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Post by lexybug on Oct 16, 2005 13:43:51 GMT -5
Jason and I found out we are pregnant!! We are so excited!! Anyways, my OB suggested I go to Indianapolis and have a sonogram done which measures the fluid in the neck of the baby. (I'm new at this so I can't think of the medical term) Has anyone out there had this done? I was wondering if health insurance will usually pay for this procedure? Does it come as a seperate bill immediatly following the procedure? Anybody know how much it costs? If you had it done, did it give you any type of ressurance (sp)? I am not scared of having another child with DS, I just want to be prepared. I would definalty have my child in Indianapolis instead of where I live. Thanks for your answers!! I know I can ask the Dr all of this questions but I thought you guys would probably know more !! And we are due in May!! Seems soooo far away!!! Liz
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Post by Pat on Oct 16, 2005 14:40:15 GMT -5
Congratulations ;D ;D ;D ;D I'm excited ;D Almost makes me want another one Notice the word "almost" as my three were in less then 3 years. I would not know what to do with a baby so far apart from the othersLOLOLOL Maybe it's for the (sp?) nechular fold? kittens nap?
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Post by meghans_mom on Oct 16, 2005 15:01:37 GMT -5
congrats!
yes, nuchal fold test. it's done a bit earlier than the amniocentesis, I believe - in combo w/ a sonogram. It's fairly widely recognized now & most insurance cos' should pay for it. It was "new" when I was pg with matthew (in late 2002). I wanted one also, but when I spoke w. my OB he suggested I go for the amnio since I was concerned about checking for other things. Like you, I just wanted to know either way. Good luck! laurie
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Post by Jessie on Oct 16, 2005 15:36:29 GMT -5
Congratulations!!!!!
I had the Level II ultrasound at 20 weeks (ok, Laura's right, I had it at 13 weeks, not 20) where they look at the nuchal fold, bridge of nose, etc. My BC/BS insurance did cover the cost of it and I did not get a pre-approval or anything. I would think if you are considered high risk for any reason that most insurance companies would cover it, wouldn't they? Anyway, I do know that it cost $800 - so thank God my insurance did cover it. This is one they don't do in your normal OB office, I had to go to a Perinatologist to have it done. This is an awesome ultrasound though. They look at all of the organs, we even counted all ten fingers and ten toes at that early in the pregnanacy.
Keep us posted on your progress!!! Due date yet?
Jessie
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Post by laurasnowbird on Oct 16, 2005 16:17:31 GMT -5
WOW! Congratulations! We had the nuchal translucency done and my insurance covered it. Here's some info: "The screening must be done when you're between 11 and 14 weeks pregnant. (The last day you can have it done is the day you turn 13 weeks and 6 days pregnant.) The sonographer first confirms your baby's gestational age by measuring your baby from crown to rump to see if he's about the size he should be for his age. Then the sonographer positions the sensor, called the transducer, over your abdomen so that your baby's nuchal fold area shows up on the monitor, and measures the thickness of it on the screen with calipers. The doctor puts the nuchal fold measurement into a formula along with your age and your baby's gestational age, and computes your baby's chances of having a chromosomal abnormality, based on statistical probability. Researchers have measured the nuchal folds of thousands of babies between 11 and 14 weeks of pregnancy. Because a baby's nuchal fold will normally get a bit thicker with each day of gestation, researchers have been able to establish what an average or "normal" thickness would be for each day during those three weeks. They've also figured out the statistical relationship between this measurement, the baby's age, the mother's age, and the likelihood that the baby will be born with certain abnormalities. In general, the thicker the fold at a given gestational age, the higher the chance of a problem, and vice versa. You may get the results right away, or you may have to wait up to ten days if the doctor has to send the data to a processing center. You'll want to talk with your practitioner or a genetic counselor about how to interpret the results, because unless you have a lot of experience with statistical analyses and evaluating medical tests, they can be confusing. And even if you're a wizard with statistics, you'll need help understanding your options. What do the results mean? You'll be given your results in the form of a ratio that expresses your baby's chances for having a chromosomal defect (based on your age, his age, and his nuchal fold measurement). For example, if you're going to be 35 when you deliver, your baby's average risk for Down syndrome is 1 in 270. (This risk gets higher as you get older.) That means that one in every 270 babies born to 35-year-old women will have DS. One way to think about what this means is to picture yourself in a room with 270 other 35-year-old pregnant women — statistically, only one of you would be carrying a baby with Down syndrome. If you're 35 and your baby's nuchal fold measurement is found to be average for his age, your baby's risk for DS stays the same: 1 in 270. If it's thicker than the average, he's considered at a higher risk for an abnormality. If his nuchal fold is thinner than the average, his risk is lower. Remember that this test doesn't directly test for chromosomal problems — it just gives you a better idea of your baby's statistical likelihood of having a problem. A normal result (sometimes called "screen negative") is not a guarantee that your baby is normal, but it suggests that a chromosomal problem is unlikely. And an abnormal result (sometimes called "screen positive") doesn't mean that your baby has a chromosomal problem — just that he has an increased risk of one. In fact, most "screen positive" babies turn out to be normal." We had it done in combination with a series of blood tests done at specified points during the pregnancy, and it was called the full integrated test. Here's a link to some info: www.phd.msu.edu/afp/CONSENT_SERUM.pdfMy OB does a lot of high risk pregnancies, and they run the neo-natal ICU here in our area, so they had the ability to do the screening in their office, so maybe your OB could too! Might save you some expense if any part of it turns out to be out-of-pocket for you. We should be a good test case, LOL! I am 42 years old, will be 43 in November and our results came back that the baby had a 1 in 16,000 chance of having DS. Keep in mind that the test is (at best) 86% accurate when combined with the various blood screenings.
