OSCAR test – 12 weeks

We did our OSCAR yesterday. 

An OSCAR scan is a combined nuchal translucency scan (ultrasound scan) and blood test to test the risk of Down’s syndrome on the fetus.  The ultrasound measures the distance behind the fetus’ neck (the bigger the gap, the worse it is), length of the fetus, size of the head and abdomen, and the presence of the nasal bone (big nose is a good thing).  It’s a non-invasive test around 90% accurate when done during the right timeframe (somewhere around 11 to 13 weeks). 

We were referred to a specialist at an popular hospital here for the special scan.  The place was interesting, to say the least.  It felt like an airport lounge full of pregnant women!  Seriously, it was huge with corridors after corridors of waiting area. 

Anyhow, the doctor was really nice with an english accent.  With his super ultrasound machine, he took the measurements (so much clearer than Dr. N’s) and even complimented on our little gummy.  Our little gummy was laying on its back chilling in the perfect position.  It was probably taking a lunch time nap and it’s already taking after our love for sleeping. 

The dr measured the back of the neck (1.9mm which is borderline on the high side, they like to see the measurement well under 2.0mm) and he found the nasal bone, which funny enough was also around 1.9mm as well.  I think if anything, the little one is going to have a big nose.  He also measured the length from the crown to rump, 5.3cm, confirming that we are actually 12 weeks along (2 days earlier than we thought, 4 days earlier than what Dr. N indicated).  He then checked the size of the head, abdomen, and the liver.  Everything seemed ok but it was nice to see gummy although it would have been nicer if it was moving.  But it was ok and the heart was beating away at 169bpm.

After the scan, Dr. C put everything into a form and out came the results.  Based on my age, risk group, etc., the measurements showed my risk to be at 1 in 514.  For my age, the risk is around 1 in 350 or so.  He showed some charts comparing our measurements versus the average and the upper and lower bands, and for the most part we tracked the measurements other than the thicker nuchal folds (neck) – on the high side, and the lower abdomen size. 

The funny thing is that I joked that I was a year younger at the time of the IVF as the transfer happened after my birthday (we waited 2 months) so maybe my risk group is different.  As we were drawing my blood, the dr actually came by and shared that after discussion with Dr. N, indeed I should be placed at my younger age since it should be at the time of conception!  Talk about thorough!

And the final results: 1 in 1372 so I’m currently in the low risk group.  We’re repeating the test with another dr in 3 weeks time with a different philosophy and hopefully, will get the same results. 

Pics from the scan to come.