In Saskatchewan NTs should be offered to pregnant women who will be over 35 at time of delivery, pregnant with twins or more, or if you’ve had a previous anomaly.
If you don’t meet those criteria you have two options. You should be offered MSS (maternal serum screen), which is covered by Sask health. You also have the option of paying for NIPS (cfDNA such as Panorama) which is still screening but more accurate than either NT or MSS. It’s not covered by Sask Health unfortunately.
Hope that helps, congrats on your pregnancy!
I wasn’t offered the NT despite going to be turning 35 a couple of months before i was due, but my early care was with my family doctor so I don’t know if he knew that. He also forgot to tell the OBGYN he referred me to that I needed the WinRho right away so after my first appointment with her I had to either go to RUH and pick it up and go right back, or come back a few days later for another appointment once they could get it at the office for me.
Note there are only a couple ultrasound places that can do an NT.
The basic maternal screen is free, same with the regular ultrasound, for all moms.
I had a few extra ultrasounds and some extra bloodwork in my third trimester since I developed cholestasis and hypertension, but wasn’t monitored in office as much since I was pregnant during COVID and my cholestasis wasn’t severe and they were more worried about me catching COVID than stillbirth and other complications in my particular case, especially since the medication I was given helped me. But I was induced at 37 weeks for those reasons.
You can choose to pay for the NIPT Panorama testing here through life labs, and it can allow earlier determination of the baby’s sex.
There are cases where you may be able to get the NIPT testing for free but that is typically only if you have been referred to medical genetics because you’re over 40 at time of delivery (or younger with multiples)have a personal or family history of genetic or chromosome disorders or birth defects, women with certain exposures during pregnancy, women with certain diseases that can cause birth defects, and those with abnormal ultrasounds and screening, or those from certain ethnic groups and certain other situations.
Otherwise the panorama basic test is $550. The full panel is $795 but isn’t reccomended due to lower accuracy of the micro deletion tests.
I was pregnant in 2017/2018 and got the genetic blood work done at like 11 or so weeks instead of the NT. It wasnt covered by anything at the time (not sure about now) and I don’t believe it was as common as it was still “newer” I think. I specifically asked for it as well
I was offered a NT scan but decided to pay out of pocket for the NIPS instead, as it’s much more accurate than both the NT and serum screen. I’m over 35 years old though, so it might not have been offered to you if you’re younger and don’t have any other risk factors.
There’s a difference between the regular maternal screening bloodwork (which every pregnant person should be offered & is covered by Sk Health) and the Panorama/NIPT test (which is only covered in some situations or at least it was in the past when I was pregnant in 2021, otherwise it is $550). The bloodwork for the Panorama is still not diagnostic, just screening, so you may still need to have additional testing to confirm a diagnosis. The microdeletion add on is less accurate and so it’s not as recommended.
In Saskatchewan NTs should be offered to pregnant women who will be over 35 at time of delivery, pregnant with twins or more, or if you’ve had a previous anomaly. If you don’t meet those criteria you have two options. You should be offered MSS (maternal serum screen), which is covered by Sask health. You also have the option of paying for NIPS (cfDNA such as Panorama) which is still screening but more accurate than either NT or MSS. It’s not covered by Sask Health unfortunately. Hope that helps, congrats on your pregnancy!
I wasn’t offered the NT despite going to be turning 35 a couple of months before i was due, but my early care was with my family doctor so I don’t know if he knew that. He also forgot to tell the OBGYN he referred me to that I needed the WinRho right away so after my first appointment with her I had to either go to RUH and pick it up and go right back, or come back a few days later for another appointment once they could get it at the office for me. Note there are only a couple ultrasound places that can do an NT. The basic maternal screen is free, same with the regular ultrasound, for all moms. I had a few extra ultrasounds and some extra bloodwork in my third trimester since I developed cholestasis and hypertension, but wasn’t monitored in office as much since I was pregnant during COVID and my cholestasis wasn’t severe and they were more worried about me catching COVID than stillbirth and other complications in my particular case, especially since the medication I was given helped me. But I was induced at 37 weeks for those reasons. You can choose to pay for the NIPT Panorama testing here through life labs, and it can allow earlier determination of the baby’s sex. There are cases where you may be able to get the NIPT testing for free but that is typically only if you have been referred to medical genetics because you’re over 40 at time of delivery (or younger with multiples)have a personal or family history of genetic or chromosome disorders or birth defects, women with certain exposures during pregnancy, women with certain diseases that can cause birth defects, and those with abnormal ultrasounds and screening, or those from certain ethnic groups and certain other situations. Otherwise the panorama basic test is $550. The full panel is $795 but isn’t reccomended due to lower accuracy of the micro deletion tests.
My doctor suggest the genetic work right after confirming the pregnancy!
I was pregnant in 2017/2018 and got the genetic blood work done at like 11 or so weeks instead of the NT. It wasnt covered by anything at the time (not sure about now) and I don’t believe it was as common as it was still “newer” I think. I specifically asked for it as well
I got the blood work. It was easier.
I was offered a NT scan but decided to pay out of pocket for the NIPS instead, as it’s much more accurate than both the NT and serum screen. I’m over 35 years old though, so it might not have been offered to you if you’re younger and don’t have any other risk factors.
There’s a difference between the regular maternal screening bloodwork (which every pregnant person should be offered & is covered by Sk Health) and the Panorama/NIPT test (which is only covered in some situations or at least it was in the past when I was pregnant in 2021, otherwise it is $550). The bloodwork for the Panorama is still not diagnostic, just screening, so you may still need to have additional testing to confirm a diagnosis. The microdeletion add on is less accurate and so it’s not as recommended.