12 wk scan

[SamiH]

Just wanted to reiterate that the assessment is screening, not diagnostic, so no, they can't tell you definitively - but amnio can - hence why it really won't be recommended as an option unless high risk and age factors cos of the associated risk of potential m/c.

I had it screening with both my kids, but I was 31 already with my first.

If you just wanna see the heartbeat and all the bits etc, just ask for a normal obstetric scan - half the price too

Good luck!

[first_timer]

so amnio is a different type of scan?? sorry i havent heard of that term before thats all!

i am turning 28 next week, so i dont know if i am still in that "risk age" but is it not a general rule that they test for down syndrome in any case? or do you ask for that as well, i know it was recommended by the hospital but my gp doesnt think it is necessary.

sorry i am so new to this...too many questions.

[SamiH]

Nah, not at all, I am just a preggers ole fart hehehehe.

Amniocentisis is when they put a needle in the uterus and take out some fluid and cells - analyse it - they look at the cells and can tell for certain if bubs has any chromosomal problems. There is a risk of miscarriage - can't remember stats though - so only recommended if screening tests have come back high risk or if you have other children with genetic differences. It happens around 16 weeks usually.

So, for your age - it is up to you. You are not considered high risk age wise - but you don't have to be "more mature" to have a baby with downs either

Downs screening is not routine - it is done around 12 week mark for reason Tanstar said, to give couples options I suppose.

If it won't make a difference to your family and you wouldn't terminate etc - then ask yourself why you would have it done - very personal decision.

Hope that helps a bit more ??...

[LimeSlice]

Hi

I dont know where you are so I m not sure if it will be correct for you...But At the start of my pg I went through a GP/OB, and he sent me for a dating scan (about 7-8 weeks) and then the 13 week scan for the downs test, etc...I loved having this one done, and in fact the only decent pic I have of my pg is the U/S from the 13 weeks scan, so Im glad I did it.
After about 12 weeks you can start going to the free antenatal clinic at the hospital and they arrange all the u/s's blood tests that need to be done for the rest of the pg, also see you for check-ups and do the urine/hr monitoring too.
I went for the 20 weeks scan which is an anatomy scan - to determine that all the legs and arms are there, that the kidneys are functioning and the arteries are where they should be!

I did the bloods and the Downs u/s (13 weeks) because I wanted t be prepared if something was wrong, but I know that lots of results are inaccurate with these tests, but for my piece of mind, I wanted to know so i guess it depends how you feel

Handy to know that you can request an u/s referral at ANY stage of your pg if you want one, although after about 32-36 weeks the baby is really too big for a clear pic of anything

HTH and hope you have a great pregnancy!!

Alexis

[first_timer]

Nah, not at all, I am just a preggers ole fart hehehehe.

Amniocentisis is when they put a needle in the uterus and take out some fluid and cells - analyse it - they look at the cells and can tell for certain if bubs has any chromosomal problems. There is a risk of miscarriage - can't remember stats though - so only recommended if screening tests have come back high risk or if you have other children with genetic differences. It happens around 16 weeks usually.

So, for your age - it is up to you. You are not considered high risk age wise - but you don't have to be "more mature" to have a baby with downs either

Downs screening is not routine - it is done around 12 week mark for reason Tanstar said, to give couples options I suppose.

If it won't make a difference to your family and you wouldn't terminate etc - then ask yourself why you would have it done - very personal decision.

Hope that helps a bit more ??...

thank you that helps heaps!!

[Beach Mama]

Ah thanks Sami - my comments might have been taken as if the scan might show baby definately has DS which isn't the case! Sorry to confuse! I guess what I was getting at was that my GP and hospital basically ask you the questions of what you would do, because if you wouldn't terminate, then they say it's not worth going through it all I guess. Each to their own though, I don't know that I would but I still wanted to see my gumnut so had it anyway!

[mumisabella]

Hi, I just wanted to share my story with u and hopefully this can help u a little bit with ur decision.
I was 20 when i had a nuchal test (12 week scan) done last year. My results came back that i was a high risk patient and my ratio was a 1:5 chance that my bub would have Downs. So i was referred for a CVS (Similar to Amnio but done earlier in a pregnancy and gets a sample from the placenta and not the amniotic fluid). While i was there, it turned out that someone somewhere had mixed up my birthday and had me down a year younger which when i corrected the mistake, it put my risk up to a 1:4 chance. As u can imagine, i was a COMPLETE wreck for around 2 weeks. Waiting for the results is the hardest. I had a phone call and the results showed that my bub had NO genetic/chromosomal abnormalities. I was so relieved and happy. I had spent 2 weeks of my precious pregnancy stressing, crying, preparing for the worst. So i do not believe that they are correct in giving a risk factor. I do believe however that they are a stressful experience and would not influence my decision this time around. I am planning to keep my baby at any cost so this 12 week scan is just a chance for me to see and say hello to my beautiful baby. I think, unless u are planning to terminate the pregnancy if u were to find out something was wrong then go ahead, but if u really are not too concerned and do not want the added stress, then i would suggest just having another scan or see ur GP so they can check the baby's heart beat (with a doppler)before u have ur morphology (18-20 week) scan.
Hope this has helped a little and let u know that it's not the be all and end all.
Good luck and just follow ur instincts x
(Just so u are not confused, i lost my little girl to other developmental problems that they picked up at a 16 week scan)

[SamiH]

Tanstar - not at all hun - just a couple of people mentioned docs and others said they weren't that reliable - I was just letting first-timer know it wasn't diagnostic in case she was confused with all of us sharing our thoughts

Mumisabella - so sorry for your loss. Amazing the strength women find inside to deal with such heartbreaking situations. Re : the risk factor you were given, I understand the wait would have been difficult - at my 19 wk scan with DS they thought there was a soft marker for Trisonomy 13 - I had the triple screening done - he is perfect - but I had to also wait 10 days for the results with my hubby overseas - was just awful.

There must be some reliable science behind it though, otherwise I wouldn't think it would still be done??

So, First-timer - have we completely bamboozled you LOL.

Good luck!!