measure was high at a 4.2mm. It turned out that it was not a chromosome issue but a heart issue. I was thankful that we found a marker early on for it and that we knew something was wrong. From there we planned accordingly with extra monitoring to get ready for LO birth. Not trying to scare anyone just telling my story and why I want one again.

@b-ruth I think i'm in the same boat as you with your first one. I am considered low risk with no family history but i guess it still can't hurt to have it done to be prepared.

I don't know about any other first timers out there (or 2nd or 3rd for that matter) but I'm scared in general of being pregnant. Esp. since this is my first time and I don't know what to expect. I'm only the second one in my "group" of friends to get pregnant so i don't have a lot of people to turn to for Q&A.

thompson26 · August 2013

I was 29 when I had DD and did the Nt u/s it showed the possibility that dd had downs, blood tests also showed elevated chances that dd had downs. We did not have an amnio bc the results wouldn't change our minds and we didn't want to risk losing her as a result of the test. Our beautiful lil girl was born Nov 2010 and does not have downs.

Teresa1896 · August 2013

Angie&Junichi said:
I didn't have it done, because my insurance doesn't cover it. Check that out. Plus I will love this baby no matter what.

It has nothing to do with loving your baby. Of course we love our babies. It's testing for conditions that could be fatal or cause your child to suffer in utero. We will all love our babies no matter what, but I would like to know if my baby has a life threatening condition as soon as possible. It's not just about Down Syndrome.

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