To screen or not to screen... that is the question!

[MrsBurt]

I have my booking appointment this afternoon and I'm anticipating the question about whether or not I would like NT screening at my 12 week scan. With my first baby I declined. I had decided that I was young (27) and it wouldn't give me a definite answer anyway. However this time around I'm conflicted. I'm now 30, and have just witnessed a friend have a totally unexpected DS baby after being told she was low risk (1 in 2700) after her NT scan. I had never given NT a second thought until this happened to my friend, and now I really can't decide what to do! Do I have the screening and deal with the results whatever they may be, or do I carry on regardless and try to remain positive and enjoy the rest of my pregnancy. There are so many 'what if's' that I'm winding myself up into a frenzy. I suppose I'm just looking for some varied opinions on the topic. TIA x

[HumphreyCobbler]

I always worked on the feeling that I would have the screening, including nuchal fold and then assess what risk I was prepared to continue to invasive testing after the first set of results.

I WAS your friend in my first pregnancy, except the baby had Patau's rather than DS and it was discovered at the 20 week scan. Someone is always that one in a high number risk.

Having said that, I had no invasive testing in subsequent pregnancies.

[HumphreyCobbler]

oh, and if you can afford it then there is a much more accurate and non invasive test available called the Harmony test. The only drawback is that it is not yet that accurate for Patau's, although this may have improved in the last year.