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OSCAR Scan
Has anyone had one?? I have had friends have the OSCAR scan and say they would every time, I know it depends mainly on how you would act on the results but I am keen to hear from anyone who has had one and their thoughts?
Also, does paying for this privately which will be around the 12 week mark mean that I will not get the standard NHS 12 weeks scan?
Thanks ladies xx
Also, does paying for this privately which will be around the 12 week mark mean that I will not get the standard NHS 12 weeks scan?
Thanks ladies xx
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Replies
The scan is more commonly known as the Nuchal scan and it tests for Downs and Edwards syndrome.
It works by measuring the fluid at the back of the babys neck and combined with blood test markers, gives you a more accurate result and percentage risk than a standard triple blood test done on the NHS.
SOME PCT's offer a Nuchal scan as standard, most don't and you need to pay privately. Mine was about ??180 if I recall. It needs to be done weeks 11-13.
Obviously its only worth doing if you are concerned about Downs and would like to know your risk. What it can't do is give you a definitive answer as to whether the baby has either syndrome, only a risk factor. For absolute confirmation you'd still need an amnio.
I chose to have a Nuchal scan just to know my risk and prepare myself if the risk was high. I never wanted an amnio, nor would I have acted on the results of the test. It was really to allow me to assess my risk and do some research if need be.
Everyone is different, good luck with deciding
If you do go privately , just don't tell your MW beforehand and get the clinic to send through their results to your MW after you've had your 12 week NHS scan
Can't believe how much there is to take in!!!
Claire x
I have never heard it be called an OSCAR scan before.
xxx
Claire x
It is bad that the NHS service varies so widely from place to place, a lot of it is to do with funding, where I was booked in originally in Derby was quite a wealthy area and we got offered everything as standard. Now I have moved and my doctors surgery is in Bradford, funding is not so freeflowing and I even have to re-use the pot I pee in! I don't think I would have got a free Nuchal Scan here had I not had it already in Derby. At my previous midwife she did the full spectrum test when they tested my urine and as a result found I have blood in my urine at all my appointments so they did some tests on my liver and kidneys. They also knew I had an infection from finding leukocytes. Here they only test for protein so if I had been here from the beginning of my pregnancy they wouldn't have known about the blood and I would have been oblivious about the infection until I started getting other symptoms. They must miss so much from being so limited!
Fingers crossed you are in an area where you get the full works and won't have to pay to go private if you wanted to know about Downs. Like designerbump said I only think its worth having (or at least paying for) if you have decided to abort if the baby has downs. If you wouldn't abort then it would probably be picked up at your 20 week fetal abnormality scan anyway, I guess it doesn't really make a difference if you know at 12 or 20 weeks if you would carry on with the pregnancy either way.
I haven't heard it being called an OSCAR either! Have a good chat with your mw and ask all the silly questions you need to - its what they're there for!
Liz xxx