At 12 weeks, our foremost concern is your baby’s health and welfare. Before measuring the nuchal translucency, we meticulously assess their overall condition.

We carefully examine the area at the back of your baby’s neck, where we expect to find some fluid. However, excessive fluid levels could signal a heightened risk of Down syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities. It’s crucial to note that this fluid accumulation is transient and typically resolves later in pregnancy for both normal and Down syndrome fetuses. Hence, we recommend measuring this fluid between 12 and 13½ weeks of pregnancy for optimal accuracy.

While a high-risk result doesn’t always indicate Down syndrome, it can guide you in deciding whether further investigation with a diagnostic test is necessary.