I am currently almost 10 weeks pg with my second child. I have my first appointment next week. I had just an informational appointment with a nurse a few weeks ago, and she said that basically I can choose whether or not I have an NT scan or not. I did not have one with DS 3 years ago. But, I am older now (but still only 34) and just am unsure as to what I want to do. My husband basically left it up to me, he's pretty hands off with this sort of thing.
Complicating everything is the timing. We are moving and leaving the state on June 13th. I will obviously have to switch providers (and I haven't found one yet), and we are taking about 2 weeks to drive to our new state.
I guess I am concerned that if we do the NT scan the first week of June and it comes back with possible red flags, the lack of time left here will just be so stressful (on top of dealing with wrapping up work, movers, packing, and cleaning) and we will have to spend the next 3 - 4 weeks just wondering and worried.
I don't think the Panorama/Verify blood tests are available, though I will ask if that is an option.
Post by Blackout81 on May 21, 2015 16:05:54 GMT -5
I just got back from my NT - I personally wouldn't skip it. I like the visual confirmation of everything being okay.
Can you find out if your insurance will cover bloodwork instead if you don't feel the need to have an u/s? MaterniT21, Harmony, and Panorama are the big ones. I'm actually getting Panorama, too.
I just got back from my NT - I personally wouldn't skip it. I like the visual confirmation of everything being okay.
Can you find out if your insurance will cover bloodwork instead if you don't feel the need to have an u/s? MaterniT21, Harmony, and Panorama are the big ones. I'm actually getting Panorama, too.
I will ask, but I am pretty sure the answer is no. I have TRICARE and they generally suck for things like this.
I am having an u/s at my appointment next week, though just with the NP.
I think I am hesitating most because my sister had a really stressful experience with a "false positive" from her NT scan, though it was before the newer blood tests were out.
I guess another option would be to do the NT scan and then follow with a blood test after. Even if insurance doesn't cover it, I think the cost is pretty limited. My sister with her 2nd pg had again funky results from her NT scan but did the test after and only had to pay like $200 or something for it, her insurance didn't cover it. That would be worth the piece of mind I think.
I just got back from my NT - I personally wouldn't skip it. I like the visual confirmation of everything being okay.
Can you find out if your insurance will cover bloodwork instead if you don't feel the need to have an u/s? MaterniT21, Harmony, and Panorama are the big ones. I'm actually getting Panorama, too.
I will ask, but I am pretty sure the answer is no. I have TRICARE and they generally suck for things like this.
I am having an u/s at my appointment next week, though just with the NP.
I think I am hesitating most because my sister had a really stressful experience with a "false positive" from her NT scan, though it was before the newer blood tests were out.
I guess another option would be to do the NT scan and then follow with a blood test after. Even if insurance doesn't cover it, I think the cost is pretty limited. My sister with her 2nd pg had again funky results from her NT scan but did the test after and only had to pay like $200 or something for it, her insurance didn't cover it. That would be worth the piece of mind I think.
sorry, a little bit of a brain dump there!
I hear you. A good friend of mind had a good NT, but then had the Harmony blood work come back positive for Down's syndrome. She prepared her whole pregnancy and the baby was born completely fine. They then endured weeks of chromosomal testing to be sure that it wasn't something else that triggered the false positive. It's scary, but these stories are the rarities - someone has to be the 1% error. Personally, I'd rather take the 1% chance of dealing with a false positive than not knowing if something WAS wrong so I could prepare for it. For us, it wouldn't change our decision about whether or not to continue the pregnancy, but it would help us get ready if something were off. I know not everyone thinks that way though. You just gotta do what's comfortable for you.
I didn't do it and I am also on Tricare. Since I'm <35 I don't know it they would have covered it. I didn't look into it, but I also didn't ask why when we didn't do it. I'm personally ok with it. I still got a 12 week u/s, but for us the answer wouldn't have changed how we felt about the pregnancy.
I use tricare and am 31. I ended up getting it and it was all covered (I go on base for my appointments) I really chose to do testing because there is no nicu on base and if there were problems and my baby needed intensive care, they would have to transfer. My dr said that if there were reasons to be concerned, they would just plan to have me deliver at the hospital here they work with got high needs. So mostly I just want to avoid an emergency transfer if I can.
I didn't get a choice. They just ordered it and told me to go. I wonder if I need an anatomy scan now that I had the NT scan.
I think the anatomy scan is looking at the baby in much more detail than the NT. One doesn't really negate the other. Anatomy is a much longer scan where they look at the heart ventricles, all the organs, extremities, spine etc.
I did it. It was another ultrasound and I got to see the baby :-)
That was pretty much how I felt about it, plus Calvin wanted to know so I did it. Insurance would not pay for any of the "better" tests unless the NT came back with elevated risk. It was a week ago, so all I know now is that the NT measurement was fine (1.1mm) but I was glad to see Hobbes moving around in there.
I opted out of the NT scan both times. It was our personal preference, but I understand why some would want it.
Also, we've had to pay so much out of pocket this past year for medical expenses that weren't fully covered by insurance (mainly from complications from my m/c), so I really didn't want to add any more expense if I didn't have to.
I didn't get a choice. They just ordered it and told me to go. I wonder if I need an anatomy scan now that I had the NT scan.
I think the anatomy scan is looking at the baby in much more detail than the NT. One doesn't really negate the other. Anatomy is a much longer scan where they look at the heart ventricles, all the organs, extremities, spine etc.
Huh. I wonder why my ob was so adamant about the NT scan then and completely ignored setting me up for the anatomy scan. Further proof that the office is absolute crap, maybe. Glad to be outa there.
I think the anatomy scan is looking at the baby in much more detail than the NT. One doesn't really negate the other. Anatomy is a much longer scan where they look at the heart ventricles, all the organs, extremities, spine etc.
Huh. I wonder why my ob was so adamant about the NT scan then and completely ignored setting me up for the anatomy scan. Further proof that the office is absolute crap, maybe. Glad to be outa there.
Huh. I wonder why my ob was so adamant about the NT scan then and completely ignored setting me up for the anatomy scan. Further proof that the office is absolute crap, maybe. Glad to be outa there.
did you ultimately get an AS??
No. My old office never sent out the referral to get it done. When I asked about it they said that I should come to my regular monthly appointment, rather than just have them send it then. I did that at 21 weeks and addressed the issue. They still didn't bother to send it out after that. So whatever. I was transferring anyway.
I wonder if they'll even want one at this point. (Can you have an AS at 25/26 weeks?) I have my first appointment with the doctor at the new office next week. We'll see what they say.
No. My old office never sent out the referral to get it done. When I asked about it they said that I should come to my regular monthly appointment, rather than just have them send it then. I did that at 21 weeks and addressed the issue. They still didn't bother to send it out after that. So whatever. I was transferring anyway.
I wonder if they'll even want one at this point. (Can you have an AS at 25/26 weeks?) I have my first appointment with the doctor at the new office next week. We'll see what they say.
The AS I think is pretty crucial (although I'm not a medical professional) - they look for bone development, cleft lip, heart defects, brain defects among a host of other measurements taken. I personally wouldn't be lax about it because I always prefer being armed with information and the ability to prepare for what may come, particularly if there are urgent tests that need to be done after birth or if specialists need to be at the ready or perhaps if you need you schedule a planned c-section or induction date. You're later than they normally do them (19-21 weeks is more typical) but if they can still do it I personally would be pushing for it. At this point you don't know if you have placenta previa which can really change the way your labour.
No. My old office never sent out the referral to get it done. When I asked about it they said that I should come to my regular monthly appointment, rather than just have them send it then. I did that at 21 weeks and addressed the issue. They still didn't bother to send it out after that. So whatever. I was transferring anyway.
I wonder if they'll even want one at this point. (Can you have an AS at 25/26 weeks?) I have my first appointment with the doctor at the new office next week. We'll see what they say.
The AS I think is pretty crucial (although I'm not a medical professional) - they look for bone development, cleft lip, heart defects, brain defects among a host of other measurements taken. I personally wouldn't be lax about it because I always prefer being armed with information and the ability to prepare for what may come, particularly if there are urgent tests that need to be done after birth or if specialists need to be at the ready or perhaps if you need you schedule a planned c-section or induction date. You're later than they normally do them (19-21 weeks is more typical) but if they can still do it I personally would be pushing for it. At this point you don't know if you have placenta previa which can really change the way your labour.
In this day and age, I'm all for getting as much information as possible so I would definitely get the NT scan. When I was pregnant a few years ago, I remember reading online that if one of those very expensive tests like the Materniti21 was not covered by your insurance, then you could call them and negotiate it down by a lot. I had the CF test and it turned out not to be covered by my insurance. When I called them, they dropped the price form $1300 to something like $30. It was incredible! Just something else to keep in mind.
Post by polarbearfans on May 22, 2015 12:38:34 GMT -5
I would get it especially since you insurance covers it. It is a screening, just letting you know the risk level. I would rather have the information than not. It's also time sensitive so it isn't like you can get it later.
I'm torn on this. I'm all for more information which is why I did the NT scan (I was 32 att). But I was a false positive. At the u/s she had a large nuchal measurement (3.6). They didn't recommend bloodwork since that result meant more testing and the bloodwork only gives the approx chance, not a definitive.
We had a CVS done the next day, got FISH results in 2 days that were normal. Then a full karyotype that took 2 weeks that was also thankfully normal. But then we needed a fetal echo at 22wks to be sure which was also thankfully normal. And then MFM monitored growth every 4 weeks. And then every 2 etc, etc.
I was on edge my entire pregnancy and didn't get to start enjoying my pregnancy until it was 1/2 over. And it was still emotional hell the remaining weeks. In total I had around 26 ultrasounds. Maybe more, I lost count.
My just turned 4mth old just fell back to sleep on my lap. She is seriously the most perfect thing I've ever seen.
Am I glad I had my baby checked and got all the info? Absolutely. But I don't know that I would do it again unless I HAD to.
My dr told me they aren't using the NT scan very much now and are using the Verify blood test. He said it is like 99 dollars if insurance doesn't cover it. I am getting it down at 10 1/2 weeks.
I wonder if this is regional? When we discussed 1st tri screening I was offered NT and Harmony blood work. At first it seemed t was one or the other and then she said I could do both, many people do. I asked if the NT was being phased out because of the bloodwork and she said not really, while she's seen an increase in people choosing to do the bloodwork she hasn't seen a real decrease in NT. People (like me) like the visual confirmation - I wanted to see it for myself.