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Post by kellyds on Oct 16, 2005 17:22:19 GMT -5
I don't usually have any prenatal testing done, but the doctor had to do an ultrasound for another reason and did a nuchal fold screening at the same time. Joshua passed the test, yet he was born with Down syndrome. So much for tests. ;D If I get pregnant again, we still won't bother with those kinds of tests.
Congratulations!
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Post by updowns on Oct 16, 2005 17:31:21 GMT -5
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
Stella
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Post by Kristen on Oct 16, 2005 19:00:22 GMT -5
I had a u/s at 30 weeks to confirm there was still fluid in there, but the Dr. wrote it up as screening for DS. He didn't get that I was not worried, but it got what I wanted, so whatever! The looked at the nauchal fold and bracheocephaly (flat head). The sonographer actually did it, then the radiologist had her redo that part to get a better view. I was like, so what are you looking for, nauchal fold or bracheocephaly? She was like, oh, you know? I said oh, please, don't bother, Carter has neither but has DS anyway! We got a good laugh out of it, but she had to do it anyway to make the rad happy.
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Post by Valerie on Oct 16, 2005 20:20:42 GMT -5
I didn't have the test, so no info here, but looks like you've already got some really good answers. I just wanted to say congratulations!!! ;D ;D
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Post by hannahph on Oct 16, 2005 21:10:32 GMT -5
We didn't have this particular test with our second pregnancy but did have a level 2 ultrasound where they looked at this and things like the length of the femur bone.We had this at thirteen weeks and they were actually able to tell the sex. We also had a fetal echocardiogram done at 20 weeks because our older daughter had heart issues.We just wanted to be prepared.By the way,CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!
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Post by donnita on Oct 16, 2005 22:09:07 GMT -5
Congratulations!
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Post by momofrussell on Oct 17, 2005 11:36:03 GMT -5
CONGRATS LIZ!!!! HOW EXCITING!!!
I had Reece have Russell but didn't ask for any extra tests. But it just so happened that my insurance contracted some of their Ultra Sounds to the High Risk office below us so I got two US's. The second was more of a complete one like a Level II. But it was more of the doc wanting to do it and reassurance then my worrying. I had no probs with if Reece had DS or not.
Enjoy the pregnancy!!!!!!!
A.
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Post by andrewsmom on Oct 17, 2005 13:28:52 GMT -5
Congratulations!!!!! How great!!!! My story is almost the exact same as hannahph...level 2 ultrasound and fetal echo. I think I remember them saying something about the nuchal fold but I don't recall what was said. Sorry, not much help here. But go put your feet up... you deserve it!! Congrats! -Trisha
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Post by tchamness on Oct 20, 2005 8:59:36 GMT -5
I had one done at the Center for Prenantal Diagnoisis in Indianapolis. Everything checked out fine. No extra fluid and blood came back alright. But I am not due till February so it is still a waiting game. I was told it would only cost 95 dollars if I paid when I went or the would bill my insurance for 195 dollars. Now if that was just like an offer threw my gyn or how they usually charge I don't know. I went with insurance and they paid most of it. Hope that helps.
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Post by alisonzmom on Oct 21, 2005 14:34:35 GMT -5
Not much help here as far as that particular test goes, just wanted to say CONGRATS!!!!
Barb
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