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11-28-2012 at 9:29 AM
VASC
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VASC is not online. Last active: 05-18-2013, 6:56 AMNewbie

Question about NT scan

Just returned from my first appt with the OB.  She said we need to think about whether or not to have the NT scan done next month.  She said if we chose not to do it, she would still like to do a dating/viability U/S.

DH and I are young and have no family history of genetic problems.  We are leaning towards not doing the NT scan.  However, if she is going to do a viability US anyway, wouldn't she say something if she saw something that obviously didn't look right?  It's my understanding that they somehow measure the neck...I'm just envisioning that if she's just doing a viability US, how can she not also glance at the neck anyway, KWIM?   

Am I totally off base about the procedure for an NT scan?   
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11-28-2012 at 9:31 AM
nola78
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The NT scan also uses a blood test to determine your odds of certain genetic problems.  Just looking at the neck isn't going to tell you the same information. 
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11-28-2012 at 9:45 AM
musicalsil...
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I agree with the OP.  In addition ... 

The u/s my OB used for our dating scan and the u/s used for the NT scan were machines with differing sensitivities.  The NT scan machine I imagine was much higher quality/resolution so that they could do measurements like the NT measurement with more accuracy.  I don't know if this is the case for your OB's practice or not, but it's something to keep in mind.

I guess if you did do the scan in the correct time frame, your OB could look for other signs like cranial shape/nasal bone and the like that are potential soft markers for things like Downs.  However, I really wouldn't count on it.  If you want to know, get the NT scan, don't count on your OB's dating/viability scan. 
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11-28-2012 at 9:55 AM
Amanda&Eri...
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I did it last time, despite not having any risk factors. I like knowledge. If something WAS wrong, I wanted to know early, so I had time to research and make plans, and have specialists there.

They look for specific things with the NT scan, versus the viability u/s. Also, as was mentioned before, there is a blood test.
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11-28-2012 at 10:01 AM
diana.fili...
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A viability scan takes just a couple minutes and is basically just looking for a heartbeat.  An NT scan can take about 45 min and is measuring things like the fold of skin at the back of the neck, the length of the nasal bone, the size of the head, they look for large dark areas in the gut also.  They will also do a finger prick to send samples for genetic odds.  The NT scan is NOT a test, it is a screening.  If the screening gives you odds that make you uncomfortable you can choose to have a test done to determine if your LO has a problem.
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11-28-2012 at 10:22 AM
elmoali
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The neck measurement pertains only to the risk of Down Syndrome.  The NT scan + bloodwork also looks for other things, like the trisomies.
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11-28-2012 at 10:29 AM
KacyChicag...
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diana.filipi:
A viability scan takes just a couple minutes and is basically just looking for a heartbeat.  An NT scan can take about 45 min and is measuring things like the fold of skin at the back of the neck, the length of the nasal bone, the size of the head, they look for large dark areas in the gut also.  They will also do a finger prick to send samples for genetic odds.  The NT scan is NOT a test, it is a screening.  If the screening gives you odds that make you uncomfortable you can choose to have a test done to determine if your LO has a problem.

This. And, not having "risk factors" really doesn't play a part in a healthy pregnancy, truth-be-told. Any type of chromosomal abnormality can happen to any one at any time. That being said, if you don't want to do an NT scan, don't do one ... But remember it's not the same as a dating ultrasound.

Good luck, you will make the best choice for you and your husband!

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