Hi JenJen, Thanks so much for getting back to me on this. I did go and read the thread you suggested which was really helpful in trying to get some perspective on all this. To be honest I think I've come to the conclusion that I'm just going to do the NHS bloods and leave the NT scan altogether. It's all based on probablity anyway, as you say. If we're high risk we'll probably have the amnio and if we're low risk, we'll just wait and see ... Good luck on the 16th if you decide to go through with the amnio.

I'm in the same boat age wise, I am 37 but I'm expecting baby number 5 (huge shock!) plus i have chronic health problems which often result in me being hospitalized so am terrified of how we as a family would cope if we had a baby with high level special needs.

I have found the thread on the High Risk PG forum entitled '1;64 chance of downs - detailed scan versus amnio' (or somethig very similar to this) useful reading, along with the threads on the Older Mums Forum.

I personally am coming to the conclusion that the triple test & the nuchal scan are simply not reliable indicators of risk as I know, or know off, around 3 people who were classed as low risk but their baby had Downs Syndrome.

Apparently only 50% of babies that have Downs Syndrome are actually detected by the Nuchal Scan as 50% of babies with Downs do not show any soft markers that can be picked up by the scan.

I did have a Nuchal Scan booked (it was a last minute booking just within the appropriate timescale) but I missed the appointment as I coudn't find the clinic!!

I am now booked in for an amnio on the 16th October but a not sure if i will go through with it or not.

I hope you find the threads useful and I wish you luck with your decision.

My second pregnancy but first time on the site and I'm desperate for some advice. At 37 I suppose I must be considered higher risk for Downs and although my midwife has told me that there's no difference in accuracy between blood tests offered by NHS and private NT scan combined with bloods, a friend had both tests and had completely different results (one high, one low risk). So I'm wondering, has anyone any experience of this? Is it safer to pay and go for a private test if I want a really accurate result? (I realise that this doesn't diagnose Downs, just a prediction, but I don't want to have amnio unless I absolutely need it.) Any help/advice very gratefully rec'd!!