Nuchal Transluscency Scan

Filed in archive First Trimester , Medical Issues , Medical Issues on November 1, 2007

Last week, I went for my nuchal scan. A nuchal transluscency scan is one of the prenatal tests used to asses the risks of your baby having Down's syndrome. It is usually carried out between the 11th to 14th week of pregnancy, particularly among older pregnant women, i.e. usually 35 years old and above (yes, I'm already in that age range). An ultrasound is made and the amount of fluid behind the neck of the fetus, also known as 'the nuchal translucency', is measured.

The results of the nuchal scan is just one of the determining factors indicative of Down's syndrome. If the assessment indicates that there is a high probability of the fetus having down syndrome, further tests are carried out for confirmation, such as blood tests and amniocentesis.