That my booking in appointment and scan

[katiepotatie]

is not till I am 19 weeks pregnant! I am not wanting to tell people till I know everything is ok, but I am starting to show!

[katiepotatie]

That OP should start with, be a little pissed off

[cupsoftea]

no checks until then? nothing?

[Simplysally]

Is that your dating scan? I had a dating scan at about 10.5 weeks (as I had no idea when my last period had been) and another scan at 20wks to count the number of limbs/chambers in the heart etc. You should get at least 2 scans during a pg.

[Flossish]

scan is quite normal to be then where I live but a booking in appointment should be earlier definitely.

[tinto]

I had had three scans by 19 weeks with both my pregnancies.

1. Dating (6-7 weeks)
2. Neuchal fold (12 week)
3. 19 week

Standard here in Oz. Different in the UK?

[katiepotatie]

I went to Doctors to inform him I was pregnant at around 6 weeks, hadn't noticed I had missed a period he took my blood pressure and then refered me to MW. Have just had info back, my first appointment is 11th Nov, I will be 19+ weeks. No other checks. I saw MW much earlier in my first pregnancy

[FCH]

This sounds wrong to me - I thought you should get a booking in appointment before 12 weeks with a dating scan at 12-14 weeks. Have you phoned and asked to have it brought forward?

[mumoverseas]

I think you should have an ealier scan, at about 12 weeks. what if you wanted to have the nuchal translucancy test? That has to be done at a scan at around 12 weeks. I'd chase up if I was you. Good luck

[cupsoftea]

they do blood tests for risk of downs & if you need (although your choice) a cvs it's done 9-13 weeks & an amnio can be done from 14+ weeks. Sounds wrong - call back to check.

[ClaireDeLoon]

So how many weeks are you now and how many where you when you went to see the doctor? It does seem very wrong to be so late.

[Notyummy]

The earlier the dating scan is, the more accurate. I moved and my paperwork was lost and the hospital where I gave birth relied on info from my later scan which gave an earlier due date....I was then railroaded into an induction because I was 'late' despite my earlier scan, and the fact I knew exactly when dd was concieved because dh and I had hardly seen each other for the preceding month!

I would really urge you to get an earlier date. I believe the policy in most areas is for a dating scan by 12 - 14 weeks, although I am sure someone else could advise.

[quicky]

I only had one scan with DS1 - this was at 12 weeks (or actually 14 weeks as I got my dates wrong) and no more scans after that - standard where I live.

[TwoPumpkins]

Tell them you want a nuchal fold scan at 12 weeks, if they say no telephone your local hospital and hastle them.

Appaling and not common at all these days!

[poppy34]

also does this affect your choice of hospital etc - had this problem which was bad enough in itself but also meant I ended up with my 4th choice hospital which was miles away

[DraculaNeedsArteries]

It is not policy everywhere to have a scan before 20wks.

BUT I thought there should be a booking appointment with MW before that. This is where they take a history etc. At this appointment they will also need to refer you to particular clinics/consultants as appropriate. This is quite important. For me personally I needed to be seen in teh prematurity prevention clinic from 18wks (actually I think my first appointment was at 12wks with my 12wk scan)...and a booking appointment at 19wks is too late for this IYSWIM. Other more serious things would need a consultant apointment soner I woud expect like pre-eclampsia and stuff.

Is your MW appointment at hospital? Or at GP surgery?

It is normal not to see a MW at the hospital until 20wks - if at all. It is not normal to not see a community MW until this late.

[DraculaNeedsArteries]

Oh and WRT the nuchal fold...again not compulsary everywhere...no point ringing and demanding one if it is not available onteh NHS in your area.

[katiepotatie]

I am 12 weeks today ,and was 6 weeks when I saw the doctor. I have actually just booked a private scan for next week (costing £95 though! worth it for my sanity) I think i will call the MV though and see if I can get it moved.

[mumof2222222222222222boys]

I believe that all HA's have to offer a nuchal fold scan now. I missed out with DS2 but I was told the law is changing and now I know that even Portsmouth offer it. Made me cross as I am older than average. Even the one scan that Portsmouth did give me was at 17 weeks.

[DraculaNeedsArteries]

Katie at my surgery the GP tells you that you have to book an appointment with local MW. Is this what could be missing (i.e. GP forgot to tell you to do this).

I have always booked my own booking appointments...not just waited for a letter to come.

[Elffriend]

Have the rules changed then on nuchal scans? It cetainly was not on offer where I am - in fact useless GP was very dismissive of the fact that I wanted one. I ended up having a dating scan and nuchal done privately (which the NHS were then VERY snotty about as their dates did not match the ones done privately).

Does seem very late to have a first scan at 19 weeks. Surely that's even too late to have an amnio (if you chose to have one). I thought the NHS "norm" was a first scan at 12-14 weeks and then the anomaly scan at 20 weeks. That said it seems to vary so much by area so who knows.

[Gettingbiggernow]

I wasn't offered a nuchal fold scan but was offered 2 scans at 12 and 20 wks.

I have heard that the 12 week one is used to date as apparently before 12-14 weeks, the foetuses are all a pretty much a standard size therefore can be dated accurately.

After this time, foetuses develop at different rates depending on genetics/environmental factors, so dating is not as accurate by 20 weeks.

[StripeyKnickersSpottySocks]

You should definetly have bloods done before 19 weeks.

Not everywhere does offer nuchal transulcency yet - our hospital doesn't but is working towards it. They need an extra scan machine and the sonographers need more training. This takes time I guess.

[Gettingbiggernow]

Good point re amnio Elffriend - also I thought the blood triple test should be taken at around 16 weeks too (if you choose to have it)?

[DraculaNeedsArteries]

Actually date of last menstrual period should be what is used as the primary dating method unless this is unknown or there is a big discrepancy bewteen LMP dates and 12wk scan.

12wk scan is not medically necessary for most women. It is therefore not offered everywhere, neither is Nuchal fold - yet.