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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Pregnancy

20 Week Scan Tomorrow!

26 replies

ExcitedA3 · 02/06/2015 18:06

Hi guys,
I have my 20 week scan tomorrow... A little bit nervous! Just wondering what to expect

OP posts:

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ChucksAhoy · 02/06/2015 18:19

Congrats! My 20 week scan was very efficient - the sonographer put some jelly on my belly, said she'd be checking the heart, spine, mouth for a cleft palate and some other things I can't remember and then whizzed the scanner over me in no more than 10 mins, checking things off our loud as she went. She then asked if we wanted to find out the sex and scanned for that - from the feet upwards.

It was very quick and she didn't stop at any point so we could enjoy watching movements at all - but it is an abnormalities scan after all. She put a printout with my notes and that was that! It was all very quick.

MrsGentlyBenevolent · 02/06/2015 18:26

Mine took a while (over 30 mins), but only because the nice doctor who was scanning was in training. Bad confession, it took so long I couldn't wait to get off the bed . I had to go in with a full bladder, but baby wasn't playing ball (he was actually more interested in playing with his feet), so more time was taken having to go for a wee, then trying again. NHS scans do seem very 'this, this, this, goodbye', but I still felt assured that they knew what they were doing, and was just glad he seemed to be developing well. Oh and findings it baby was a he was an extra nice touch, got to say 'I told you so' all the way home .

NowWhatSoWhat · 02/06/2015 18:27

Just to say, mine was the same. Business-like and brisk. I couldn't see anything clearly, the sonographer was very cold and the photo was rubbish tbh.
But. .... everything was ok and that's what they're checking for.
I think I was also in too high a state of stress, which won't have helped.
I only mention all this as looking back, my expectations were so stupidly high. Some of my friends had described it as so magical. It wasn't for me and I felt like a bad mother.
Totally over it now.
It's normal to feel nervous. I'm sure you've been counting the days.

Stinkersmum · 02/06/2015 18:30

Come join the October ante natal club bus :)

TakesTwoToTango · 02/06/2015 18:53

Good luck op! I have an early anomy scan tomorrow too (at 16+3) am excited and nervous too. At least it's early (8am) so no time to stew too much beforehand.

weelamb123 · 02/06/2015 19:02

Its very exciting and nerve wracking at the same time. They check everything in detail and talk u thru everything. They tell u at the start that if they find any abnormalities then they have to tell u. All going well its a lovely experience. Xx

misssmilla1 · 02/06/2015 19:08

Lots of time spent scanning the heart, brain, femur size (to make sure growth is on track) etc so don't worry if they focus on certain areas or have to double check any bits. With mine, the sonographer couldn't get a good view of all the heart chambers so had to get the consultant to come in and do it.

Didn't need a full bladder for mine; one thing to watch out for is whether they have you lie down flat. Mine did, and I had a funny turn due to the uterus pressing on one of the major blood vessels; they can easily elevate you a bit if this happens. Mine was definitely more medical focused than a usual scan, if you're lucky and they're nice you might get pics

ExcitedA3 · 02/06/2015 19:09

Thank you for all your lovely posts! My last scan at 12 weeks was done by a trainee and so we got much longer to look at the baby which was nice! Fingers crossed baby will play ball as we are really looking forward to finding out the sex!

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AbbeyRoadCrossing · 02/06/2015 19:10

It's pretty much like the 12 week scan but they have more to check so it might be longer before they show you the screen. If they find something they sometimes go and get a second opinion - this happened to me (low placenta) and I was in a bit of a panic as to what it was they'd seen. So if that happens try not to panic, most anomalies aren't necessarily bad. Hope it goes well

sarkymare · 02/06/2015 19:27

I had mine this morning. It took maybe 20 minutes at the most. The tech talked me through exactly what she was doing and pointed things out on screen. She was so confident and reassuring, she had me completely at ease within minutes.

I saw the four chambers of the heart and even the blood flow through the chord. With my first pregnancy the tech rushed the scan so I didn't really get to see all that. It was pretty damn amazing to see.

Best wishes for tomorrow just a heads up, they have to press pretty hard with the Doppler and it can be a little uncomfortable. It isn't painful though.

gingerbreadmam · 02/06/2015 19:29

mine tomo too and like u i am nervous and dont know what to expect. my 12 week scan was fairly long as they couldnt get the baby in right position for nuchal fold so will probs be about the same.

do you have to ask them if you want to know the sex or will they ask if you want to know?

Stinkersmum · 02/06/2015 19:38

Good luck ginger.

gingerbreadmam · 02/06/2015 19:45

thanks stinkers. will update on the october bus when i get chance

ExcitedA3 · 02/06/2015 20:49

How do I get on the October bus?

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Stinkersmum · 02/06/2015 21:03

Link here - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/2382561-October-baby-bus-take-4-20wk-scans-and-big-pram-buying-plans?

sarkymare · 02/06/2015 21:06

ginger I asked to know the sex but I'm sure if I didn't she would have asked me if I did.

gingerbreadmam · 02/06/2015 21:10

thanks sarky someone at work today said you have to ask i didnt want to go bounding in asking if its not really the done thing.

do you need to drink much for this one?

sarkymare · 02/06/2015 22:38

No. Well I didn't anyway and all was fine. I think baby and uterus are too far up now for the bladder to distort a good view.

Wishing everyone with scans coming up the very best of luck

I know I keep saying this but I will be back on the bus soon! It just moves so fast I struggle to keep up.

JassyRadlett · 02/06/2015 22:46

Mine was today! My 7th for this pregnancy, madness.

We got the nice sonographer, took about 20-25 minutes. She was v thorough - femurs, feet, stomach, kidneys, heart chambers and related vessels, cord, lips and nose, trachea, different parts of the brain. Foetus didn't play ball for all of it, but we got there.

TakesTwoToTango · 03/06/2015 19:28

How did it go op?

ExcitedA3 · 03/06/2015 20:53

Hi all, scan went really well. Took about 30 mins, the lady was lovely, took her time and explained everything. Also let us know we are expecting a health baby boy :) sooo happy x

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JassyRadlett · 03/06/2015 22:14

Great news!

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MissMartin1992 · 03/06/2015 22:51

congratulations x

TakesTwoToTango · 04/06/2015 01:32

Fabulous!

ExcitedA3 · 05/06/2015 17:57

Thank you very much, strange to think that fingers crossed the next time we will see him will be in my arms! No more scans! How to get through the next 20 weeks?!

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