Which diagnostic/screening combos are you opting for?

dana1047 · September 2014

I know I will be doing the harmony test. Is there a valid reason to also do the NT scan?

I have to let my OB know at my next appt Monday. I Know harmony is still considered a screening vs NT being more diagnostic.

What are you ladies opting for?

Ncountrygal · September 2014

Nothing here (not too helpful, I know). I just figure it won't make any difference to how we proceed with prenatal care and a positive result would be stressful. Now, if someone did better research than I did and there are conditions we could treat for in-utero, please call me out! That would definitely trump my reason.

lindsayanne14 · September 2014

According to my paperwork, neither are diagnostic. The harmony (or tests similar) can give a more in depth work up than the NT. Personally I was offered any and all since I'm over 35. I'm opting for the NT because I really want an u/s and the harmony is blood only. If the results come back with me in a higher risk category then I'm going to do the harmony since it can be done later in PG. If for some reason that test came back as high risk then DH and I will decide if we would do amnio or CVS, those scare the begesus out of me, so I hope I don't even have to consider them!

dana1047 · September 2014

Yes amino & cvs also scare me. I wasn't sure if NT was considered screening or diagnostic for sure as different things I've read state differently.

I fit into the 35 year category and although it will not change my pregnancy plan, I'm a "preparer" by nature

Another US would be nice

n0soup4u · September 2014

My husband and I chose to opt out of all screens/scans. Our thought is if the doctors cannot fix it then let it be. Regardless of what may come about, it is not going to change our love for the little one.

Ncountrygal · September 2014

daniellewherry said:
My husband and I chose to opt out of all screens/scans. Our thought is if the doctors cannot fix it then let it be. Regardless of what may come about, it is not going to change our love for the little one.

Nicely said!

@dana1047‌ I totally get being an ultra preparer too! Sometimes you just need to know.

fitfam20 · September 2014

daniellewherry said:
My husband and I chose to opt out of all screens/scans. Our thought is if the doctors cannot fix it then let it be. Regardless of what may come about, it is not going to change our love for the little one.

The results won't change the fact that I love my baby. They will tell me if I need specialists available for my baby at delivery....or if I need to have anything else in place at the birth. I know things can arise at the delivery that aren't picked up by early screenings, but I like to know what to expect (as much as I can).

We have opted for the NT test and the 2 part bloodwork that goes with it....I forget the names.

KellyA724 · September 2014

fitfam20 said:

My husband and I chose to opt out of all screens/scans. Our thought is if the doctors cannot fix it then let it be. Regardless of what may come about, it is not going to change our love for the little one.
The results won't change the fact that I love my baby. They will tell me if I need specialists available for my baby at delivery....or if I need to have anything else in place at the birth. I know things can arise at the delivery that aren't picked up by early screenings, but I like to know what to expect (as much as I can). We have opted for the NT test and the 2 part bloodwork that goes with it....I forget the names.

This - my thoughts and plans are the same.

n0soup4u · September 2014

@clairhuxtable I never mentioned anything about termination. Yes, you are reading into my post too much. Should a medical concern arise at delivery, it will be dealt with then.

ewilson74 · September 2014

NIPT (Harmony). It identifies trisomy 13, 18, and 21. To be prepared for whatever may come.

sagehens47 · September 2014

Doing the verifi diagnostic on Monday.

mreinertsonrn · September 2014

We are having an amnio. I had one with my last pregnancy. I am 37 and definitely a planner/ need to know person

missab · September 2014

We had maternit21 and got the results back today (all appears normal; I'm 12 weeks today). I think we'll skip NT. Next potential test will be have an option of getting amnio with a 'microarray' (advanced genetic testing). So been reading about that and it's stressful enough to make my head spin. Anyone had it? Unsure yet as to whether we'll do those tests, which are done in week 16. (P.s. Also learned the fun part today: we're having a boy!)

epidemic · September 2014

I'm a FTM, and I gotta be honest..I have no idea what to have done. I suppose I'll see what the doc says at my next appointment. They did a ton of testing/genetic screening with my initial blood draw..so I imagine the doc will make recommendations based on those results?

