Hi ladies,
with my lovely DD I had the scare of my life. The share-care gp sent me to do a NT scan, even though when I got to the hospital they told me it wasn't routine at my age (I was then 30 y.o). Both my partner and I don't have any family member with genetic problems and the gp told me she thought it started to be routine at 30.
Anyway we had the NT scan with a terrible girl who wouldn't answer my questions or acknowledge she heard me at all (after we gave her the time to do her job, we didn't want to distract or disturb her). She just left the room mumbling she was going to get the Doctor. Obviously we started panicking. The doc confirmed that the NT showed high risk of "something wrong" with the baby because the thickness behind the neck was more than expected. They tried to reassure us saying that this needed to be analysed through a formula once they also had the blood test results.
Few days later they called me to go as a matter of emergency to the hospital because the doc wanted to talk to me. The NT results showed 1 on 17 chances of having a baby with Down syndrome or other genetic problems. They forced us to talk to a genetic counsellor who as soon as we got in the room showed us pictures of babies with Down Syndrome. We were shocked, but we had already decided what we were going to do. They explained us that if we waited any longer and decided that we didn't want the baby I had to deliver it(that was another shock!). We asked to go for a CVS and waited the 2 long weeks to get the answer. I was crying every day during those 2 terrible weeks.
Our DD is fine, healthy and happy.
Now I am 33 (34 by the time the baby is born) and I am wondering... should I go through NT again (since it is not invasive just an US) and risk to get a false positive (again) or worst, a false negative result or should I go straight to do a CVS (with the small risk of mc) and wait 2 weeks to know if my baby is ok.
While one is a screening test and the result can NOT be 100% sure, the other one is 100% sure answers. On the other hand, there is a small chance of mc. The third test (Amnio) is a bit safer, but a bit later in the pg.
It's a tricky one. Given your age I'd say just go for the NT & see what the result is. Then again it is only a screening test so it's not like it gives you a result, just a risk. I had a similar experience to you but opted for an amnio. I think if I was pregnant again I'd ask if I could just skip the NT & go to the amnio, but I am almost 10 years older than you so my risk is going to be high regardless.
Don't think of it as a false positive cos there's no such thing. It only gives you a risk factor therefore you were not given a false result.
Amnio has half the risk of miscarriage of a CVS & as I had a history of m/c it seemed the best option. To be honest both my OB's (I had changed) both recommended amnio rather than CVS.
Last edited by satya; February 9th, 2009 at 11:41 AM.
yep, I thought that would be the reason. Even though it's done later on in the pg...
well, I have an ob app this week. Will hear what he thinks and then decide... either one or the other though... I don't like to not know, iykwim.
cheers
NT, CVS or Amnio? what do you think?
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks