Advertisement
Topics
Diaries
Twins
Feeding
Tests
Nutrition and fitness
1st Trimester
2nd Trimester
3rd Trimester
Financial/benefits
Complications
Concerns
Labour/delivery
Newborn
Loss
Twins
Feeding
Tests
Nutrition and fitness
1st Trimester
2nd Trimester
3rd Trimester
Financial/benefits
Complications
Concerns
Labour/delivery
Newborn
Loss
Hot stuff
Newsletters
Promotions
Party central
From party frocks to invites and Christmas cocktails, we've got everything you need to throw a fabulous party
From party frocks to invites and Christmas cocktails, we've got everything you need to throw a fabulous party
Nuchal Translucency Ultrasound
continued from page 1
This test turned out to be available at Queen Charlotte’s, my nearest maternity hospital. Dreading even the small risk of a miscarriage that amniocentesis brings, I opted for the nuchal translucency ultrasound. The reality of the test is that it detects between 60 and 80% of Down Syndrome pregnancies, which means that between 20 and 40% of foetuses with a ‘normal’ measurement (currently below 2.5mm) can be born with Down’s Syndrome or another abnormality. On the other hand, foetuses with abnormal measurement have been known to turn out perfectly healthy. The measurements, plus maternal age, are then fed into a computer, and the statistical probability comes out. Mine went down from 1 in 42 to 1 in 310 for that stage of the pregnancy. If the result is less than 1 in 250, then the pregnancy is judged to be high risk, and you are offered an amniocentesis. I had just scraped through – a consequence of my age, rather than the modest 1.6mm measurement of the foetus’s nuchal fold. Approximately 30% of affected pregnancies are lost naturally, so the probability goes down further as the pregnancy goes on.
This test turned out to be available at Queen Charlotte’s, my nearest maternity hospital. Dreading even the small risk of a miscarriage that amniocentesis brings, I opted for the nuchal translucency ultrasound. The reality of the test is that it detects between 60 and 80% of Down Syndrome pregnancies, which means that between 20 and 40% of foetuses with a ‘normal’ measurement (currently below 2.5mm) can be born with Down’s Syndrome or another abnormality. On the other hand, foetuses with abnormal measurement have been known to turn out perfectly healthy. The measurements, plus maternal age, are then fed into a computer, and the statistical probability comes out. Mine went down from 1 in 42 to 1 in 310 for that stage of the pregnancy. If the result is less than 1 in 250, then the pregnancy is judged to be high risk, and you are offered an amniocentesis. I had just scraped through – a consequence of my age, rather than the modest 1.6mm measurement of the foetus’s nuchal fold. Approximately 30% of affected pregnancies are lost naturally, so the probability goes down further as the pregnancy goes on.
The nuchal fold scan is followed up at 20 weeks by the routine anomaly scan offered to all pregnant mothers. This looks for ‘soft markers’ of chromosomal disorders such as heart defects, enlarged kidneys and shortened limbs. Again, there are no certainties.
Doctors shower you with statistics. In the end, you have to take a cool view (not easy with all those hormones whizzing around your system) of the comparative risks, and make up your own mind.
previous | 1 | 2 |
printer friendly
send to a friend
RATE IT
Delicious
Digg
reddit
Facebook
StumbleUponYou need the newest version of Macromedia Flash Player to view this feature. Download the Flash plug-in at http://www.macromedia.com.
Pregnancy & Baby |
Parenting |
Health |
Diet & Fitness |
Beauty & Fashion|
Relationships |
Home & Garden |
Food & Drink |
Work & Career |
Entertainment 
Horoscopes| Message Boards | Quizzes | Newsletters | Join
© iVillage Limited 2000-2008. All rights reserved. | © iVillage inc. 1995-2008. All rights reserved.
iVillage Ltd is a UK company registered in England & Wales (3837269) at 80-110 New Oxford Street, London WC1 1HB
iVillage Ltd is a UK company registered in England & Wales (3837269) at 80-110 New Oxford Street, London WC1 1HB
