NT scan......tell me all you know

[FourAngelKisses]

NT scans weren't around when I had my first 2 kids. With my 3rd, I declined one when it was offered to me as I would never terminate a baby. But this time around, DH would like me to get one. his sister has Down Syndrome and is also Autistic and has the mental age of a 1yr old and she has totally ruined his parents lives. They have never had any time to themselves in 25yrs, DH never got to be a normal kid and now my kids can't be kids themselves when around her as she would most likely pick them up and throw them at a wall.

Anyway, just wondering........

* how accurate is the scan?

* how much does it cost and do you get a rebate?

* anything else I should know??


I do know that it only gives a percentage or something and not a definate yes or no answer. I want to get some more info on it so that I can try and talk DH out of having it. I really couldn't terminate a pregnancy and I know that people have been told their baby has a high chance of having DS and have gone on to have a "normal" baby.

[TwoBlue]

Hi Jeanette, all i know is that the scan combined with a blood test (called maternal serum sample) will give you a risk factor.. ie: 1 in 10,000,000

If your risk is high they will then probably suggest further testing, which you can choose to do or not at the time.

Mine cost around $180 and i got about $80 back from medicare

Good luck with your decision, its not one to be taken lightly

oh and i believe they are still far from 100% accurate

[Lunar]

They are only at the most 80% accurate. It depends on the skill of the person performing the test also.
Some people have said that they didn't get any rebate...?
When I had mine with Kailah I was fully funded by medicare (being high risk already) Our results were 1:4600 or something like that, very low risk anyway.
Hope this helps. They have been known to be very wrong though, just something else to consider. Good luck with it all:thumbsup:

[*Sparkles*]

I had the maternal serum screening (also known as triple test) last week, I am 17 weeks along. We chose to have this instead of the nuchal scan as it tests for other neural tube defects and is supposed to be more accurate.
There have been a few threads in here on Nuchal Scans so if you search under that you should find more info.

[FourAngelKisses]

The triple test was going to be my next question.....I've never had or been offered that either. Which one would be better to have?? I was guessing that the NT scan was around 80% accurate (thanks for telling me that), which to me, isn't a good enough percentage. If it were 95%, I'd be happier.

[TwoBlue]

i was under the understanding that the best option was to have the scan and the maternal serum, then combined you get the most accurate result

[Lunar]

I had the triple test with Emily and it came back 1:2800 chance of her having d/s and 1:2500 for nural tube defect. I would not recommend this test at all. I would go for the NT, but as you said you would not terminate no matter what, so I suppose it is is really a toss between the two...?

[FourAngelKisses]

Thanks Lunar :)

Another thing I was just thinking of.....do you think that if you are having a big baby, the test can be even more inaccurate? If it is best done at 11-13wks and your baby is say.....the size of a 15wk fetus, wouldn't it affect the outcome?

Just did a search, a UK site said it is 75% accurate......will definately have to have a chat to DH and tell him it's a waste of time.

[Lunar]

I don't know if size comes into it, it really has to do with the age of the baby, and the stage of development rather than the size. Does this make sense??
So, whether or not the baby is big, it's development is still that of an 11week baby.

[shwingirl]

Hi Jeanette
I just went through a very gruelling 5 weeks with my first baby after I decided to have the NT scan and maternal serum screen.
My ultrasound came back abnormal and I was given a 1:6 risk of downs and a 1:16 risk of trisomy 18.
After having a CVS which involves taking a piece of placenta (99% accurate) they ruled out any chromosomal problems.
Just this week after another scan at 17 weeks our baby is looking normal, but we still haven't ruled out a heart problem.

My husband and I discussed this week if with subequent children we would put ourselves through this again and the answer is yes. Something like downs is just the beginning and by a long shot not the most severe disability a child can be born with. We decided we would
a)rather know if our baby has a terrible chromosomal condition or congential problem so that we could decide to terminate and
b)we would want to know sooner rather than later

I dont lie - if the test comes back with abnormalities either in the scan or the serum screen the stress is beyond that which I have ever known. But I honestly believe that by knowing I could make sure that we were doing all we could to help the baby (albeit on a very philosopical level).

Good luck - I hope this helps.:smiliedance:
amber

[*Sparkles*]

The triple test was going to be my next question.....I've never had or been offered that either. Which one would be better to have?? I was guessing that the NT scan was around 80% accurate (thanks for telling me that), which to me, isn't a good enough percentage. If it were 95%, I'd be happier.

Both the NT scan and Triple Test are only around 80% accurate and they are only there to offer a high or low risk scenario. In the event of a high risk, you would then be offered an Amniocentesis (tests the amnio fluid for defects) or the CVS which tests the placenta. Both of these tests are very accurate but carry a risk of M/C which is 1/200.

We are currently waiting for results of the Triple test and will make a decision on further testing based on the result, however we have decided we will not terminate if there is a high risk of Downs. However, if it is a high risk of Spina Bifida or similar then we will have either one of the above tests. The reason we have had the triple test is because I am age 36, your age risk does come into it to.

[FourAngelKisses]

Had a chat about this the other night and he said that it is pointless having it because it isn't overly accurate and it can't give a yes or no answer. :smiliedance: :smiliedance: