I'm going quietly crazy here. My GP told me that the best (most accurate) results are obtained during the 10th week. OK, fine, I'm just into my 10th week, had the referral for the bloods and the ultrasound. Just peachy so far.
I had made an appointment for the ultrasound today at 12pm - they took the details of what I was having done and called me yesterday to confirm the appointment. All good.
This morning I go to have blood taken, and the lovely lady at QML advises that I should have the bloods taken a few days before the ultrasound. This was no big deal, I called the radiology place and to change my appointment to Monday and they advise that they actually don't have a sonographer that can carry out the nuchal screening. Uggggh....AND that it's best done between 11 and 13 weeks.
Phoned my GP - and it's his bloody day off!!
For the love of all that is chocolate....can these people get accurate information for me? I don't know which is correct!!!
when i had it done i was told the best times are for bloods at 10-11 weeks and scan at 11 weeks 5 days to 13 weeks... or something like that. I def had to have the bloods a few days before the scan as they combine the results to give your ratios.
Hi Princess
The 4 viles they took at the start of the pregnancy was to check for things such as immunity to rubella, hiv, hepatitis, iron levels etc.
As far as I'm aware they're 2 seperate tests.
The 4 vials at the start of your pregnancy check all your iron levels, glucose, syphillis, HIV, Rhesis antibodies etc. The nuchal translucency test is an elective test carried out at around 10 - 13 weeks. They measure a skin fold in your baby's neck by ultrasound and combine (if wanted) with a blood test to provide an estimated risk factor of your child being born with Down Syndrome. You can choose to have only ultrasound, combine with blood test (for apparently a more accurate result) or not have it at all.
Your Dr will explain to you about the test. I chose to do it and was extremely glad I did, although... if the risk had been high, I don't think it would have changed anything!
Linz - i think sometimes they dont offer it to you if you are under, say, 30 as you are pretty low risk. But you can ask for it around 10 weeks to have it at 12 weeks, it is elective.
Mrsr - I think you will find that every testing place is slightly different.
With Shelby I was only given the scan at 12w1d at a private place, (her nuchal fold measured 1.6mm), so they didn't offer the blood test (I was 29) Chromosomally normal.
With Max I had the blood test done at 10w and the scan at 12w3d at a public hospital, her nuchal fold was 1.7mm, I had the blood test done and my risk increased once combined with the scan (I was 30) Triploidy
With this baby, I went to the top womens and infant hospital that specialise in fetal medicine. I had the scan and bloods taken on the same day 12w6d.
All three tests were carried out in Perth, so even in the same state it can vary.
I think you will be fine keeping to your original appointment, as long as you are at least 11 w by then (and sure of your dates)
I'm totally confused as my GP showed me 3 periods of time displayed in a table during which the test can be done and it stated it is most accurate during the 10th week. The lady who took my blood simply told me I should have the blood taken a few days prior to the scan...then the radiography place told me I should have it done between 11-13 weeks.
I guess the thing that peeves me the most is taking a day off work to get this done only to be told I CAN'T after having booked the scan....got to spend the day with DH so it wasn't all bad!!
I chose not to test for downs with Jesse. Just because my BIL's sister tested with her kids and 2 of them came back extremely high. So she then stressed and worried the whole pregnancy and they were born fine. Im the type who stresses alot also so yeh i thought it be best i didnt.
So do remember even though you may perhaps possibly be given a high risk, everything could be just fine
MrsR- Test is usually done around 12weeks or so Bloods should be done around a few days b4 or after scan. Mine came back 1:49 so we chose to have a CVS done unfortunalty DD was not behaving that day so we ended up having an Amino Done and eveything came back fine. Good Luck.
I just got my results back today...
Based on my age it was 1:1400
Based on my age, ultrasound and blood test it came back at 1 in 9999, the lowest possible risk you can have, I'm so happy!!
Mrsr I am sorry you have been given the run around so much.
As Clare said every place will have it's own thing.
However, I know that fetal med obs prefer the bloods to be taken as closely as possible to the u/s day. This statistically is more accurate. The bloods are measuring Free HCG and Papp-A - a high hcg and a low Papp-A indicate there could be issues but remembering this is a screening test. only 1 out of 20 women with a high risk will have a baby with a chromososmal difficulty.
I would disagree with the GP about having the bloods done at 10 weeks - follow the guidelines of the place you are going to - they know far more about it than GP's in my experience.
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