To NT Scan or not?

jovencita1224 · June 2014

Oh, and the Harmony blood test within Nuchal fold ultrasound...pretty damn accurate. It's kinda hard to have false positives with fetal DNA.

Lalalady54 · June 2014

We won't get it this time and didn't with our DD -- we do the later screens (blood work, A/S) for abnormalities but our thought is it would only bring worry when not much would change for us.

ImJessesGirl · June 2014

What is an NT scan??? I don't even know if I had that with my first. I know at some point they did blood work that was supposed to determine some abnormalities, but I know I only got one ultrasound the whole pregnancy.

WillCMyInk · June 2014

jovencita1224 said:

Ok, this really bothers me when people say 'oh, I don't want it because I would never terminate' as if deciding to terminate or not is the reason why those that choose to have it get it done. I understand saying that you want to trust that things are ok and keep that faith alive for the duration of the pregnancy, but to act like it is a simple 'to terminate or not to terminate' test is actually cruel to those that get the tests. I'm not likely to terminate a pregnancy, regardless of the results. Ever. I'm a devout Catholic and the only situation that I would consider it at all is if the baby is in pain and is suffering or if carrying to term and delivering would definitely kill me AND the baby. And even them...I don't know that I could terminate. That decision would be after exhausting all others, and meeting with my priest and a lot of prayer and consideration to every and any other option. And it would be extremely painful for all of us to contemplate and truthfully, I can't imagine having to make that choice. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Why do I get the tests if I would probably never terminate? Well, I have two other children. They deserve to be prepared mentally if their sibling had a condition incompatible with life that would prevent the baby from coming home from the hospital. They deserve for us to have childcare figured out of their sibling has a condition that would keep me away from them for more than the 24-48 hours post delivery. They deserve to be prepared if their sibling will come home with so many machines, tubes, and wires that you can hardly see the baby. They deserve for their parents to have their financial and employment plan figured out if we have a child that will require extensive medical care or hospitalizations. They deserve to have their mom alive if carrying their sibling to term would kill us both. Mostly, I want to know for me. To prepare for a worst-case scenario and have time to psych myself up to fight. To grieve the loss of my healthy baby and deal with the reality of a sick baby that may have challenges that take his or her life far too soon. To research any and every doctor and specialist that deals with the condition my child has and fight for them to fight for my kid. To try every possible step to save my baby. If I wait until baby is born...how will I deal with the shock and grief and find the strength to rally and fight all at the same time? I can't. I know me, and I know that the sooner I know bad news, the more pro-active I can be.

Whoa! Calm your tits there. As was discussed earlier, no one is here to make judgments and I admitted to a poor choice of words (and corrected it). I appreciate the insight into why you have chosen to do it (and although I don't have kids now, it make sense). As a first time mom your opinion is exactly why I was asking the question, but no one is trying to be cruel here.

jneden · June 2014

We did the NT scan with our first and had a horrible experience. The results came back with a false positive. After doing research I found out that false positives are very common. We ended up doing the vefify blood test which showed that everything was fine. It took a while for the results to come back though so the whole process caused a lot of stress and anxiety. Also, even if the result was a true positive we would not have terminated so for that reason I don't think I will be doing the NT scan this time.

atrinh11 · June 2014

I keep seeing the word positive or negative with regard to the NT scan. This is not a positive or negative test. It is aprobability test. No one does anything based solely on an NT scan. It shows you if you have a high probabiliy of certain chromosomal abnormalities. You then take that information and perform other tests if the probabilites are high. If they are low, you move on like nothing ever happened.

I had an NT scan for my son. My thoughts were with those that just simply want to be prepared if something were not quite right. The thought of termination doesn't even cross my mind, and has nothing to do with my decision to take this test. If our probability came out high, then I don't know how we would have handled it. After doing this test with my son, I know for sure I will do it with this pregnancy too. If for no other reason than, I get to see my baby on the "big screen" an extra time. This is the first time we get to see our LO on the big ultrasound machine. I would never say no to that.

Also, from my pregnancy with my son, the image from this scan was the best one we got the whole pregnancy. No one can take that picture away from me. We loved every second of seeing him on that screen. (Oh yeah, and I have great insurance that covers it, so that helps).

jovencita1224 · June 2014

I don't think saying 'calm your tits' is necessary. My tits be plenty calm.

People who say 'I am not getting the test because I would never terminate' may not realize that by expressing their feeling in those exact words could be hurtful to those that DO get the tests. Because the underlying message that it sends (albeit likely unintentionally) is 'if you get the tests you must be contemplating termination.' I was simply saying that no, I am not contemplating termination. That there are many reasons why someone would get tests that have nothing to do with termination.

Seriously, if something I said came across as offensive or insensitive, I would want to know. I try to use my interactions with people (even internet people) to be a better and more sensitive person. Like, using the term gender instead of sex doesn't personally bother or offend me. But enough people are bothered and offended by it that I make every effort to use sex and gender to mean their very specific definitions.

I wasn't getting hostile. I was trying to point out how it can offend. I can also see why someone would opt out of the tests too. But knowing me and my situation, I don't went to wait and deal with bad news in the overwhelming hours after birth. I wouldn't do well at that moment and wouldn't be as strong as my baby deserved.

Milagros315 · June 2014

FFS. Do the testing or don't - everyone should make the decision that is best for them - but the implication that termination is the only course of action people take when they get negative (and I mean not good, I know it's not a 'yes' or 'no' test) results is so frustrating. Even if you decide not to terminate you may need/want to make some significant and time sensitive decisions based on your results. Would people really approach a high-risk pregnancy or serious health concern the same way they would a pregnancy/birth/baby with no known issues? I guess that's a personal decision too, I just feel like "we wouldn't terminate anyway" doesn't fully answer the question.

brendisimma · June 2014

Very cool to read the HONEST responses from fellow bumpies! Nice to see we are not intimidated to state our decisions/plans

jovencita1224 · June 2014

Word @Milagros315‌, I think what works for me isn't for everyone.

And I'm sorry if I am coming off hostile. DH just vetoed all of my boy names and one of my top 2 girl names, there are ants in my kitchen, I am up 4 pounds and I'm like, 2 seconds pregnant, and I'm overwhelmed at work. I may be easier to offend and I'm sorry if I'm extra sensitive. Let's hug and eat some chocolate. I'm fat already-why not?

motherboy · June 2014

My love tit is in commiseration, @jovencita1224‌ I have ants in my kitchen too and it is driving me crazy.

jovencita1224 · June 2014

F these damn ants!!!

WillCMyInk · June 2014

Sorry @jovencita1224. I just took your initial comment as "you're a cruel idiot" when realistically I'm just going off of the (probably overly) simplified response I got from my Midwife when asking about the NT scan. I truly appreciate your insight though.

jovencita1224 · June 2014

@WillCMyInk‌ I hereby offer you some of my chocolate. The chocolate that is not hidden near the kitchen where the ants or my little Houdini children that have defeated every child lock ever invented can get it. It's mamas secret stash o' chocolate. And a big glass of wine when this whole pregnancy thing is over. I'm glad nobody had to take out their earrings to girl fight.

WillCMyInk · June 2014

@jovencita1224 I accept your chocolate, and offer my condolences for your rough day.

fletchtony12 · June 2014

I had a false positive with an AFP test for my first child 15 years ago. After an Amnio, they confirmed everything was fine. After that I had no desire to test for my daughter or twins (all born in my 20s). On the fence about testing this time as I'll be 38 when this baby is born.

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