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Between 11 weeks pregnant and pregnancy week 14, you will be offered a nuchal translucency screening test, as well as a blood test in what's called first trimester combined screening.
The nuchal translucency screening, also called a nuchal fold scan, is a prenatal screening test that assesses your baby's risk for Down syndrome, other chromosomal abnormalities, and major congenital heart problems.
This prenatal test uses an ultrasound scan to measure the clear space in the tissue in the back of your baby's neck to check for any excess fluid that may have collected there. Babies with abnormalities tend to have more fluid in the back of their neck than normal babies.
This screening test is considered to be 80 percent accurate. A nuchal fold scan will not give you a diagnosis, but it can tell you if your baby is at high risk for a chromosomal defect. An amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS), which are normally performed in the second trimester, will be able to give you more definite answers.
Keep in mind though, even if your baby is affected with a chromosomal disorder, these prenatal screening and diagnostic tests cannot tell you the severity of the disorder.
The nuchal translucency screening test requires special training and high-resolution ultrasound equipment to be performed correctly. As a result, it's not widely available. It is typically only available at large medical centers.
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