Nuchal translucency test/results....Harmony test?

[p1ngu]

I'm 35 so I know my risk of a downs syndrome baby is higher.

Has anyone had the harmony test done and it as accurate as they say? If so, how much did it cost? My MW said she thought it was currently £290 to do it through my MW and have them send off the blood to America.

 

[Akua]

Depends where you live, my friend paid £500.

 

[BunnyN]

Any discussion of termination on this forum is not allowed as it can be quite upsetting to some.

 

[Firecracker]

Hi P1ngu,

We're booked in for the harmony, they say it is 99% accurate. It cost us £400 for a package of that, early scan and 12 week scan from the Fetal Medicine Centre on Harley St. Had the early scan so far, they're great really professional.

Our midwife said the NHS are looking to include Harmony tests in future, however they're not quite there yet due to its expense xx

 

[TORino]

I think there are plans to offer harmony test if your usual screening comes back high risk on the nhs. Might be worth asking your midwife if your trust offers this.

I paid privately to have the test and I would do so again, but sooner in the process. You can have it done at 10 weeks so if you are decided on your course of action following a positive result it might be worth having it done ASAP. I used thisismy in Leeds I think it took 5 working days for the result. I think the cost was £400. There are cheaper options if you are willing to wait longer for the result.

 

[SF2018]

Please remember there are different levels of Down's syndrome and they are just as worthy of a chance at life as any other baby....

 

[p1ngu]

I know it's a difficult subject and it's not a decision we have made lightly. I just wanted advice on how the test works, how accurate it is and the cost. I might contact my MW if we can do it sooner. I haven't had a scan yet so not 100% sure my dates are correct.

 

[WolfMamma]

I have opted out of any kind of downs screening as I couldn't care less whether baby has downs or not, it's not going anywhere. I have known enough lovely downs people in my life to know that they can live amazing lives so I wouldn't dream of making a decision based on that.

Sorry, I just feel quite strongly with regards to this so just had to chuck in my 2p..... I'll say no more.

 

[p1ngu]

I have opted out of any kind of downs screening as I couldn't care less whether baby has downs or not, it's not going anywhere. I have known enough lovely downs people in my life to know that they can live amazing lives so I wouldn't dream of making a decision based on that.

Sorry, I just feel quite strongly with regards to this so just had to chuck in my 2p..... I'll say no more.

I know some lovely people with down syndrome too, I'm not denying that.

It's our decision to make and I realise it could cause upset. That's 2 ladies off our Dec board made their opinion clear so I guess I'm not welcome there anymore

People argue for women's rights to have abortions when a pregnancy is unwanted but when it comes to something like this then they get made to feel like they shouldn't have a choice. If this were our 1st or 2nd child then the thought process would be completely different.

 

[WolfMamma]

I have opted out of any kind of downs screening as I couldn't care less whether baby has downs or not, it's not going anywhere. I have known enough lovely downs people in my life to know that they can live amazing lives so I wouldn't dream of making a decision based on that.

Sorry, I just feel quite strongly with regards to this so just had to chuck in my 2p..... I'll say no more.

I know some lovely people with down syndrome too, I'm not denying that.

It's our decision to make and I realise it could cause upset. That's 2 ladies off our Dec board made their opinion clear so I guess I'm not welcome there anymore

People argue for women's rights to have abortions when a pregnancy is unwanted but when it comes to something like this then they get made to feel like they shouldn't have a choice. If this were our 1st or 2nd child then the thought process would be completely different.

You are still more than welcome on the December boards of course and we understand that it is everyones own decision to make. I think it's just one that hits home with some people a little more than others.

As someone has already pointed out, talk of termination is not allowed on this forum as it is but there may be some ladies here who have children with downs who may find this particularly upsetting as they would see the loss of their own child in that statement.

Maybe asking about the test itself and not including the fact about a termination would have been a better move, I don't know.

I am very sorry if I have caused any upset, I am not one of those mums with a downs baby but I do see the potential loss of a couple of my friends in that statement and that's why it rubbed me up the wrong way.

Please do not see this as a reason to abandon the December boards. People disagree on things, that's just how life goes but it doesn't make you any less welcome.

 

[WinterWolf]

As a teacher who works with special needs kids, I completely understand how you feel and you shouldn't need to justify yourself. Many people on here struggle so much to get pregnant that they just want a baby and don't care if it has special needs. I can understand that you'd upset them but reality is that having a high needs baby isn't something that should be taken so lightly. Its HARD.

Anyway, to answer your question - There was someone on here earlier saying that her harmony test said she was having a boy but she had a girl, so I don't know if its as accurate as they claim. Your nuchal test will highlight if you have a high risk of having a downs baby though, and the harmony test would more than likely give an accurate yes/no result. You could get more invasive tests done if you're really worried, they're the only way to know for sure.

 

[p1ngu]

As a teacher who works with special needs kids, I completely understand how you feel and you shouldn't need to justify yourself. Many people on here struggle so much to get pregnant that they just want a baby and don't care if it has special needs. I can understand that you'd upset them but reality is that having a high needs baby isn't something that should be taken so lightly. Its HARD.

Anyway, to answer your question - There was someone on here earlier saying that her harmony test said she was having a boy but she had a girl, so I don't know if its as accurate as they claim. Your nuchal test will highlight if you have a high risk of having a downs baby though, and the harmony test would more than likely give an accurate yes/no result. You could get more invasive tests done if you're really worried, they're the only way to know for sure.

