Lesson of the Week: Nuchal Translucency Scan
Between 11 and
14 weeks pregnant, you may have a nuchal translucency scan, or NT scan. The NT scan is a special type of ultrasound that can help predict the chances of
Down syndrome or other genetic disorders in your baby.
The NT scan is performed by a specialist (usually a perinatologist). It measures the thickness of the skin at the back of the fetus's neck. A baby with Down syndrome or other genetic disorders will have thicker skin folds. The skin fold measurement is also plugged into a computer, along with your age, to assess the risk that your baby will have certain genetic disorders.
A positive test does not mean that your child has Down syndrome -- just that the risk for Down syndrome is higher. If the risk for Down syndrome is high, your healthcare provider will usually recommend further testing, such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling.
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