Nuchal fold scans in Ireland - info?

oceanclub

I had assumed from reading up on pregnancies that nuchal fold scans were done as a matter of routine, certainly when the expectant mother is over a certain age. While I thought it was late, I assumed it was done as part of the 20 week scan. However, according to the hospital, it's not routinely. What I found really odd was the logic: supposedly it's not done routinely because of our abortion laws here. However, if you request it _and pay an extra expense_ (on top of the semi-private fees already paid, in our case) it can be done. Which kind of contradicts the aforementioned.

Do no Irish hospitals do this as a matter of routine for older women? Do you have to specifically know about the procedure, request it and pay for it extra?

Thanks,

P.

foodaholic

My consultant discussed it with me. It's not routinely done only on request. It was extra in my hospital to have it done

lazygal

Same as above, it can be done privately at your own expense.

oceanclub

Thanks - can I ask both of you if you had to ask or did the consultant bring this up without asking?

P.

lazygal

I know my consultant recommends it for women in risk factor categories (age, other children with conditions that the test would show up etc). You need to organise the test yourself though, it wouldn't be part of antenatal care schedules.

How Strange

I had the nuchal and bloods done in the Coombe as a public patient. I had to pay for the bloods as they were done by an off site lab but the scan was free.

I had to actively ask for the scan and be very determined to speak to the right people. I was given totally inaccurate info by some admin staff in the ultrasound dept.

Once I got to speak to the person who did the scan it was fine and she was extremely helpful and knowledgable.

banbhaaifric

Hi
I was public at CUMH and had the nuchal fold scan done at the 12 week dating scan. There was no charge but I did have to specifically request it (even though I was 40..).
The result came back high end of normal, but through reading I've since discovered they were in the 95th percentile.

I had to really push for the blood test for the screening. This happens around 15 weeks and cost around 60 euros. The results should be back in two weeks max and you should follow up with them yourself (ours went missing) if you don't hear back.

Some places are trialing a new test (combined or integrated.. I'll check for you) and this gives a much more accurate screening result so it's worth asking if they are doing this.

Good luck

banbhaaifric

Its the integrated test.

Bloods and nuchal fold in first trimester, bloods in second.

20 weeks is WAY too late to get any screening done. Amnio is your only option at that point I think..

foodaholic

My consultant brought it up - offered it to me. I chose not to have it done

Mink

oceanclub wrote: »

I had assumed from reading up on pregnancies that nuchal fold scans were done as a matter of routine, certainly when the expectant mother is over a certain age. While I thought it was late, I assumed it was done as part of the 20 week scan. However, according to the hospital, it's not routinely. What I found really odd was the logic: supposedly it's not done routinely because of our abortion laws here. However, if you request it _and pay an extra expense_ (on top of the semi-private fees already paid, in our case) it can be done. Which kind of contradicts the aforementioned.

Do no Irish hospitals do this as a matter of routine for older women? Do you have to specifically know about the procedure, request it and pay for it extra?

Thanks,

P.

I knew about the test and went and got it done privately. I knew before I got pregnant that I wanted to get this test as did my husband. There does seem to be some stigma attached to getting it done so we kept it to ourselves that we were doing it.

There was no point in requesting it at the public hospital as I wasn't in any risk category (I'm young and no history of chromosomal abnormalities in our families).

You can only do the test between 11.5 and 13.5 weeks pregnancy. I got it done at Charter Medical in Smithfield (there's a few of them) and I think it was about 250. We didn't have that money to throw around so it was certainly a financial burden.

If any of the results come out as "high probability" for chromosomal disorders they discuss it with you and you can opt to get an amnio test (more invasive) or just leave it. We got some fantastic scan pictures from it and because you are paying they spend quite a while with you. It took 40 mins for the scan as they have to take extremely accurate measurements so I got to see loads of the baby.

mrsmurph

we didn't ask for the scan at our 12 week scan, but our doctor referred us to holles street to see a specialist because he thought the nuchal fold was a bit thick, to tell the truth we didn't really know much about it and it frightened the heart out of me, we were told it could take up to two weeks to get an app but we ended up going for a private scan because I was so worried my fiancé didn't like that I was so upset as we had already lost two babies last year, the private scan was €95 and it was so worth the money it was so detailed and the lady was so helpful and explained everything to us and really put our mind at ease, thank god everything is fine with our baby

Wooha

banbhaaifric wrote: »

Hi
I was public at CUMH and had the nuchal fold scan done at the 12 week dating scan. There was no charge but I did have to specifically request it (even though I was 40..).
The result came back high end of normal, but through reading I've since discovered they were in the 95th percentile.

I had to really push for the blood test for the screening. This happens around 15 weeks and cost around 60 euros. The results should be back in two weeks max and you should follow up with them yourself (ours went missing) if you don't hear back.

Some places are trialing a new test (combined or integrated.. I'll check for you) and this gives a much more accurate screening result so it's worth asking if they are doing this.

Good luck

I'm public in CUHM and was there yesterday for my 13 week dating scan. After she was done measuring most things, I asked her if she could also do the Nuchal scan. So she explained some bits about it and the blood tests etc and then did it for me. No extra charge and didn't have to be pushy.
I have to go back in 10 days for the blood test and have to pay 42 GBP (I forget what this is for, but together with the appointment letter, there will be a letter with more info on it).
I only saw the girl that did the scan + a student midwife, but I would presume if the scan was abnormal, maybe I would have seen a doc, not sure..

banbhaaifric

Wooha wrote: »

I have to go back in 10 days for the blood test and have to pay 42 GBP (I forget what this is for, but together with the appointment letter, there will be a letter with more info on it).
I only saw the girl that did the scan + a student midwife, but I would presume if the scan was abnormal, maybe I would have seen a doc, not sure..