My worry would be that, if we did have a child with a disability, be it downs or something else, that we could not provide as good a life as possible as we are so busy with 5 children already. And then the added worry of who would care for them once we are no longer around etc.

It is breaking my heart even having to consider it tbh but we need to be realistic. It wasn't a planned pregnancy, it's been a huge shock.

I'm obviously hoping that the nuchal test is all fine but part of me will still worry that we are the 1 in whatever the odds may be.

 

[Shanivy]

I can't speak to the harmony personally. There a plenty of ladies on here who have had the test though. One lady in my group had issues with hers. If I were you, I'd probably remove the termination part of your post, one, as it's not allowed, and two, to give you more of a chance of getting informative replies on the actual harmony question.

I've worked with people with downs too. However I'm not going to judge your situation, but there are so many ladies here who can, and will, take offence. Especially those struggling with conceiving or multiple miscarriages or with children with learning difficulties/disabilities etc.

Hopefully someone can offer you some useful advice. At the end of the day it's up to you what risk percentage you could live with Xx

 

[Loula]

Downs is in my family my sister has it and for our 2nd baby we were high risk being 1 in 91 high risk with blood results from our 12 week screening we also felt like you did.

We booked in privately for the harmony or nipt. It cost us £400 with a scan and bloods. I was 14 weeks had it done on a Sunday and results were in on the Friday. No sending to America here. Totally accurate for us and we have a 5 week old baby girl.

 

[p1ngu]

I can't speak to the harmony personally. There a plenty of ladies on here who have had the test though. One lady in my group had issues with hers. If I were you, I'd probably remove the termination part of your post, one, as it's not allowed, and two, to give you more of a chance of getting informative replies on the actual harmony question.

I've worked with people with downs too. However I'm not going to judge your situation, but there are so many ladies here who can, and will, take offence. Especially those struggling with conceiving or multiple miscarriages or with children with learning difficulties/disabilities etc.

Hopefully someone can offer you some useful advice. At the end of the day it's up to you what risk percentage you could live with Xx

I have edited. I don't mean to offend anyone.

 

[p1ngu]

Downs is in my family my sister has it and for our 2nd baby we were high risk being 1 in 91 high risk with blood results from our 12 week screening we also felt like you did.

We booked in privately for the harmony or nipt. It cost us £400 with a scan and bloods. I was 14 weeks had it done on a Sunday and results were in on the Friday. No sending to America here. Totally accurate for us and we have a 5 week old baby girl.

Thank you. Because of where I live the bloods have to be sent off and they told me they get sent to America. I think she said a 2 weeks wait which will seem like a long time. Was the nuchal measurement bigger than the 'normal' range with your 2nd child?

 

[Loula]

Downs is in my family my sister has it and for our 2nd baby we were high risk being 1 in 91 high risk with blood results from our 12 week screening we also felt like you did.

We booked in privately for the harmony or nipt. It cost us £400 with a scan and bloods. I was 14 weeks had it done on a Sunday and results were in on the Friday. No sending to America here. Totally accurate for us and we have a 5 week old baby girl.

Thank you. Because of where I live the bloods have to be sent off and they told me they get sent to America. I think she said a 2 weeks wait which will seem like a long time. Was the nuchal measurement bigger than the 'normal' range with your 2nd child?

For us it wasn't the neck measurement that was a problem. It was 1.9mm I think my 1st daughter was big.
It was my bloods I had double hcg and low papp a which is an indicated of down x

 

[p1ngu]

Downs is in my family my sister has it and for our 2nd baby we were high risk being 1 in 91 high risk with blood results from our 12 week screening we also felt like you did.

We booked in privately for the harmony or nipt. It cost us £400 with a scan and bloods. I was 14 weeks had it done on a Sunday and results were in on the Friday. No sending to America here. Totally accurate for us and we have a 5 week old baby girl.

Thank you. Because of where I live the bloods have to be sent off and they told me they get sent to America. I think she said a 2 weeks wait which will seem like a long time. Was the nuchal measurement bigger than the 'normal' range with your 2nd child?

For us it wasn't the neck measurement that was a problem. It was 1.9mm I think my 1st daughter was big.
It was my bloods I had double hcg and low papp a which is an indicated of down x

Thanks. I appreciate your replies. I haven't got my NT scan until the 12th of June. Probably going to ask to have the NIPT done regardless, just for better peace of mind.

 

[Jamie.d]

It isn't an easy decision to make, I hope you're okay... I understand why they need to keep controversial topics like that away from here but also we as women should be seen to be fighting for our rights over our own bodies and supporting each other...it's a different time and we are all individuals leading different lives. I've lost so many babies but if someone I knew had a termination for whichever reason I'd be there with a hug not an opinion :/

Don't forget it isn't only the downs syndrome that is tested for...

If you need to talk feel free to message me x

 

[MoominGirl]

Just some thoughts as my husband and I discussed this at length for various reasons. For me it was more about making sure he understood that these are screening tests and are not diagnostic. High risk doesn't mean you definitely have it and low risk doesn't mean that you definitely don't. In order to actually know for sure, you would need a diagnostic test ie amnio and for me that was never an option.

We had a difficult time TTC so for me there was absolutely no way I would have risked miscarrying a healthy baby no matter how small the risk. For this reason, I would have happily not screened at all. In the end we agreed that we would have NHS screening and if it came back high risk then we would consider paying for a Harmony test as it is statistically more accurate and my husband wanted to have more time to prepare had we been faced with that possibility. He was clear that I would never have agreed to a definitive diagnosis.

You need to do what's right for you. Everyone has their own reasons for their decision an there's no right or wrong answer.