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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

Couldn't get a good view of the heart?

40 replies

fizzyblush · 21/10/2020 11:07

Hi ladies,

Im Currently 16 weeks pregnant and because of my past history I had an early anomaly scan yesterday ( history includes heart defects in my stillborn son) .. all was great apart from baby was not in a good position and she told me the only organ she couldn’t fully assess was the heart( The one I was praying for some reassurance on )😩 she told me to come back on Monday and she will look At the heart again. Should I be worried? She said 16 weeks is very tiny still and she needs a good position of baby to see the heart images she needs... worrying there is something wrong now !* Has this happened to anybody else ? where the heart couldn't be seen properly and you had to go back.*

OP posts:

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Whatagreytdoggo · 21/10/2020 11:11

So sorry for your loss. I had my 20 week at 19 weeks, (2 weeks ago) our baby was lying in such a way the heart was hard to see for the sonographer, (was right under my belly button!) Thought I was going to have to come back too, but baby turn around just in time and was able to get checked. All was fine, baby was just not being very cooperative! 😊 Hope you get the good news you want next time!

Harmarsuperstar · 21/10/2020 11:15

This happened to me. I had tobtry walking around and drinking cold water etc, but he wouldn't move! I went back a couple of weeks later and everything was fine. Hope this is reassuring

LyingDogsLie1 · 21/10/2020 11:17

Yes this happened to me. Baby was too wiggly and couldn’t get a good view despite going to the toilet and having a walk around. It wasn’t that they’d seen anything concerning but that they hadn’t seen what they needed to.

I went back a week later, baby was in a better position and all was fine.

Dyra · 21/10/2020 11:37

Me too. Baby was very stubborn and refused to move to get pictures of her heart. Came back a few days later and she was up to her antics again. So I went away and did everything I could to get her to move. I: walked across the entire hospital, climbed up and down every flight of stairs I came across, had a fizzy caffeinated beverage and ate a very unhealthy hearty breakfast.

Dyra · 21/10/2020 11:39

Oops. Posted too soon. Something worked and she was in the right position and we finally got the images needed.

fizzyblush · 21/10/2020 11:40

Thanks so much ladies . IM
Hoping this is the case for me too.. I'll be sure to have a fizzy drink before the scan on Monday ! X

OP posts:

Milkshake7489 · 21/10/2020 11:42

My baby somehow hid his kidneys at 20 weeks so I had to go back.

It must be extra worrying for you given your history but it's not unusual to have to return.

Good luck with your pregnancy

fizzyblush · 21/10/2020 18:06

Thanks so much for your responses . We're these all 20 week scans? X

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LyingDogsLie1 · 21/10/2020 18:29

Mine was 20wks

mobear · 21/10/2020 18:45

I had to go back twice. The second time with the same sonographer and the third time with a cardiologist - all because they couldn’t get a good view. In the end, they never did but they said everything they could see looked fine so unless there were any concerns on future scans they wouldn’t revisit it.

bez91 · 21/10/2020 18:48

Hey @fizzyblush it's good to hear they've asked you back to double check. You should take confidence from that that they want to be certain of ruling anything out.
On my 20 week scan the sonographer could see 2 of the 4 chambers of the heart because of DDs position, I was told to go for a walk to try and get her to move, she didn't and they said not to worry about it. She was born with a heart defect which was discovered within hours of birth. Luckily she's never had any symptoms but had to have a hole in her heart closed recently (she's almost 3)

It didn't make a difference too much but would have been perhaps nice to know before she arrived.

Wishing you well for Monday and the rest of your pregnancy x

SissySpacekAteMyHamster · 21/10/2020 18:49

This happened to me too. Went back the following week and all was well.

Panicmode1 · 21/10/2020 18:58

I am so sorry for your loss and I imagine you must be super anxious. Try not to worry - it also happened to me too at one of my scans (have had 4 children so can't remember which one at which stage, sorry!). I have a heart defect so I was closely monitored through all my pregnancies, but when I returned for a second look, all was normal. Will keep fingers and toes crossed for you too.

