Nuchal scan today - Down's Risk 1:162 - they say low risk, I'm confused!

[Kidneybeansmummy]

I had my nuchal scan done today. I'm so confused by the result.

My adjusted risk looking at the scan and the blood tests is 1:162. With my DS (now 10 months) my risk was 1: 14000.

I asked the sonographer why it was so high and all she could tell me was that it was because of my hormone levels.

My free beta HCG is 160.30 IU/l equivalent to 4.124 MoM and the PAPP-A is 1.382 IU/l equivalent to 0.674 MoM, but I don't really understand what this all means.

The measurement at the back of the neck was in the normal limits 1.4.

The sonographer said that this rate 1:162 is considered low risk and that only anything under 1:100 is high risk, but this doesn't seem to be the case when I googled it.

Can anyone help me?

Should I have been offered further tests?

What exactly are the normal levels of free beta HCG and why else could they be so high?

Thanks.

[Kidneybeansmummy]

I forgot to say I am 11+5/40.

Thanks, any advice would be really appreciated.

[ShowOfHands]

No, that's low risk and warrants no further testing. Here it's anything above 1:150 that's higher risk. My risk was 1:165 and I was initially very worried but the consultant and midwife were completely unconcerned, explained that hormone levels are variable and spent some time looking at other soft markers on the scan (none present at all). 20 week scan showed everything to be just as it should be too. It sounds high I know, but it really, really isn't.

[Kidneybeansmummy]

Thanks very much.

I just hope that the 20 week scan shows everything to be normal. It's all so stressful - and such a long time to wait for more information.

The sonographer didn't say anything about any of the other soft markers on the scan, all I know was that the fluid at the back of the baby's neck was within normal limits.

[ShowOfHands]

That nuchal measurement is great. We had a measurement of 2.7mm which is considerably higher but as I said by 20 weeks, everything looked (and is) absolutely fine.

I do know how shocking the numbers can sound though. But if they had noted anything at all on the scan (and they do check a surprising number of things), they'd have told you. Remember it's a 161:162 chance of everything being fine which are surprisingly good odds. Your risks of all sorts of things that don't even enter your mind are much higher. It's just the one thing that they put a number on and actively talk to you about. Chances are that things are absolutely fine.