| Overview | What's Included? |
|---|---|
| Risk assessment for Downs' Syndrome | Printed comprehensive report with measurements |
| Confirm 'Estimated Date of Delivery' (EDD) | 2 black & white, glossy 2D prints (postcard size) |
| Reassure fetal heart is beating (with colour blood flow & sound) | FreePeek 4D service included |
| Basic fetal anatomy check | |
| Measurement of Nuchal Translucency (NT) | |
| A sample of maternal blood will be taken |
(NT + Combined Blood Screening) 11 – 13 weeks + 6 days
£150.00, Twins £200.00 : Book an appointment
What happens during the scan?
Before the scan starts our Specialist Midwife will counsel you about the scan you are having, making sure you have informed choice about the Nuchal Screening. During the scan we will measure a small amount of fluid at the back of the baby’s neck called Nuchal Translucency. This fluid extends from the back of the head and neck into the upper back, and is seen on ultrasound as a dark region between two bright white lines on 2D ultrasound. We can measure this when the baby is lying face up giving us a striking image of the baby’s profile. Using this measurement, alongside your age, and the length of your baby from head to bottom (CRL or Crown Rump Length), a risk is calculated to determine the likelihood of your baby having a chromosomal abnormality like Downs Syndrome or the medical term being Trisomy 21.
We like to perform the Nuchal Translucency scan during this specific time because after the baby measures more than 84mm or 13 weeks + 6 days the fluid starts to become absorbed back into the baby’s system or becomes processed through the baby’s lymphatic system.
Remember our sonographer is also a registered qualified midwife, so any questions you may have regarding your pregnancy, she will be happy to help answer!
Will this scan be useful for anything else?
Other checks that we can do at the time of the scan are;
Confirm Estimated Date of Delivery (EDD)
The very best time to date your pregnancy is between 11 weeks & 13 weeks + 6 days.
Also during this scan we will check the anatomy that can be seen at this stage which is the brain, face, stomach, cord insertion, bladder, arms, hands, legs & feet, we will share this information with you during the scan & will check the heart is beating as well as listen to the sound of this, this may be the first time you have heard your baby’s heart beating.
How accurate is the screening?
Nuchal Translucency Combined Screening is approximately 90% sensitive.
Alongside the scan we can take a small amount of your blood from your arm. We can test this to see the amount of Free Beta hGC (human Gonadotrophin Chorionic) & PAPP-A (Pregnancy Associated Plasma Protein A).
If you find that your Adjusted Risk factor is less then 1:150 then you may wish to persue a more definite answer.
What if I have a high risk?
If the calculation gives you an increased risk, you may be happy to continue without further investigation or you may feel you want a more definite answer. In this case we can refer directly for an invasive test, (usually Chorionic Villus Sampling, CVS) this will be carried out at a specialist centre (we refer to Kings College Hospital or The Fetal Medicine Foundation Harley St London).
Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) involves the examination of placenta. The reason for this is that both the baby and placenta (afterbirth) originate from the same cells and so the chromosomes present in the cells of the placenta are the same as those of the baby.
The advantage of an invasive test is that you get a definite answer which is 100% right. The disadvantage is that the test carries a 1:100 risk of causing a miscarriage, this means for every 100 CVS performed 1 pregnancy will go on to miscarry regardless of the chromosomal outcome of the test. This will be fully discussed at the time of your scan.
Apeekaboo Imaging is licensed by and affiliated with The Fetal Medicine Foundation and as such only use software designed & researched by The Fetal Medicine Foundation.
After you’ve made an appointment
We will send you a confirmation letter within the next couple of days, with the date and time of your appointment. This will include a detailed map and leaflet. If you need to change this then we will be happy to try to arrange this for you.
Please note: Apeekaboo Imaging take a £20.00 security deposit for all weekend appointments to secure your space. This is subject to a 24 hr Cancellation Policy.
* Please note the above price is based on a single gestation pregnancy. Please add £50.00 to the price if your are expecting twins.