The 42 is for the blood test - it gets sent to a place called Addenbrooks in the uk for testing. We had to get the amount in a bank draft to send to them and I think it cost around 60 euros in total... YOu have to post it yourself too!

Did she tell you what the nuchal measurement was? With a bit of searching online we saw what the normal measurements were for the crown to rump length of our baby. Both should be on the scan report if you want to do a bit of detective work yourself.

Wooha

banbhaaifric wrote: »

The 42 is for the blood test - it gets sent to a place called Addenbrooks in the uk for testing. We had to get the amount in a bank draft to send to them and I think it cost around 60 euros in total... YOu have to post it yourself too!

Did she tell you what the nuchal measurement was? With a bit of searching online we saw what the normal measurements were for the crown to rump length of our baby. Both should be on the scan report if you want to do a bit of detective work yourself.

Oh yeah, that sounds familiar now.
The measurement was 1.8, so normal, but I still want to do the blood test though.

beltzar

We are getting it done tomorrow in the Coombe (we're semi-p) and its €250!
I am 13.5 weeks.

Huge difference in prices.
The scan and the bloods are done tomorrow.
Hopefully it comes out OK:(

xaviera

mrsmurph wrote: »

we didn't ask for the scan at our 12 week scan, but our doctor referred us to holles street to see a specialist because he thought the nuchal fold was a bit thick, to tell the truth we didn't really know much about it and it frightened the heart out of me, we were told it could take up to two weeks to get an app but we ended up going for a private scan because I was so worried my fiancé didn't like that I was so upset as we had already lost two babies last year, the private scan was €95 and it was so worth the money it was so detailed and the lady was so helpful and explained everything to us and really put our mind at ease, thank god everything is fine with our baby

Hi there, I was just wondering where you went for your private nucal scan for 95€? many thanks in advance.

Fifi_123

I had the nuchal fold scan done at 12 weeks at the Coombe as a public patient and it cost €100. I would be considered very low risk but as it's done as standard in the UK (that's where I'm originally from) I wanted to have it done. I had to ask for it specifically.

I would imagine that it's an absolute game-changer to be told a child has a genetic disorder and I strongly believe that this test should be offered to all expectant mothers regardless of abortion laws here. The more prepared you can be to welcome a child into your life with a genetic disorder the better. Thankfully for me, the test came back clear and the risk factor went from around 1 in 500 to 1 in 11000. Money well spent for peace of mind in my opinion.

xaviera

wow, thanks for getting back to me so quickly! thats great to know really appreciate the advice. am 5 weeks, so only planning ahead now. I wonder then do you have to book in with the Coombe to have baby to have your scan there?

John Mason

its free once you are over 38, you just need a letter from your doctor. from what i can remember it needs to be done betweeb 9 and 11 weeks. you get bloods tests a few day before
I had mine done in Holles street

xaviera

John Mason wrote: »

its free once you are over 38, you just need a letter from your doctor. from what i can remember it needs to be done betweeb 9 and 11 weeks. you get bloods tests a few day before
I had mine done in Holles street

Wow thats great news as I am 41. thanks for letting me know!

angeldelight

My consultant asked us did we want it at our first visit around 9 weeks, we said no but it was offered without us suggesting anything

Roesy

My consultant seems to take the measurements as standard at the 12 week scan. Both times he pointed out the fold, measured the fluid and gave the statistic based on it. Never questioned whether we wanted it done. I think he only does the bloods if there is cause for concern based on the fluid levels.

Millem

xaviera wrote: »

Hi there, I was just wondering where you went for your private nucal scan for 95€? many thanks in advance.

I got it done at ultrasound dimensions http://www.ultrasounddimensions.ie/nuchal-translucency-scan/ but it is only the scan not the bloods. I can't remember what I paid maybe €100 my measurement was so low plus I was only 28 I didn't bother with the bloods. If I had gotten a high measurement I had already booked myself into the imff (beacon) I think it was going to be €250 but you get the results in 2 hours!
If I have another baby I will look at the new tests out like the harmony, nifty etc
http://www.imff.ie/non-invasive-prenatal-testing.shtml

Ultrasound dimensions' scanning machines are amazing! Tbh it was the clearest scan we got even though we had 3 big scans in holles street. Also I don't know if it was a fluke but the EDD she gave us (which was different to the holles st) was the day the baby arrived

borderlinemeath

My doctor didn't mention it, and as far as I'm aware OLOL (where I'm attending) don't do them as standard, but I was aware of the tests and am 41 I wanted to make sure all was ok.

I was very unsure of my dates so rather than the nuchal fold which needed to be done in a certain timeframe, we went for the Panorama test in the IMFF http://www.imff.ie/non-invasive-prenatal-testing.shtml. It's expensive at €450 and while they say it's not 100% diagnostic, it does have a 99% success rate. You get either a low risk which is always 1 in 10,000 or high risk, at which point you can opt for the more invasive amnio or CVS, it did seem to have a more certain outcome than the nuchal fold.

John Mason

Once you are over 38, the test is free. Just get a letter from your doctor

Dobbit

I had mine done at Merrion Fetal Health. Holles Street never mentioned it as an option for me. My doctor told me about the range of scans available when I had my pregnancy confirmed so we did our research and decided we wanted this one for the reassurance.

It was 250 but I can claim that back on my VHI. Baby tested for very low risk so it was good to know that early on.