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Original poster

4d scan - is this unreasonable?

28 replies

OilPainted · 01/09/2018 08:46

There's a small scan provider near me that does 4d scans. One is a comprehensive one that is £120, another is a quick one with 4x prints for £59. Of course I want to do the £59 one, but they say that this is only for women who are between 24 and 30 weeks... I am 30+5. WIBU to book this one and act nonethewiser (they don't ask for any sort of proof) rather than pay double over a few days? The other scan says up to 34 weeks...

WWYD?

I know, lots of people think 4d scans are ridiculous. I've had a horrid pregnancy and our baby is not very well, so we would like to see his little face as I've found it really really tough and am struggling to bond, so please be kind!

OP posts:
Bountiful · 01/09/2018 08:48

What is the reasoning behind the time limitations on the scans?

Original poster
OilPainted · 01/09/2018 08:50

@Bountiful I have no idea. It doesn't say on their website simply just that the comprehensive scan is for 24-34 weeks and the quick one is for 24-30. It's with ultrasound direct.

OP posts:
kaytee87 · 01/09/2018 08:51

Certain scans are harder to do based on the size of the baby / fluid in womb.
If you're happy for it to possibly be a rubbish picture then take the risk.
I've never understood people talking about bonding with the pregnancy. You start bonding when the baby arrives surely? I felt a bit excited about the baby coming but didn't feel a bond until he was here and I held him- I thought that was normal?

GettingAwayWithIt · 01/09/2018 08:53

Are the timings because of the size of the baby? Eg by a certain number of weeks the baby will be too big to get a good shot? Maybe the more expensive one is a bit more advanced equipment.

Either way it’s your money, you’ll still have to pay even if the baby is too big to get in the frame.

Hope the rest of your pregnancy goes well Flowers

Bobbiepin · 01/09/2018 08:53

I had late scans (admittedly a little later than you) and you don't see much because the baby is too big by that point. I could understand you sneaking in at +5 but what happens if it takes a week or 2 to book in? Is there anything else that will help you relax? Maybe a pregnancy massage or having you nails done?

Bumbelinaaa · 01/09/2018 08:55

It will be more cramped in your womb so the 4d scan won’t be very clear as it would have been earlier in the pregnancy so a quicker scan won’t have as long to get good pictures, whereas a comprehensive one is longer so more time to get clear pics. Tbh I had a quick one at 28 weeks and would say just lie and do that! You should get a few good pics I think.

Original poster
OilPainted · 01/09/2018 08:57

@kaytee87 it's a long story however because our baby is not very well and is likely to need a lot of extra care when born, I've really struggled with accepting that I'm pregnant. We only found out at 26 weeks the extent to which baby is poorly and were advised to terminate. I couldn't do it but have also found it tough enjoying kicks and flutters. Of course you bond with your baby when you're pregnant through it's movements. For me this has not been enjoyable.

I don't mind not getting an amazing shot. Baby is very small anyway!

OP posts:
FASH84 · 01/09/2018 08:57

Have you looked on Groupon? There are often deals on there for the more comprehensive packages you can have later on, DM got one for DB and SIL, she's offered us the same but I thought the 4d scan looked weird and I don't really enjoy the scans I find all the prodding and poking uncomfortable. I understand in your circumstances you might find it reassuring though

Original poster
OilPainted · 01/09/2018 08:59

FASH I have! It's brilliant but the deal they have on their website is also the best deal on groupon. I live really rurally so I guess unless I bite the bullet and drive out, this is the best deal. Going to have another look this morning though Smile

OP posts:
HushabyeMountainGoat · 01/09/2018 09:07

Yes, you're not miles over and the dating isn't spot on anyway. Just say you're 29 weeks. I hope you get some good images.

mistermagpie · 01/09/2018 09:12

They'll know your lying though, won't they? I mean, they can tell how far along you actually are at scan? Unless they don't take measurements at that kind of scan?

Anyway, it's not as if they are going to chuck you out for being a few days over and if it makes you feel better about what sounds like a tough pregnancy, then go for it. Nobody should judge your motives.

BarbaraofSevillle · 01/09/2018 09:20

Can they tell the difference between a small 30 week baby or a large 28 week baby? If they can't, how would they know that the OP is lying?

