NT Measurement Question

[hillarywhitney]

I had my NT scan today. The odds for chromosomal issues were very very low (they gave me a "negative"). So that was wonderful news. 

However, one of the measurements was slightly concerning (or maybe it's just the one measurement? I'm not sure how many they do?). From what I remember the cut off for a completely normal/don't need to worry measurement is 2.5. And then 3.5 is the cutoff for something may be wrong/more screening required. Mine, well the baby's, was 2.9. Apparently that may indicate there could be something wrong with the baby's heart. But we are still in the "normal" range. 

The ultrasound tech said it wasn't anything to be worried about, but that they'd want to do another u/s in 9-10 weeks to look at the heart. I burst into tears and so the u/s tech let me speak to a dr. (on the phone). The dr. said that it was great news our chromosomal odds were so low and to be happy about that. She said there is some limited/inconclusive research that says a measurement above 2.5 may indicate issues with the baby's heart, but it's all precautionary at this point. The u/s tech told that most of the time it ends up being nothing. 

So, while it was nice to have their reassurance. I am nervous and scared. I've been crying on and off all morning/afternoon. I'm just so worried about our baby. I'm so thankful dh was with me during the appointment. He's been so wonderful and sweet. He keeps telling me that we just need to assume everything is ok until told otherwise. 

I wish we didn't have to wait 9-10 weeks to get more information. 

This got long. But my question is, did anyone else experience something like this? What was your outcome? 

[Deleted]

Did they combine the results of the nuchal measurement with a blood test and/or check the fetal nasal bone? It is kind of weird imo that they gave you a "negative" result when it is really a probability result. My dr gave me the results like 1 out of 6000. I am sure that it is nothing but if you are feeling very anxious, I would ask for a fetal dna test, like Materniti21. Waiting 9-10 weeks for the anatomy scan would drive me nuts.

[hillarywhitney]

Jan 22, 2014 15:50:37 GMT -5 @missy1 said:

Did they combine the results of the nuchal measurement with a blood test and/or check the fetal nasal bone? It is kind of weird imo that they gave you a "negative" result when it is really a probability result. My dr gave me the results like 1 out of 6000. I am sure that it is nothing but if you are feeling very anxious, I would ask for a fetal dna test, like Materniti21. Waiting 9-10 weeks for the anatomy scan would drive me nuts.

They gave us 1 in 1,300 odds for Down Symdrome. And 1 in 3,something for Trisomy 18 I believe. And so they consider that "negative" I guess. 

The way I understand it the potential heart issue isn't chromosomal? So I'm not sure if a fetal dna test would help. I'm going to call my dr's office and see what they have to say. 

[Deleted]

Jan 22, 2014 15:55:31 GMT -5 hillarywhitney said:

Jan 22, 2014 15:50:37 GMT -5 @missy1 said:

Did they combine the results of the nuchal measurement with a blood test and/or check the fetal nasal bone? It is kind of weird imo that they gave you a "negative" result when it is really a probability result. My dr gave me the results like 1 out of 6000. I am sure that it is nothing but if you are feeling very anxious, I would ask for a fetal dna test, like Materniti21. Waiting 9-10 weeks for the anatomy scan would drive me nuts.

They gave us 1 in 1,300 odds for Down Symdrome. And 1 in 3,something for Trisomy 18 I believe. And so they consider that "negative" I guess. 

The way I understand it the potential heart issue isn't chromosomal? So I'm not sure if a fetal dna test would help. I'm going to call my dr's office and see what they have to say. 

Oh, I'm sorry I was confused there. fx that it is nothing.

[pinotgrig]

Ditto missy that the nt is a probability - they combine the measurement with the blood test results.

When the u/s tech told you the news that upset you, did you have the bloodwork results yet?

I'm sorry the results stressed you, but I would take some comfort in the fact that if it was something they were truly concerned about they wouldn't have you wait that long for f/u. I hope talking to the doc makes you feel better!

[hillarywhitney]

Jan 22, 2014 16:01:31 GMT -5 @missy1 said:

Jan 22, 2014 15:55:31 GMT -5 hillarywhitney said:

They gave us 1 in 1,300 odds for Down Symdrome. And 1 in 3,something for Trisomy 18 I believe. And so they consider that "negative" I guess. 

The way I understand it the potential heart issue isn't chromosomal? So I'm not sure if a fetal dna test would help. I'm going to call my dr's office and see what they have to say. 

Oh, I'm sorry I was confused there. fx that it is nothing.

I don't think I explained myself very well. I have all this info floating in my head and it's hard to get it down on paper (well screen). 

And thank you. 

[hillarywhitney]

Jan 22, 2014 16:03:10 GMT -5 pinotgrig said:

Ditto missy that the nt is a probability - they combine the measurement with the blood test results.

When the u/s tech told you the news that upset you, did you have the bloodwork results yet?

I'm sorry the results stressed you, but I would take some comfort in the fact that if it was something they were truly concerned about they wouldn't have you wait that long for f/u. I hope talking to the doc makes you feel better!

They had my bloodwork. The odds were based off the scan and the bloodwork (my age too I believe)/ 

Thank you. 

I asked if we could do anything sooner. But they need to wait til the baby's heart is bigger to see what is going on. 

[shelbyann]

I'm sorry you had a stressful scan. It's always scary hearing that they want to "re-check" something.

Do you have your anatomy scan scheduled? They'll look at the heart in great detail when they do that, and that should be a little sooner than 9-10 weeks for you. Hopefully you'll get the all-clear then. Or are they talking about doing a special U/S specifically for this issue? They might have to wait that long in order for things to be developed enough to see/measure properly. Either way the waiting sucks, but it sounds like odds are excellent that everything is just fine.

[pinotgrig]

Ok - that's backward of how my ob's office does it. We did the scan (they didn't even tell me the measurements) and bloodwork the same day and then they called me a few days later with the results.

If the doc wasn't concerned with the overall results, I would try to use that at comfort. I'm sorry you have to wait though - hopefully your doc will be able to ease your mind more after you speak with her.

[hillarywhitney]

Jan 22, 2014 16:09:06 GMT -5 shelbyann said:

I'm sorry you had a stressful scan. It's always scary hearing that they want to "re-check" something.

Do you have your anatomy scan scheduled? They'll look at the heart in great detail when they do that, and that should be a little sooner than 9-10 weeks for you. Hopefully you'll get the all-clear then. Or are they talking about doing a special U/S specifically for this issue? They might have to wait that long in order for things to be developed enough to see/measure properly. Either way the waiting sucks, but it sounds like odds are excellent that everything is just fine.

Thanks. 

It was so scary to hear. Even though I was nervous before we went, I was still caught off guard. 

I don't have my anatomy scan scheduled yet. The u/s tech said they do look at the heart at the anatomy scan but they still want to do a follow up specifically for the heart. They will be doing an echocardigram I believe. And yeah, the u/s tech said they need to wait until the heart is bigger. 

[AlpineSlide]

fx it is nothing!

We had a similar experience but it was at the anatomy scan (22 weeks for me). They noticed the fetal gallbladder and right kidney measured large. With the gallbladder being pretty severely enlarged. They had me go back at 30weeks and the gallbladder was still enlarged but not as greatly. They said it was probably nothing and nothing could be done until the baby was born. they said things like this usually correct themselves, sometimes the baby's parts/organs grow at different rates and then they all catch up/even out by the time the baby is born. So our baby had an abdominal ultrasound when he was one week old and everything was normal. T&P that everything is ok with your baby!