UPDATE!! Need Tech response and/or people experience on Nuchal Fold to Thick @20wks

I know the u/s techs check this forum, I desperately need your opinion! I just got back from the review of my 20 week anatomy scan and they found at 20 weeks 2 days that the Nuchal Fold is measuring 7.1mm-7.3mm and that the nasal bone appears to be hypoplastic. These two things could have a chance of my baby having down syndrome, I have to go see a specialist now. I am left wondering how often these measurements are accurate in determining down syndrome. Has anyone experienced this? What was outcome? Babys measurements? I attached profile of the baby, whil the nose does look petite/pointy could be the angle of the pic but she does have a nasal bone, just a small nose? Then I also read that they shouldn't even use the nuchal measurement after 13 weeks on the internet.

Here is profile from 17 weeks and nose looks normal.

What a beautiful profile! I didn't want to read and run, I'm sure your very concerned, but I thought this stuff was more accurate between weeks 12-14?

 With my first we had a Nuchal fold of 7.3 @ 20 weeks. We decided not to have the CVS test even though our chance was 1:53. Our little girl was born and is absoloutly perfect! No health problems what so ever.I hope evrything goes ok for you and i know what an upsetting time it is for you. Thoughts are with you. X

stickybeans:

What a beautiful profile! I didn't want to read and run, I'm sure your very concerned, but I thought this stuff was more accurate between weeks 12-14?

Thanks. That is what I read also on internet, that after 14 weeks it isn't as accurate/shouldn't be done??

blondhayley:

 With my first we had a Nuchal fold of 7.3 @ 20 weeks. We decided not to have the CVS test even though our chance was 1:53. Our little girl was born and is absoloutly perfect! No health problems what so ever.I hope evrything goes ok for you and i know what an upsetting time it is for you. Thoughts are with you. X

Hearing your outcome makes me feel better. It is very upsetting especially because I feel like they are measuring the nuchal fold too late term to be an indicator. The diagnosis of the hypoplastic of the nose also doesn't seem accurate only because it looks like a normal petite nose especially in the 17 week ultrasounds. I have to go see a Maternal Fetal Medicine doctor now, you bet I will have a TON of questions for them!! I just now want another scan/opinion.

 Not an expert here but I also believe the fold measurement is not usually looked at at that point because it grows as the baby grows and the calculation they use for down syndrome screening has to be done between 11 and 13 weeks. Regardless, I had a high screen come back with my son and ended up doing an amnio...so I know how nerveracking what you are going through is. I hope the specialist has nothing but good news for you. 

 Good luck with the specialised baby looks beautiful in your pic. I know someone else that had the same and went to be rescanned 3 days later and the measurments were fine!! Its scary never the less and i really hope everything works out fine for you. Xx

Jame11579:

 Not an expert here but I also believe the fold measurement is not usually looked at at that point because it grows as the baby grows and the calculation they use for down syndrome screening has to be done between 11 and 13 weeks. Regardless, I had a high screen come back with my son and ended up doing an amnio...so I know how nerveracking what you are going through is. I hope the specialist has nothing but good news for you. 

Thank you. I don't think I can go through with an amino, I am assuming your son's was negative? My dr office is trying to get me into the specialist this week. The waiting will be horrible :-(

I would like to wish you luck. I myself have no idea about any of this. Really hope everything goes well.

Yes my son's was negative and actually his nuchal fold was in normal range but that number mixed with the bloodwork gave me a 1/100 chance of DS. Waiting for the amnio results was probably the worst experience of my life...luckily you get preliminary results in 24 hours which are usually accurate. 

I always presumed it was just a test for 11-14 weeks. Have just looked at my notes and at my 22 week scan the other week it says the nuchal fold was 3.2 so I think it's a good idea you go for a further consultation. What was the measurement at your 12 week scan? I'm not suggesting that it could be downs or anything but it will be good to have it discussed with a consultant.

Ruby_red:

I always presumed it was just a test for 11-14 weeks. Have just looked at my notes and at my 22 week scan the other week it says the nuchal fold was 3.2 so I think it's a good idea you go for a further consultation. What was the measurement at your 12 week scan? I'm not suggesting that it could be downs or anything but it will be good to have it discussed with a consultant.

Was it 3.2mm? The office called and still no appointment with specialist, I just want to get in and get another opinion and get my questions answered. Like why are they measuring this SO late??

Any u/s Techs on that can respond to this??

Yes, sorry, 3.2mm and at my 13 week scan was 2mm. I'm also concerned why they felt the need to measure my babies, this has never happened in my other pregnancies (I'm in the UK) I don't know if it's because they were having problems getting the right measurements of the babies heart because of how he was lying?? But I didn't think they measured it in an anomaly scan, will be asking my consultant this when I next see him, will let you know what I am told.... I hate the worrying!