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Scan photo - confusion

248 replies

ConnieCaterpillar · 22/04/2021 12:31

Hi Everyone

I hope this is in the right place and that my rambling makes sense.

We went for our first scan on Monday (first pregnancy) and all went well. Quick scan, lady said the heartbeat is all ok and viable pregnancy. Felt a little bit rushed and I couldn't really see much due to mask and glasses flogging plus lots of grey but maybe I was expecting a little too much, tummy wiped and out of the door. I asked about a photo and was told they will be emailed across and theres a charity box for donations. Perfect, received the scan picture today and can see where baby is, but I expected to see a little bit more I guess. I have googled 12 week scans and you can clearly see that baby is well a baby. My LO just looks like a dot. I have seen a few family members scans and ones from friends and they look like babies.... am I being silly or is this normal? Willing to be told I need to give my head a wobble, I just expected a little bit more development I guess. My last period was 23rd Jan and due date given is Oct 29th. Will try and upload a photo now if I can hide the identifying information as we havent shared our news yet either. Thank you all :)

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elsaesmeralda · 22/04/2021 13:33

I think they've sent you the wrong scan !

idontlikealdi · 22/04/2021 13:27

Your name and dates should be on the top somewhere, along with the name of the hospital.

I had a 7 week reassurance scan ten years ago and it was better than that.

FatAnneTheDealer · 22/04/2021 13:27

Are you absolutely certain that that is your scan? Since they didn’t print it out for you at the time, it seems possible to me that it could be someone else’s! My DIL went for her 12 week scan and the photo is definitely her baby (they printed it out for her while she was with the sonographer) but they had forgotten to change the name on the machine. So her baby’s scan is labelled with the name and DOB of another woman! If the same thing happened in your case - someone was scanned with a very early pregnancy and your 12 week one after the other - and then there were two different scans with the same name, maybe they emailed you the wrong one? Just a thought. These kind of mix ups can happen.

ineedaholidaynow · 22/04/2021 13:24

Could you see the scan whilst it was being done? DS is 16 now so things may have changed but they did a nuchal scan and talked about that and pointed out heart beat. And talked about number of weeks i was

ineedaholidaynow · 22/04/2021 13:21

They’ve sent you the right scan? Are you details correct at the top?

MojoJojo71 · 22/04/2021 13:21

Sonographer here, I’m afraid I can’t make anything out on that photo at all. Perhaps they’ve emailed you the incorrect file? It’s a real shame you didn’t seem to be told much at the time or provided with a clear report either, that’s not really acceptable practice. I’d give the antenatal clinic a call for clarification if I were you.

Congratulations on seeing a lovely heartbeat though 💕

PegPeople · 22/04/2021 13:20

I also second a PP of looking at what they have recorded in your notes. That should also give you more information.

Horehound · 22/04/2021 13:18

Just call the unit give them your details and ask them what they had as your current gestational week.

OneRankSuperior · 22/04/2021 13:18

Agree with others this all sounds rather odd for a 12 week scan, both in terms of the process and the pictures. Hope you get some clarification OP!

boredinthouse · 22/04/2021 13:17

I had a scan where the yolk was labelled. I was five weeks pregnant. Went back at 12 weeks and the baby was definitely clearer. That looks like a scan much earlier than 12 weeks. Can you ring them to check?

romdowa · 22/04/2021 13:16

My 8 week viability scan was far clearer , we could actually see the baby and the yolk sac. The sonographer told me how far along I was, pointed everything out and even told us that the baby was actually upside down . I'll be 11 weeks at my scan next week and I'm hoping that it will be clearer again. Maybe the equipment at your local hospital is just terrible.

PinkCookie11 · 22/04/2021 13:15

Yeah I have to say I had a 7 and 9 week scan at my ivf clinic and I could actually see the baby

ConnieCaterpillar · 22/04/2021 13:14

Hi everyone

Just spoken to my partner as he is at work and forwarded him the pictures, I'd hoped to show him this evening but slightly concerned now. He agrees that we need to phone and find out more, will keep you updated as much as I can. Thank you for your kind words, we havent told anyone yet as hoped to make an announcement at first family get together in months so couldn't really phone Mum or sister to ask, but made me feel a little bit better about my gut feeling!

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CornishGem1975 · 22/04/2021 13:13

Next to your details on the scan pic it will have a gestation and measurements. You will be able to tell from that roughly how far along you are. I agree, that is not a 12-week scan. Even my 10-week scan was a lot clearer than that.

PinkCookie11 · 22/04/2021 13:11

They will call it a 12 weeks scan regardless when you walk in. As it’s either 12 or 20 weeks unless your seen frequently.
But for her to name it a yolk sac and not tell you exactly how big in terms of measurement and weeks is is bizzare esp for an nhs appointment.
I think your less, as you originally said you would see a baby.
You have a heartbeat which is amazing but I’d ring for more information or go for a private

Horehound · 22/04/2021 13:11

You need to go back

Mammaaof · 22/04/2021 13:11

There must be something along the top as you said that you had to work out how to cut out your details?

PegPeople · 22/04/2021 13:11

Do you think I'm less?

I think you're unlikely to be 12 weeks if they are still labeling the yolk sac. Even at 10 weeks my DS looked like a baby on the scan and no yolk sac was visible.

Did you see the monitor during the scan and did it look like a baby on the screen?

I would absolutely be ringing back and booking in for a private scan if they are unwilling to rescan you.

I'm still baffled they asked how big you were at birth though, that's such an odd and irrelevant question for a scan.

titchy · 22/04/2021 13:11

Did they not do a nuchal measurement?

TakeYourFinalPosition · 22/04/2021 13:09

@ConnieCaterpillar Is there dates on the scan? Or numbers? There should be for an NHS scan, along the top on the right usually I think.

Mammaaof · 22/04/2021 13:09

I can't believe there was no conversation while you were in there about how many weeks you were ect?? When I went for mine they were showing me the legs, arms, head explaining it all while they were looking. And it took a while as they had to measure all their limbs

3JsMa · 22/04/2021 13:09

Congratulations.
Gosh,that is appaling.
My guestimate is you are around 12 weeks and 3 days and normally you can see the baby pretty well,at least an outline of the body head,face and a bit of a leg or hand.I am assuming their equipment is pretty old hence a picture like this.But surely,they could pick up a better image or just explain that due to technical difficulties they won't be able to provide it.Sometimes NHS is just hoping parents will choose to have a private scan so they are not overly concerned with those images,as long as they can see that all is well from the medical point of view.
Would you be able to contact the scan department and ask for a better image?

AngelDelightUk · 22/04/2021 13:08

Weird of her to call it a “viable” pregnancy too, that would imply an earlier date too

ConnieCaterpillar · 22/04/2021 13:07

Hi sorry it's taken a while to load, yes I agree with the scan quality. It arrived on a pdf as if it has been scanned on an old scanner so lots of white around the sides and very squeewhiff. Yes NHS hospital :) I went in and the person confirmed I was here for my 12 week scan, I was asked last day of period, any bleeding or pains, and then how big we both were as babies as the scan happened and the heartbeat was shown. It was very brisk but put down to me being nervous or maybe expecting too much. I asked about being able to have a photo, and said it would be emailed across and to give reception the donation and contact address. I'm racking my brains now and think the only mention of 12 weeks was as I first walked in. Do you think I'm less? When the photos came through I had a feeling that it didnt look right but just wasnt sure, maybe I need to phone and ask a few more questions.

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needadvice54321 · 22/04/2021 13:06

I'd call back @ConnieCaterpillar , hope you get some answers x