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Category: Is It Safe?

Asked by jessmmcnulty77

Q: Nuchal translucency?

Hello ladies. I am 37 years young, and currently 8.5 weeks along into my pregnancy. Last November, I suffered a mmc when I believed I was 9.5 weeks, however baby measured 7.3 with no heartbeat. In January I had a cp, and on Fathers Day, the due date of my first angel, a bfp! This pregnancy has been closely monitored, due not only to my age but also because I am on a class C medication, and the risks of ceasing my medication are greater than the risks of continuing. Anyhow, I had an us at 7.2 weeks and baby measured on target with a heartrate of 153bpm. My ob has scheduled a level 2 for late August but he would also like to perform a nuchal translucency draw within the next 3 weeks. My concern is the 1% risk of miscarriage? Also, the results really don't matter as I would not terminate. I suppose the only benefit would be in preparation. Have any of you ladies any experience, good or bad with this testing? And what are your thoughts?

This question was asked Jul. 19, 2014 1:54pm
Category: Is It Safe?

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Answers (10)

Answered by Jessica0319 - Jul. 23, 2014 9:42pm

But if your doctor recommends the amniocentesis I would say to go for the test, it is not as frightening as it seems and as you said the risks are low, they are just trying to look at the health of the baby and be prepared if any problems were present. The chance of miscarriage is about 1 in 1600 according to new studies, but it is really your choice. I think maybe your doctor wasn't talking about an amniocentesis though because they are typically done between 18 and 20 weeks and you said within the next 3 weeks but you are only 8.5 weeks right now.

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Answered by Jessica0319 - Jul. 23, 2014 9:26pm

Also with my son (my first baby) my doctor made me aware of the possible procedures related to the NT scan, I was also scared like you for weeks that I was getting a needle through my abdomen into my uterus until my doctor explained that that would only be determined after my initial ultrasound and blood draw and only if I had positive results, fortunately they came back normal. For my second pregnancy I wasn't so lucky and had an extremely elevated NT and was sent for an amniocentesis, it was very unpleasant but it's not painful as it is terrifying just laying there thinking about the risks while there is a huge needle taking fluid from you. But I was very relieved after it was over and it didn't do any harm to me or my baby. But you can refuse any procedures you're not comfortable with. But the normal NT ultrasound and blood draw is not harmful and it is very informative on the health of your baby. :)

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Answered by Jessica0319 - Jul. 23, 2014 8:24pm

I think that maybe your doctor meant they will send you for an NT scan and blood draw and you could possibly go for an amniocentesis if you get positive results? That is usually the only time they give an amniocentesis. If you can try to opt for the NT ultrasound and the blood draw, there is no risk of miscarriage with that, I would decline and amniocentesis if you really don't care either way if your baby has defects, but I would still get the ultrasound to be aware of possible problems, things like heart defects they need to be aware of. And they can do a more detailed look at your anatomy scan if they did find any problems. I had an elevated NT at my scan and got an amniocentesis and nothing happened to me or my baby, but my baby did have a heart defect, that's why I had the amnio, my hospital doesn't deliver babies with heart defects, and the next specialized hospital is 18 hours away. So it is still important to know of problems if you are planning to have you baby either way.

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Answered by Wildflower73 - Jul. 22, 2014 2:47pm

I would decline any test that would risk losing the baby.

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Answered by jessmmcnulty77 - Jul. 20, 2014 5:06pm

I apologize. I was apparently confused. Im now assuming the nuchal translucency test is the same as the level 2 ultrasound, while the draw my ob discussed is the amnio? All I heard was "needle through abdomen" and "fluid from fetus" and, "1% risk of miscarriage". I suppose the level 2 would have no risks, and common sense tells me my doctor wouldn't recommend anything harmful, but that amnio test seems frightening. Thank you for your responses, and I apologize for the confusion. It's wonderful and so very scary at the same time.

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Answered by Buckeyebaby - Jul. 20, 2014 12:11pm

I agree with the other ladies...nt is a scan and blood work...maybe you mean amniocentesis. I had had several miscarriages prior to this pregnancy, so we opted for the nt scan and the panorama test....we didn't want to risk it with the amnio, even though they say the risks are low. We got the results back from the panorama (just a blood test that statistically has been pretty accurate), in about 10 days, and it even told us the gender.

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Answered by Sunny33 - Jul. 20, 2014 6:42am

Nt has no risk of miscarriage. It's an us the measure the space behind the babies neck and two blood draws from you. Do you mean an amnio?

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Answered by Mmkohl - Jul. 20, 2014 2:20am

Are you talking about the test to see if baby has downs? If so and the results don't matter either way, I would decline. Yes it is a small chance for a miscarriage, but with a previous one already, I wouldn't do it personally. If by chance I did it and did miscarry I would end up blaming myself. That is how I personally feel about it, but you need to do what you feel is right for you. Good luck momma!

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Answered by Kitten90 - Jul. 19, 2014 4:04pm

I'm kind of confused as well. With my NT exam I had an ultrasound and two blood draws, one around 13 weeks and the other at 16 weeks or so. But both blood draws were from my arm.

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Answered by TXkadams - Jul. 19, 2014 3:57pm

The NT exam I had was only US, no risk of miscarriage. What do you mean by draw?

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