Premiuml · 21/10/2020 19:20

So sorry for your precious loss OP.
I had a sort of similar experience at my 12 weeks scan. Not to do with the heart but with my daughter’s head. The sonographer couldn’t see her head properly as it was so small. I was terrified. Can you imagine a baby with no head?! I was so scared and imagined every worst possible thing. I went back the following day and measurements were okay. She’s always been small and actually I was under the fetal medicine unit throughout as she was always measuring small. She’s a feisty 2 and a half years old now. Please try not to worry

EssieMay · 21/10/2020 23:07

This happened to me but it was her back they couldnt see to rule out spina bifida. I tried everything and she wouldnt budge so had a re scan booked for two weeks later (22wks) The second scan was also inconclusive as baby was fast asleep on her back and once again nothing would make her turn. I was referred to the consultant and they phoned and booked my in 6 days later for a 3rd attempt which i had today. I ate a big breakfast followed by chocolate and cola and she was defdo awake this time. Turned up to find out i was being scanned by the consultant in her clinic and everyone else there had babies with anomalys (cue panic stations) the doctor was straight to the point and went straight in on the spine and back and after what seemed like a decade announced she was happy that all was well amd we could go. Never been so on edge in all my life but all worked out well in the end. Fingers crossed you get your views next time round OP x

fizzyblush · 22/10/2020 14:41

Thanks so much for replying . It was also the face they couldn't properly see . So hopefully was a case of the baby not looking upright . X

OP posts:

LavaCake · 22/10/2020 14:56

I had exactly this OP. The baby just wasn’t for wriggling into the right position! It was actually at my 20 week appointment - she looked for ages but just couldn’t get the shot she needed. She said the same to me - the baby is still so small at that age, it’s not always clear.

I went back a week or so later and she got totally clear pictures and everything was fine. Sometimes that extra time to grow is all that’s needed for a clear picture.

It is so hard not to worry but please be assured that everything is most likely fine, and it’s just a case of getting a better picture in a week or two

Welliedays · 22/10/2020 17:00

@fizzyblush not quite the same but I have to go back for my 12 week scan as baby wouldn't get in the right position to do the measurements to date me...so I would try not to worry if I was you it (I know easier said than done) but it does sound like the baby was genuinely not in the right postion and that's not a reflection on how the heart is. They would have told you if they had any concerns. I think babies in thr wrong position is totally normally, especially be for 20 weeks when they are so little. Good luck at your next scan, let's hope its playing ball then!

fizzyblush · 22/10/2020 18:06

You have all helped make me feel so much more calmer ... I will let you all know on Monday how it goes . Thanks for telling me all your experiences ladies x x

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TakeMeToYourLiar · 22/10/2020 18:13

It's very likely to be position.

With DS at 20 week scan they couldn't see kidneys or spine. 2 weeks later all fine

DD 28 week growth scan can't see heart. That was only Monday but I'm not worried as Doppler picks it up, and it was there at 20 weeks

ToxicTracey · 22/10/2020 20:29

Happened to me, baby had its back to the sonographer and would not move no matter how much walking/jumping I did. Went back 3 weeks later and had an ice cold fizzy lucozade on the way in. Baby was wriggling all over and everything was fine.

fizzyblush · 23/10/2020 13:30

Thanks ladies. X

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RosieGirl27 · 23/10/2020 13:44

Happened to me twice I think he would not move even after a fizzy drink and a walk 😂 he’s 7 months old and fast asleep with a perfect heart x

Whatthedoodle · 23/10/2020 14:36

I’m so sorry for your loss. I can’t imagine how stressful it must be for you to not get the reassurance you desperately want from the scan. When I had my 20 week scan my baby was in an awkward position so they couldn’t get what they needed from the heart. I had to go back 2 weeks later when he was a bit bigger so they could have another look. I was a bit worried but having spoke to other people it’s quite common, and that’s at 20 weeks so I imagine at 16 weeks everything is much smaller and tricked to look at on a scan.

I hope it all goes well for you!

BrigitsBigKnickers · 23/10/2020 14:38

Yup happened to me too at the 20 weeks scan. Was told to go and walk about a bit for 10 mins. Got a better view after that and all was fine.

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