Getting pregnant could be one of the most exciting and exhilarating times for a couple. It may also be a rollercoaster of emotions and for first time parents especially knowing what to expect as a pregnancy progresses could be both stressful and concerning.

One of the tests offered in early pregnancy is a test for Down ’s syndrome and whether or not a baby is likely to have this condition. Please remove. They would need an invasive procedure if the NIPT came back high probability also. There is now another alternative available to pregnant women known as a Non-Invasive Prenatal Test. This test gives a result based on a blood sample alone and it has a high detection rate so is also considered more accurate than The Nuchal Translucency scan. Whether or not the test is right for your family is a decision only you can make.

Knowing how you are going to feel when pregnant could be very different to what you thought beforehand so your opinion could easily change. It might be that you need to know every detail of how you baby is health wise therefore opting for a private NIPT could be just what is needed.

Having a NIPT privately could be much more convenient than waiting for your NHS appointment at 12-14 weeks. This can be performed as early as 9 weeks. At The Portland Hospital Outpatients we offer testing throughout the week and even on Saturdays and Sundays. We understand how difficult it can be deciding how to proceed so our experienced team would be happy to guide you through the process of the initial ultrasound scan. The sonographer can then discuss the different NIPT options for you.