12 week Scan NHS Scotland - nuchal translucency scan. What it involves.

[Nessie3]

Hello, I’ve asked this question before but wondering if the hospital will tell gender through tests above?

I know it’s an ultrasound, blood test and I take urine sample with me.

I’m not fussed about finding out gender majorly but I was just wondering about other people’s experiences.

I know my age (41) and IVF plus maybe carrying a wee bit of extra weight may put me on higher risk category but do they take this into account at tests etc.

Thank you all as always. Xx

[Ketkoot]

Hi ya. No, those tests alone won’t tell you the baby’s sex. At 12 weeks you would need a harmony or equivalent test to tell you what you are having.

I am 42 and had the same tests as you at our local hospital and my downs test came back as extremely high (1 in 49 chance, because of my age!) so we paid for a harmony test which came back as 1 in 10,000 chance! Plus we found out we are having a little girl!

Send me a message if you need more info. Good luck x

[Nessie3 in reply to Ketkoot]

Thank you. So we’re all other tests - neck etc ok - it was just your age that put it up super high? My scan is next week so I’ll maybe message you after if I’m worried. Does your weight come in to it? My midwife has said my weight is fine. I’ve put on about 10lbs so far :/ my bmi still under 30 - so I guess that’s what she means by ok?Thanks again xx

[Ketkoot in reply to Nessie3]

Hi. Ya the neck measurement was 1.7, which is well under the max of 3.5 that they look for.

They don’t look at weight at all, although you will be weighed in this clinic.

We would never have done anything to our baby if any of the results were positive but I would have preferred to be prepared. We had half expected our result to be high just because of my age and had already decided to have the harmony test, however we didn’t realise how different our results would be! X

[Nessie3 in reply to Ketkoot]

Thank you, yes I’m the same as you. Just want to be prepared also. Thank you so much xx

[Cinderella5]

No, you wont find out the gender of the baby. This will be offered at the 20 week anomaly scan. The blood you are having done is to send to the lab to check for certain proteins that may indicate an anomaly along with the actual neck (NT) measurement of the baby. They take into account these results plus your age to calculate the chances of the 3 major trisomies, Edwards, Patau, Down Syndrome and will for example come back as 1 in 500 chance of having it. If you do have to have any further screening tests if your tests come back as high risk they may go on to do a NIPT test which does determine the sex of the baby. All the best.xx

[Nessie3 in reply to Cinderella5]

Thank you, I was just worried because of my age, weight and ivf that it would automatically be really high. Thank you so much for your reply. I hope you’re doing well xx

[Cinderella5 in reply to Nessie3]

Your age will impact it unfortunately being older (Im allowed to say that as also in my 40's lol).....weight and IVF doesn't affect it at all. Hopefully all will be ok.xx

[Nessie3 in reply to Cinderella5]

Thank you. I really appreciate that. Take care xx