Is anyone not having the nucal translucency scan?

[Kaileysmum]

Hi everyone.
I was wondering whos not having the nucal translucency scan?

I didnt have it with DD and Im pretty sure Im not going to have it this time. I figure I am only 24 and personally I wouldnt terminate anyways, so I dont think I see the point.

Anyone want to share why they are not having it (OR why you are having it)?

[sexy_minx]

I said no at 1st aswell im only 21 DF is 25 no downs or anything like that in the family, but then my doctor said 1 out of 600 pregnancys have a downs, then he went on saying if we had 600 pregnancys each one of the babies would have downs but it could be the 300th baby or the 1st baby noone knows when its going to pop up, then DF asked me to get it just so we know befor bubs born if we were to have a downs baby it wouldnt change a thing at all but he wants to know a yes/no befor baby comes

[GeorgiaAnne]

FYI - there are other abnormalities that are picked up in scans, not just Down's syndrome and for the fetal morphology scan there are countless conditions, genetic or otherwise that can be picked up and dealt with. It is not just a matter of terminating the pregnancy, there are things that can be done, in utero for some conditions, or preparations that can be made for post natal care. Of course it is the parents right to choose whether or not they have the scan but there is more to it than termination or not.

[Monkey&Mum]

we didnt. but we didnt have any tests at all, we've only just had our first ultrasound at 30 weeks.
but we wouldnt have terminated anyway, we'd still love our child how ever it came out so it didn't make any difference to us! =]

[Kaileysmum]

FYI - there are other abnormalities that are picked up in scans, not just Down's syndrome and for the fetal morphology scan there are countless conditions, genetic or otherwise that can be picked up and dealt with. It is not just a matter of terminating the pregnancy, there are things that can be done, in utero for some conditions, or preparations that can be made for post natal care. Of course it is the parents right to choose whether or not they have the scan but there is more to it than termination or not.


I did relise the scan wasnt just for downs syndrome. I was just told when I was pregnant with DD that the 12 week scan (nucal translucency scan) was mainly for testing for downs and at my age there isnt a big need to do it (I guess thats why you have to pay for it unless you are over 35).

As for the fetal morphology scan I had that last time and still will this time. Just wanted to clear that up. :)

[GeorgiaAnne]

Hun, you don't have to clear anything up with me ;) I do believe though that a lot of people don't really know why they're being scanned and the whole thing isn't really explained well, esp. by GP's, surprise surprise.

[mixy]

i aggree with Kaileysmum as far as i knew the 12 week scan was mainly for down's, and the morfology scan was to check for lots of different things. I have two kids and the 12 weeks scan has never been offered before, and i have no intention of having it this time, as it make no difference if i find out at 12 weeks or 18/20 weeks, except that i get more time of 'not worry' about what they find. i personly want the morfology scan for that reason so if there is something i will know, to be prepared for it when bubs is born. but also i realise that they dont always find everything......

[susmamma]

yup - having the 12 weeks scan done here.
will also have the 18-20wk morphology scan.

oh sorry - just realised you were asking who wasnt having it... not who was!
oops !

[kymmy]

No, not having anything but the anomaly scan at 18- 20 weeks if we get organised enough. Haven't even got an appt yet.

I didn't have this scan with the others. I don't think it was offered generally with my first pregnancy. Is it considered routine now?
I don't think it necessary personally. I wasted a lot of time going to appts in my past pregnancies so I don't want to do that this time. Its just a personal thing for me.

[Monkey&Mum]

i agree, i don't think it's necassery either =]

[Balibear]

I am not having any more scans then need be, i had 3 scans with my first all saying he was fine & he was born with a hole in his heart that required open heart surgery to fix, lucky all is well now but just to point out anything can happen & scans cant check everything & i would not of changed having him if i had of known.

Good luck

[dmplus3]

Funnily enough, I didn't have the 12 wk scan with my first 2 babies as my OB didn't think it was necessary at my age. But this time, with a new OB in a small town, he does it as standard. I am more nervous now that I 'have to have' the scan than if I just let things go until 19 weeks.

So I guess that means I am having it! If I was in Brisbane I wouldn't be having it.

[kymmy]

Even if its standard or routine you can say nay.

[stellarella]

Nope I'm not having it, didn't have a dating scan either, my opinion is that they are both unnecessary.

Scans are only valuable if you intend to take action depending on the results. I won't be aborting any child therefore why do I need to know my child has Downs Syndrome? The false positive results (and false negative) are stupidly high, too much stress and angst is created, I just want a relaxed pregnancy, I'm not sick, I am growing a baby, perfectly capable of doing it without being monitored with scans every few weeks.

I had my son 19 months ago, back then the nuchal scan was not routine, it was onlt offered to high risk women, but low and behold 19 months later it is done routinely....and why??? God only knows, just another way to attempt to control every aspect of my pregnancy.

My GP was a bit taken a back because she said "Oh well you will have to come back for the dating scan"..."Nope, not having it"...."Oh, Oh, ok, well I will see you for the 12 weeks scan then"...."Nope, don't need it"....."Oh ok" she says as she looks at her little schedule of tests I have to have, "well will you come for the morphology scan then?"...."I'm still thinking about it"....she looked a little baffled, presumably not many people give it much thought.

It's crazy....all these routine tests given to every woman, not taking into account personal circumstances...just like everything to do with medicine, over used/over prescribed.

Anyhoo, I feel very strongly about it obviously...:D I have seen soooooooooooo many mothers stressing over scans results, how can that possible be healthy?? Not to mention the risks of the u/s itself.

