I agree, the nuchal is a visual test done via a scan to measure the fold of skin at the back of the neck.

The next test is the tripple blood test, this looks for hormone levels released by the baby into your blood and may indicate a need for further testing - alone it can not tell you the baby has downs!

Next you could have an anomally scan, this is a very in depth ultrasound scan and is non invasive again, the sonographer will measure pretty much everything, they will look at eye and ear placement, length of nasal bone, thickness of ankles, and look at all the organs.

Finally you may be offered an amniocentisis, this is where a needle is passed through the abdomen and takes out a small amount of amniotic fluid for chromosomal testing.

(you could also be offered a CVS dependant on how early on in pregnancy you are)

The nuchal is a scan...exactly the same as your dating scan (infact my dating scan was also my nuchal scan). What they do is measure (on the picture of the baby on the TV screen) the thickness of your babys neck....if its very thick it is possible your baby may have downs syndrome...there are no needles & there is no touching the baby...it's 100% safe! Your friends may be thinking of amniocintesis...

I have a nuchal scan next week and have been told by friends that i shouldnt have the downs test. I thought the first downs test was just a scan, but they told me the sonographer will stick a big needle in to me to get to the babies neck and that this can cause miscarriage. I didn't think the needle part was done unless you were high risk and wanted it done. I would be extemely grateful for some information on what will happen at this scan and some re-assurance that there will be no needles. Thanks