MauiQuickie · September 2014

I checked the price of harmony. My insurance won't cover it and it would cost $800 for us to have it done. I'm doing the NT and then wait and see

Duffgurl · September 2014

We are scheduled for the NT scan on the 30th.

Sharon&Paul · September 2014

During the nuchal scan they check for spina bifida. This is the one area they have proven that doing surgery while the baby is still in the womb is beneficial.

MagalinaH · September 2014

We decided neither for a few reasons

1) My insurance doesn't cover it.

2) I'm an over-worrier by nature, and I don't need more stress/anxiety added to this pregnancy

3) Even if we got a "positive", I wouldn't want to do an invasive procedure like CVS or amnio, so in my mind, doing either screening will just contribute even greater to reason #2.

Typically, I take the stance that knowledge is power and I want to be as prepared as possible, but for some reason in this case, I'm totally okay with not knowing beyond what the 20 week a/s tells us (please don't confuse it with "ignorance is bliss" either because that's not how I meant it to be taken).

Edit: because words.

somewheresublime86 · September 2014

mbm1983 said:
no family history of anything. so opting out. i doubt i'll make it in time to have the test anyways.

honestly i don't think you could truly plan or be prepared for anything that can be found on those tests.

My aunt and uncle have two kids who are both disabled. In my cousin's case (she has downs) having doctors on standby to handle the intestinal issues that can be part of the diagnosis and insert a brain shunt was critical. I'm sure they could have provided her with the care she needed fairly quickly, but I think planning ahead helped to ease some of their already considerable anxiety.

I'll be getting the NT scan, but am not planning to get any additional testing.

ourtime0117 · September 2014

Both harmony & NT. Harmony is bloods & Down syndrome but NT also checks skeletal development/measurements. Our last pregnancy Harmony came back clear but NT detected a fatal short rib prognosis. We are opting for both again with this pregnancy. Up to you all based on experience & decisions moving forward. Big xo to you all

knjzacher · September 2014

No family hx but I am a worrier and want to be prepared. We have the NT on Oct 6 and the related bloodwork the same day as well as 4 weeks later. They don't offer MaterniT21 here (I don't think anyway) but I wish they did so I could find out the sex early!
@missab‌ Congrats on the boy!

NutritionChick · September 2014

I did panoramic and they said no need then for nt scan. My ob has ultrasound so we spy a lot so I can her

NutritionChick · September 2014

* see her woops

missab · September 2014

Thank you @knjzacher‌!!

redneckmomma25 · September 2014

I will do the NT will associated blood work. I would want to know if there were any issues. It would also change where I deliver if the baby had any need for a NICU. I would want a game plan.

taahira · September 2014

I had the Harmony test yesterday, I will also have the NT scan on the 30th. I'm a worrier but I also believe knowledge is power. Having all the information prior to delivery is the best option for me. Also a very good friend of mine just recently skipped the NT scan, only to find out at the 20 week scan her son was missing his kidneys. There was no hope for the baby to live outside the womb. She just went through a late termination. It was devastating, and she regrets not going for the NT scan, this would have been picked up many weeks before.

fartsandcrafts · September 2014

I'm having an NT scan in three weeks. Insurance covers it and we felt there was no reason not to. Just like our desire to find out the gender later (obviously a much different issue but my reasoning is the same), I'm aiming for as few surprises in the delivery room as possible and I'm always for early detection when possible.

Reading Expecting Better really helped me break down the pros and cons of a lot of these decisions in a fact-based way and I recommend it for anyone who is having a hard time with all of the do's and don'ts.

MrsRem217 · September 2014

I am having the NT scan and the associated blood work that goes with it. I also had the same tests done when I was pregnant with DS.

Ncountrygal · September 2014

Sharon&Paul said:
During the nuchal scan they check for spina bifida. This is the one area they have proven that doing surgery while the baby is still in the womb is beneficial.