[kymmy]

Are 3 scans routine now? Wow. That seems like a lot to me, if they aren't really necessary.

[GeorgiaAnne]

I know you guys feel really strongly about it but there are circumstances where it helps and it is not just for "abortions sake" I think to state it like that over-simplifies the issue.
What about con-genital abnormalities where the baby needs surgery / medical intervention straight away to survive and you haven't had a scan so don't know and you're at a small hospital with no facilities for level 3 nursery care ? Time can be everything in this sort of situation.
What about placenta praevia?
What about when a vaginal birth would be dangerous for the baby due to physical disability?
What about when you have too much/little amniotic fluid?
A lot of these conditions are unusual but I personally would prefer to know than find out after the fact that something could have been done for my child if I had of just had a scan.

[kymmy]

I think its just a matter of weighing up whether its for you or not.
That is a personal decision.

[GeorgiaAnne]

Of course it's a personal decision. We're just discussing the reasons for it. I think choices should be made with facts, not just with the attitude of " I wouldn't have an abortion" as it is more complicated than that.

[kymmy]

Alright.

[susmamma]

Nope I'm not having it, didn't have a dating scan either, my opinion is that they are both unnecessary.

Scans are only valuable if you intend to take action depending on the results. I won't be aborting any child therefore why do I need to know my child has Downs Syndrome? The false positive results (and false negative) are stupidly high, too much stress and angst is created, I just want a relaxed pregnancy, I'm not sick, I am growing a baby, perfectly capable of doing it without being monitored with scans every few weeks.

I had my son 19 months ago, back then the nuchal scan was not routine, it was onlt offered to high risk women, but low and behold 19 months later it is done routinely....and why??? God only knows, just another way to attempt to control every aspect of my pregnancy.

My GP was a bit taken a back because she said "Oh well you will have to come back for the dating scan"..."Nope, not having it"...."Oh, Oh, ok, well I will see you for the 12 weeks scan then"...."Nope, don't need it"....."Oh ok" she says as she looks at her little schedule of tests I have to have, "well will you come for the morphology scan then?"...."I'm still thinking about it"....she looked a little baffled, presumably not many people give it much thought.

It's crazy....all these routine tests given to every woman, not taking into account personal circumstances...just like everything to do with medicine, over used/over prescribed.

Anyhoo, I feel very strongly about it obviously...:D I have seen soooooooooooo many mothers stressing over scans results, how can that possible be healthy?? Not to mention the risks of the u/s itself.

I think this is an extremely oversimplified view. I have friends who have been able to detect placenta problems and kidney issues due to having scans done. Not all people plan to terminate finding out they are carry Downs babies, in many cases it helps them prepare for the journey ahead instead of finding this information out at the first time after they have given birth. Two women i know did not have the 12 week scan, had downs children and went into a major depression following. Neither would have terminated but the prior knowlegde would have helped prepare them. Next time round one woman had the 12 week scan to find out if she was carrying a second downs child. For the family that was extremely important information to have.

If you choose not to have scans then that is your choice and it's wonderful you feel so empowered by that decision. However, please be aware that there are many reasons women chose to have scans and they are not just because they are manipulated by the medical community or scared into having them.

Also the 12 week scan is not considered a standard scan /done routinely (many of my friends have never been offered it and they are currently pregnant). You have to organise to have one, it's not "an off the rack" test at least not until you are over 36 years of age.

[stellarella]

The morphology scan can pick up lots of the things you have mentioned, like the position of the placenta but even this is pointless as the placenta moves after 20 weeks, a lot!!!!!.......this thread is about the 12 weeks scan not the morphology scan and if they are not an 'off the rack' test then why does EVERY single woman on this forum have one when she is 25 years old?? And why does every woman I know unless she specifically refuses to have one go along for both a dating scan and a nuchal scan these days?

Congenital abnormalities can be picked up at the 20 weeks scan which is why I am considering this one especially as I am homebirthing and yep, I would like to know if my baby needs surgery immediately after birth, highly unlikely but not impossible, however if I have a morphology scan why would I need the first two?? It is absolute over kill.

Yes it is a decision everyone should make based on personal circumstances which is the whole point of my previous post, they are not being used according to need they are being given routinely to every pregnant woman regardless of age and previous history.

If I had 2 downs babies or was 40 years old I might have one once I weighed up the pros and cons but for every woman from the age of 18 on to have one as a matter of course is over the top. :)

[stellarella]

Hi everyone.
I was wondering whos not having the nucal translucency scan?

I didnt have it with DD and Im pretty sure Im not going to have it this time. I figure I am only 24 and personally I wouldnt terminate anyways, so I dont think I see the point.

Anyone want to share why they are not having it (OR why you are having it)?

Just a reminder of what the OP was asking, you may not agree with my opinion - which is based on lots and lots of research, I don't take these things lightly, I spend a lot of time pouring of facts and figures, just like I do with vaccinating, childbirth choices, all tests, all medicines - but if one person reads my post and decides to look into it a bit further then I think that is great.

What is wrong with being informed to ALL sides of the issue?

[susmamma]

Ok, I'm deleting my last comment because I dont think it's helpful to bring this discussion to a close.
I understand that you are passionate about this stellarella and you want the best for pregnant women. I too want the best for pregnant women, I think we all do.
In the end it is the individuals choice and neither of us should try to impose our will on another. I agree, research and information is valuable, as is weighing up both sides. Let us all use bubhub to further that process instead of it becoming a point of anger and division among us.
Perhaps it is best we leave it at that and have some peace.