Downs test only with a scan???

Had my scan today and all fine. Measured the neck and said perfect. I've gone private this time around and if I remember rightly with my other I had a blood test to test for down, but this time they just check the neck. Do you remember how it was for you?

This is my first baby.. But they did a blood test and it came back negative. Never checked on the ultrasound though just the blood test

They did blood tests for me but I heard they can tell the possibility of down syndrome by the neck measurements on ultrasound Something about if there is a lot of fluid around the spine in the neck that the baby is likely to have it... Something like that

I have always had a blood test & scan but I think it depends on your age? This time I have opted out of having a 12week scan & blood test.

fivecrazymonkeys:

I have always had a blood test & scan but I think it depends on your age? This time I have opted out of having a 12week scan & blood test.

Sorry but may I ask you why have you opted out?

I have always gotten it done by a blood test.

Perla. I have lost 4 babies in a row & 2 we found out at 12weeks they had passed away.To see 2 sweet babies not moving was just too heartbreaking & I cant see that again so I am not having a 12weeks u/s this time.

Oh five monkeys, I knew you had losses but didn't realize about the scan. How awful it must have been for you. I completely understand your decision in not getting a scan. I truly hope and pray this pregnancy continues healthily for and and your precious baby. X

Thank you.It was a horrible experience once but twice there are no words. I got so anxious & upset thinking about having the 12week scan I just thought it was better to not have it. If this baby has downs we are ok with that.So now I wait & listen to my body & so far so good. If all goes well I will get a u/s at 20weeks if I feel ok.

I've always had the blood test and the scan, too.  For one of my friends, at her 16 week ultrasound they noticed heart and brain abnormalities that are usually indicative of Downs'.  They decided to do an amniocentesis after that.  I don't know how her 12 week scan/blood test came out, but I do know that neither the blood test or the scan are 100% accurate - only the dna tests are.

 I know that many people, doctors included, are trying to get rid of the blood screening test, at least as a general blanket test for every mother.  The test can NOT tell you whether your baby has abnormalities or not, just if there is a chance.  This test causes much unneeded panic and the stress caused on the mother can be worse than the risk of abnormaility itself.  The only information the blood screening test will give is if more invasive testing is needed or not. 

 We had the blood screening test done, got back "not so nice" results, panicked for over a month while spending extra money and causing more risk to have other invasive tests done, only to find out everything was fine.  Next time, I will opt out of the blood screening test, especially if the ultrasound tests all look good.

That being said, after all of the testing, now we KNOW 100% everything is fine and it has made the rest of the pregnancy wonderful.  But, the only way to know for sure is by doing the more invasive testing, such as amniocentesis, which by the way, is much safer than originally thought!

 Anyways, listen to your doctor.  If he/she tells you everything looks good, listen!

ProudPapa:

 I know that many people, doctors included, are trying to get rid of the blood screening test, at least as a general blanket test for every mother.  The test can NOT tell you whether your baby has abnormalities or not, just if there is a chance.  This test causes much unneeded panic and the stress caused on the mother can be worse than the risk of abnormaility itself.  The only information the blood screening test will give is if more invasive testing is needed or not. 

 We had the blood screening test done, got back "not so nice" results, panicked for over a month while spending extra money and causing more risk to have other invasive tests done, only to find out everything was fine.  Next time, I will opt out of the blood screening test, especially if the ultrasound tests all look good.

That being said, after all of the testing, now we KNOW 100% everything is fine and it has made the rest of the pregnancy wonderful.  But, the only way to know for sure is by doing the more invasive testing, such as amniocentesis, which by the way, is much safer than originally thought!

 Anyways, listen to your doctor.  If he/she tells you everything looks good, listen!

Thanks for your encouragement! And very good news about your baby. Now you and your wife can enjoy the rest of the pregnancy knowing you have a perfectly healthy baby. Congrats!

We had a choice.. Both scan and blood. We did the scan at 12 & 20 weeks. Blood we decided against as it made no difference the answer. Also the blood test was over 300 for us to pay. We didn't need the extra worry.