Hope it all goes as well as can be expected OP. Flowers

AnnieAnoniMoose · 01/09/2018 09:26

I’m sorry to hear about your baby’s health worries 🌷

I’d rather spend the £120 to get good pics, than £60 to likely get a.blurry image myself. However, I don’t think yabu to say you’re 29 weeks as long as you accept the image might not be great.

Best wishes for the birth & baby’s health x

liz70 · 01/09/2018 09:28

"They'll know your lying though, won't they? I mean, they can tell how far along you actually are at scan? Unless they don't take measurements at that kind of scan?"

There's an approximate two week margin of error either side in dating by fetal size at this stage.

Shednik · 01/09/2018 09:29

You can't date a pregnancy from a scan at this stage. They won't know.

I definitely bonded with my four whilst pregnant.

Returnofthesmileybar · 01/09/2018 09:30

Can you afford the other one? If you can I would go with that simply because it's not the deal and you are likely to be given more time to show you what's what with your baby, you will just get a better service and I think given your struggle to bond a little more time, patience and explanation would help. I fear the cheaper deal might be more of a rushed wham bam thank you mam thing, which would leave you disappointed and not help you at all.

But if it's a case of not being able to afford it and you are worrying about fibbing, then I wouldn't worry just do it.

I hope all works out for you and your baby, sounds like you've had a tough time Flowers

thethoughtfox · 01/09/2018 09:33

Is this really going to be a relaxing, bonding experience when you have the added stress of lying to the staff? They may know you are lying when they see the baby and you have the uncomfortable experience of being challenged and using for more money.

thecatsarecrazy · 01/09/2018 09:39

So sorry your having such a rough time op

Original poster
OilPainted · 01/09/2018 09:45

The idea of telling a fib to the ultrasound staff when my baby is very small anyway doesn't really stress me out in the slightest...

OP posts:
kaytee87 · 01/09/2018 09:55

*kaytee87 it's a long story however because our baby is not very well and is likely to need a lot of extra care when born, I've really struggled with accepting that I'm pregnant. We only found out at 26 weeks the extent to which baby is poorly and were advised to terminate. I couldn't do it but have also found it tough enjoying kicks and flutters. Of course you bond with your baby when you're pregnant through it's movements. For me this has not been enjoyable.

I don't mind not getting an amazing shot. Baby is very small anyway!*

That's understandable and I would defo want another scan in those circumstances, go for the cheaper one, they're not going to know. I just think people worry too much in general about what they're meant to feel whilst still pregnant and it's no bearing on how they'll feel when the baby is here.
The feeling of bonding for me when my baby arrived was so intense and primal that I don't really feel that what I felt whilst pregnant was bonding in the traditional sense, everyone is different though :)

Allegorical · 01/09/2018 10:00

The optimum time for 4d is between 28 and 32 weeks in my experience so seems a strange cutoff point. It’s a trade off between the having more “meat on their faces” so they look less scrawny and them not being too squashed in the womb. The biggest factor is how much fluid you have. If fluid is on the low side you are less likely to get good pics. I had a 4d scan on my large baby at 34 weeks. I also had above average fluid. I got the most beautiful pictures ever as there was lots of space around my babies face and nothing obstructing it and his face was lovely and filled out.

It’s partly luck on the day. I would only want a short scan anyway. It’s either there or it’s not.

mistermagpie · 01/09/2018 11:23

There you go, I didn't know they couldn't tell gestation at this point. Which is weird because I have two young children! I clearly wasn't paying much attention at the later scans.

At the end of the day these companies don't care about you from a medical perspective, they just want your money, so I would have no qualms about lying.

OutPinked · 01/09/2018 11:25

I had a 28 week growth scan (NHS, not private) and they found he was as big as a 30 weeker so there’s really no way of accurately dating at that stage. I’d go for it.

MsHopey · 01/09/2018 11:32

The reason they date at 12 weeks and don't keep changing it is because size will change depending on genetics, gestational diabetes, weight of mother etc.
So a 28 week baby (according to 12 week dating scan) could now look 26 weeks or 30 weeks. So I don't think they'll know you're lying.
And you could pay £120 and baby have their back to you. You really don't know.

Mintylicious · 01/09/2018 11:51

I had lots of late growth scans and you couldn’t see much at all because of the size. It was nothing like earlier scans. So I suspect the price difference is something to do with how hard it will be to get a good shot.

However if you are only just off on the dates and you know the baby is small, that shouldn’t be an issue, so i’d probably say 30 weeks.

Hope you get some nice pics OP.

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