Early Risk Assessment & Ultrasound – December, 2011

We were offered the opportunity (everyone is) to have an early risk assessment test where we would find out what our chances are of having a baby born with down’s syndrome, trisomy 13 or trisomy 18 (all genetic disorders). Part of that assessment is viewing the fetus via abdominal ultrasound to review the nuchal translucency (fluid behind the fetus neck – the fluid is increased in babies with down’s syndrome) and also see if there is a visible nasal bone, something that is commonly missing in fetuses with down’s syndrome at this stage in the pregnancy. It was pretty weird seeing what I have been affectionately calling “it” or “the alien” moving around in there. In fact, it didn’t sit still long enough for them to get decent pictures! We were in there for probably almost an hour and eventually they got what they needed. I just received a call with the results and our risk of having a baby with down’s syndrome, trisomy 13 or trisomy 18 is 1 in 10,000 (they said it was the same results as if I was 20 years old, whatever that means) – very good results and we’ll take it! Weight was still 121 lbs.