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Publication date: January 2005          Last update: April 2012

Review date: April 2014

 

Antenatal screening tests during pregnancy can check the health of the baby. We interviewed 37 women and 8 couples about their experiences of antenatal screening for various conditions. Select from the key topics below, choose from the full list of topics, or explore all the interviews.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Antenatal Screening

Publication date: January 2005          Last update: April 2012

Review date: April 2014

 

Antenatal screening tests during pregnancy can check the health of the baby. We interviewed 37 women and 8 couples about their experiences of antenatal screening for various conditions. Select from the key topics below, choose from the full list of topics, or explore all the interviews.

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• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Normal results or declining screening >> Interview AN24 >> Parents need to know early enough about nuchal scans to be able to book privately if necessary.

Family history of Down's syndrome. Had amniocentesis in both pregnancies to rule out Down's syndrome, even though nuchal scan results were low risk.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Normal results or declining screening >> Interview AN08 >> She and her husband enjoyed the scan, and it made the pregnancy seem real, for him especially.

Normal first pregnancy, routine screening experiences. Private care throughout pregnancy.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Continuing with an affected pregnancy >> Interview AN38 >> It was better that the doctor explained the baby's many problems at the end of the scan rather than during it.

Problems detected at 20-week scan. Amniocentesis confirmed Patau's syndrome. Couple decided to proceed with pregnancy. Baby born at 35 weeks and died after 3 minutes.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Normal results or declining screening >> Interview AN22 >> The person doing her 20-week scan said it was a waste of money if people would not consider termination.

Declined all screening except 20-week anomaly scan in two most recent pregnancies.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Continuing with an affected pregnancy >> Interview AN38 >> Local healthcare staff offered them support at home, including massage and relaxation. Pregnancy was precious time with their unborn son.

Problems detected at 20-week scan. Amniocentesis confirmed Patau's syndrome. Couple decided to proceed with pregnancy. Baby born at 35 weeks and died after 3 minutes.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Normal results or declining screening >> Interview AN27 >> For first-time mothers it is difficult to know what questions to ask and what information you need.

Healthy pregnancy, routine screening. Some blood test results came back abnormal. Levels of information and choice have been a concern.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Normal results or declining screening >> Interview AN24 >> Seeing her baby during the nuchal scan was a wonderful experience which made pregnancy seem real.

Family history of Down's syndrome. Had amniocentesis in both pregnancies to rule out Down's syndrome, even though nuchal scan results were low risk.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Ending an affected pregnancy >> Interview AN02 >> A friend said she would never have screening to look for problems but had in fact had scans.

1997 - nuchal scan and CVS confirmed Down's syndrome - decided to end the pregnancy. Has since had a healthy baby and is now pregnant again. Had CVS again.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Normal results or declining screening >> Interview AN19 >> She knew scans were not just for parents to see their baby, and felt doctors had a responsibility to explain the purpose.

Normal first pregnancy, routine screening experiences, including combined nuchal scan and blood test.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Baby's condition detected after birth >> Interview AN10 >> Her baby's hydrocephalus was not detected in pregnancy, but at a scan at 38 weeks she thought the baby looked strange.

Baby born in April 2002 with hydrocephalus which had not been picked up during screening. Baby has had surgery and is making good progress.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Normal results or declining screening >> Interview AN26 >> Seeing her baby during the nuchal scan was wonderful but it was alarming that staff talked to each other, not to her.

Routine screening experiences, including nuchal scan.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Baby's condition detected after birth >> Interview AN10 >> She felt both guilty that she must have done something wrong to cause the hydrocephalus and angry that it was not detected sooner.

Baby born in April 2002 with hydrocephalus which had not been picked up during screening. Baby has had surgery and is making good progress.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Normal results or declining screening >> Interview AN13 >> The written information was better in her current pregnancy than her first and the midwife discussed it carefully with her.

Healthy pregnancy after 2 miscarriages; following nuchal scan results they considered amniocentesis and decided against. Baby born healthy, although mother had obstetric cholestasis in late pregnancy.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Baby's condition detected after birth >> Interview AN10 >> As not all problems can be detected at the 20-week scan, she felt more screening should be offered in later pregnancy.

Baby born in April 2002 with hydrocephalus which had not been picked up during screening. Baby has had surgery and is making good progress.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Ending an affected pregnancy >> Interview AN02 >> She grew anxious when the sonographer became silent during the nuchal scan, and was upset that the sonographer could not discuss the results.

1997 - nuchal scan and CVS confirmed Down's syndrome - decided to end the pregnancy. Has since had a healthy baby and is now pregnant again. Had CVS again.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Normal results or declining screening >> Interview AN26 >> In her second pregnancy, she was anxious that the sonographer doing the nuchal scan seemed rushed. She needed more reassurance.

Routine screening experiences, including nuchal scan.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Ending an affected pregnancy >> Interview AN02 >> It was unpleasant waiting for hours for a repeat nuchal scan and being aware other people waiting were anxious too.

1997 - nuchal scan and CVS confirmed Down's syndrome - decided to end the pregnancy. Has since had a healthy baby and is now pregnant again. Had CVS again.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Ending an affected pregnancy >> Interview AN02 >> It is understandable that staff have to concentrate during scans, but it makes you anxious when they go quiet.

1997 - nuchal scan and CVS confirmed Down's syndrome - decided to end the pregnancy. Has since had a healthy baby and is now pregnant again. Had CVS again.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Continuing with an affected pregnancy >> Interview AN30 >> They were asked to have a second scan but did not feel anxious about this at the time.

Down's syndrome suspected at nuchal scan. Couple declined amniocentesis and continued with the pregnancy. Further scans suggested heart problems (operated on successfully since baby's birth).

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Normal results or declining screening >> Interview AN20 >> She found out at a scan that her first pregnancy was a blighted ovum (the baby had not survived).

Scan in first pregnancy detected blighted ovum. Three healthy pregnancies since . Now 8 months into fifth pregnancy. 20-week scan detected possible abnormalities; subsequent scans have been reassuring.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Normal results or declining screening >> Interview AN20 >> Her experience of finding her first pregnancy had not survived made her nervous about screening in other pregnancies.

Scan in first pregnancy detected blighted ovum. Three healthy pregnancies since . Now 8 months into fifth pregnancy. 20-week scan detected possible abnormalities; subsequent scans have been reassuring.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Normal results or declining screening >> Interview AN14 >> Seeing her IVF twins in an early scan was reassuring and amazing, and made pregnancy seem real.

Seven and a half months pregnant with twins conceived by IVF. Has had scans throughout pregnancy; nuchal translucency scan had to be repeated because of the babies' position.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Normal results or declining screening >> Interview AN19 >> They were impressed by the professionalism of staff carrying out their nuchal scan and felt well informed and reassured.

Normal first pregnancy, routine screening experiences, including combined nuchal scan and blood test.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Normal results or declining screening >> Interview AN14 >> In two repeat nuchal scans, she felt the consultant was much more communicative than the first person who scanned her.

Seven and a half months pregnant with twins conceived by IVF. Has had scans throughout pregnancy; nuchal translucency scan had to be repeated because of the babies' position.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Ending an affected pregnancy >> Interview AN31 >> She would have liked her husband to be allowed in with her throughout the nuchal scan in her first pregnancy. They gradually realised something was wr

Problems detected in first pregnancy at nuchal scan - confirmed as Down's syndrome by CVS. Couple decided to end the pregnancy. Subsequent normal pregnancy and birth.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Continuing with an affected pregnancy >> Interview AN29 >> Her history of miscarriage means scans are essential but always worrying. Giving bad news must be hard for staff.

After four miscarriages, scan in fifth pregnancy found heart defects. Couple decided to continue the pregnancy. Son, now 4, has had some additional problems. Pregnant at time of interview.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Continuing with an affected pregnancy >> Interview AN29 >> In an early heart scan in her current pregnancy the sonographer was friendly and welcoming, and made her husband feel involved.

After four miscarriages, scan in fifth pregnancy found heart defects. Couple decided to continue the pregnancy. Son, now 4, has had some additional problems. Pregnant at time of interview.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Normal results or declining screening >> Interview AN26 >> It would be sensible for sonographers at the 20-week scan to check the woman is properly informed and explain how they will communicate.

Routine screening experiences, including nuchal scan.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Normal results or declining screening >> Interview AN14 >> The midwife explaining her scan results got the graph the wrong way round, but checked it with a colleague.

Seven and a half months pregnant with twins conceived by IVF. Has had scans throughout pregnancy; nuchal translucency scan had to be repeated because of the babies' position.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Normal results or declining screening >> Interview AN08 >> The doctor in California who did her 20-week scan did not explain as well as her doctor in the UK.

Normal first pregnancy, routine screening experiences. Private care throughout pregnancy.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Continuing with an affected pregnancy >> Interview AN38 >> They needed definite confirmation that the baby had Patau's syndrome, and agreed with medical advice to have amniocentesis.

Problems detected at 20-week scan. Amniocentesis confirmed Patau's syndrome. Couple decided to proceed with pregnancy. Baby born at 35 weeks and died after 3 minutes.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Normal results or declining screening >> Interview AN25 >> The 12-week scan was a wonderful experience for them, but the staff seemed to treat it as very routine.

Two normal pregnancies. Nuchal scan not available locally, so had blood screening. Unable to have 20-week scan in first pregnancy because of staff shortages.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Ending an affected pregnancy >> Interview AN39 >> Staff have to concentrate while doing scans, but some initial reassurance and a friendlier manner might help.

Hypoplastic left heart suspected at 19-week scan, confirmed by cardiac scan. Couple decided to end the pregnancy. Chose amniocentesis in next pregnancy (baby born 2002).

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Continuing with an affected pregnancy >> Interview AN15 >> At a scan at 8 months she learned that her baby's brain was partially formed and the prognosis was poor, but the baby has since made better progress t

Following two miscarriages, during next pregnancy had frequent scans. A scan at 8 months unexpectedly found hydrocephalus and brain problems. Termination offered but rejected.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Continuing with an affected pregnancy >> Interview AN15 >> She felt screening was not effective in her case. She would have screening again another time but would want more scans.

Following two miscarriages, during next pregnancy had frequent scans. A scan at 8 months unexpectedly found hydrocephalus and brain problems. Termination offered but rejected.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Baby's condition detected after birth >> Interview AN12 >> She paid for a nuchal scan after a previous miscarriage. The result was reassuring.

Second child born with Down's syndrome after low risk nuchal scan results, and no problems detected at 20-week scan. Home birth. Daughter now aged two.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Normal results or declining screening >> Interview AN08 >> She felt screening helped provide stages for getting through pregnancy.

Normal first pregnancy, routine screening experiences. Private care throughout pregnancy.

• Pregnancy & children >> Antenatal Screening >> Normal results or declining screening >> Interview AN21 >> The sonographer was quiet during her nuchal scan. She would rather wait till after the scan to receive bad news.

Normal first pregnancy; some early scanning after bleeding in first trimester. Screening includes nuchal translucency scan and blood testing.