Question: Do you know if the anatomy scan works for this too?

pnutg · September 2014

ewilson74 said:
NIPT (Harmony). It identifies trisomy 13, 18, and 21. To be prepared for whatever may come.

My SIL found out her baby had triploidy at a routine u/s. My H and I opted out of any testing. My OB really isn't a fan of genetic testing either. She said anything really serious would be found during the a/s.

lindsayanne14 · September 2014

Ncountrygal said:

During the nuchal scan they check for spina bifida. This is the one area they have proven that doing surgery while the baby is still in the womb is beneficial.Question:
Do you know if the anatomy scan works for this too?
@Ncountrygal unfortunately it doesn't. The Nuchal Translucency can only be measured until week 14. So by the time the AS comes around it can no longer be performed.

islandmom79 · September 2014

I am having the verifi test done at next appt. I want to be informed as possible and should an issue arise I will have time to do my homework and learn as much as possible. I am aware there are potential for false positives but with DD they saw some spots on her heart and brain at the anatomy scan and I worried so much and they ended up being nothing in the end. I feel that a DNA test combined with the anatomy scan would have given me more piece of mind.

amacksta14 · September 2014

I'm having NT done next week. We will see what the specialist recommends on testing. I had the Counsyl test prior to getting pregnant given I am adopted and don't know my family history. I came back clear.

ScarletOflaherty · September 2014

After a talk with my OB about it we are doing the standard 15 week penta screen(Quad screen in some places) and the 20 week a/s.

NT scan isn't offered at our hospital, we'd have to go to a local teaching hospital to get it done, and as far as the early tests like Harmony etc he said there is something...CF I think? that it doesn't test for so we'd still have to do a separate test for that.

I'm not concerned about false flagging because he said they actually don't see it happen that often, and when they do, they then go on to do a blood test to rule out whatever the issue is, they almost never do amnio anymore.

drmrsmantis · September 2014

There are lots of problems a baby can have that become life-threatening immediately at birth--for example, some babies with congenital heart defects need immediate surgery at a specialized hospital. I am assuming most of the ladies who said they don't want any screening are not counting the 20 week anatomy scan, but just to make sure--you really should have that to make sure your LO has whatever they need (and it might not be available at the hospital you plan to deliver in).

I have a friend whose baby had a tumor on her neck that was diagnosed in utero--they assembled a team of like 10 surgeons to be on call for her birth--she would not have lived otherwise. Super rare, but scary stuff.

I am planning to do the NT, the a/s and whatever else my doc recommends.

CivilMommy · September 2014

I've only done NT scans with my first 2. Those came back with great results - so we didn't pursue any other testing. My NT scan for this one is already scheduled.

xilahn · September 2014

We opted for NIPT. Since I'm over 35, the OB and midwife recommended it. I wasn't nervous about it, and haven't been stressed about the results since there wasn't a reason to worry until/unless we heard anything. We got the results yesterday, and all is well. Something may still go wrong or be unexpected, and we'll just address that if and when it comes.

dmcox10 · September 2014

I ALMOST started a new thread until I found this

My husband is a worst case scenario expert so we opted for the NT test. At our 8 wk u/s, we were amazed how clearly we could see the baby and the doctor said everything looked great. But if we can prepare in advance, or get some kind of education on what could happen, we chose to know. We will find out October 1!

KatInthehat12 · September 2014

I was happy to be able to do the harmony so early(10 weeks). I wanted To do it simply to know what to expect upon delivery, and the company eats the cost that your insurance doesn't cover. I also

KatInthehat12 · September 2014

Whoops. Sent ok son. Results came back low risk and I am also having a girl

mtothep · September 2014

I'm having an NT Scan on Oct. 13, and because of my "advanced maternal age," they are offering the MaterniT21. Because I'm excited to know the sex of the babies, I'm moving forward with the recommended test.

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Which diagnostic/screening combos are you opting for?

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DD 7/2010, DS 3/2012, #3 due 4/24/2015

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