12 week scan- can't see stomach or bladder

[Gastonladybird]

Hi had 12 week nuchal and all normal except couldnt see stomach or bladder on baby. Apparently this can happen and isn't of itself at this stage a particular issue. However I lost a baby at 20 weeks as had no kidneys and associated issues. Post mortem and tests found no reason for this and risk of recurrence was not thought to happen. However in light of this have recommended coming back in 2 weeks for rescan.

Anyone got any experience with this? Dh thinks that hospital being cautious and hard to tell at this stage but I am very worried.

I think your dh is right and the hospital are being cautious because of your history and it is hard to tell.
I also think you are absolutely right to be very worried and indeed frightened. How could you not be with that sort of history?

It's good that the nuchal was normal though so hold on to that for a start. Otherwise though only time will tell what's going to happen here. I'm afraid you just need to grit your teeth and get through the next two weeks. Were they definate they should be able to get good views then?

Hiya, no experience sorry, but didnt want to read and run.
I am sorry for your previous loss.
I sincerly hope that your DH is right and I would imagine that they will be more cautious considering your history, but if it is not a particular issue on its own, and you were told that there was no risk of recurrence, I would hang onto that.
I will be thinking of you and your baby. Take care of yourself x

Thanks- hopefully all be ok and it's just caution

Ahh - I hate this. There you had this terribly loss and understandably you are freaked out about anything and then they start to be extra-cautious and mention anything. Sorry for rant. I have no experience with not seeing stomach or bladder on baby, but am in your position. I have had a previous pregnancy with a problem and now they don't even want to do ultra-sounds on me, but sent me to the next biggest city, so "they don't miss anything". I am sorry if this message is not helpful. I hope everything will be fine and the next two weeks will pass fast.

Thanks glimmer- I know what you mean. Whilst you want best care and know you dont want false assurance , on the other hand you don't want to be so unsettled you end up sobbing at 3am with worry

Hi Gaston

I also lost a baby at 20 weeks with no kidneys (bilateral renal agenesis). In my subsequent pregnancy, the consultant said before the nuchal that it was likely that we might not see a formed bladder at that stage and not to worry as this was normal- booked in a 14 week scan to check bladder and kidneys before we even started the nuchal. As it happens he COULD see the bladder at 12 weeks, but possibly this was because I was dated at nearer 13 weeks (iyswim) and I had the 14 week scan too to check kidneys. Anyway what I'm trying to say is- not seeing the bladder at 12 weeks is entirely normal and it'll all be different at 14 weeks, but also I understand the absolute terror and anxiety. I was terrified going into each scan.

It all worked out though - my baby is now 15 months!- and I am sure it will for you as there is no reason for recurrence, as you say.

Good luck. PM me if you want to talk as I really have been where you are.

Thanks can'tdothisagain- your post gave
Me a lot of comfort and reassurance . I did end up going elsewhere for a scan (better machine, different procedure) who saw bladder stomach etc. They did reiterate what you said - that normally they like to measure at 13 weeks as baby usually sufficiently grown to get clear view and measurements.

I am just glad went for second opinion and found somewhere that treated me sympathetically (have nothing against 1st dr as was accurate but there is a definite art to talking to people with a poor history that is sympathetic without giving false results).

May well take you up on offer of pm as I know that will be worried til 20 weeks. Lovely about your dc - I also have a dd born post loss of my son. However think attitude to pregnancy with her very different - not sure why as think would have worried As much.

Hi Gaston, great news that you had a positive second scan. I don't know where you are based, but I would suggest you ask for a sympathetic consultant to do your anomaly scan. Part of my terror of scans is because the anomaly scan where the baby's condition was uncovered was handled so badly-the sonographer said there was a huge problem and ran away, leaving me in the scan room, ostensibly to find my consultant, only he didnt return for ages. Very helpful, not. You need someone who understands the fear, not to give false reassurance but to support you.

Anyway great news on the scan, and good luck with the next one!

Gaston Congrats on your pregnacy and do not worry- you are having some extra TLC, that's all! Xx
Cantdothisagain I would say that your experience is not the norm (with the exception of Eastenders, Holby et al...) I also am slightly at whether the shock of the situation has slightly clouded your memory...A new friend of mine recounted to me her experience of me scanning her (before we knew eachother) during a missed misscarriage- her expereience was alien to me- she used words that are not even part of my vocabulary or way with dealing with ladies...Sonographers deal with devastating news Every Day...they do not run out of rooms to find Consultants and invariably your 'common or garden' Sonographer has far more experience of Ultrasound that a Consultant anyway...

Hi toomanyopinions, I know what you mean, and I know it sounds like my memory is playing tricks on me, but my DH was there too and it did happen. I should add that the sonographer didnt just say there was a problem, he said the problem was that there was no fluid, and that this was a huge problem, not least as it meant he couldn't carry out the scan at all as there was no visibility, but also that this had troubling implications and it was better for me to see my consultant (OK, can't remember the words he used and I am sure they were more medical than I've repeated, but they implied very bad news and he really DIDN'T explain anything) but he did not say anything more than that and he really did run away, he left me crying and he didnt return for absolutely ages. The screening midwife actually came to find me before the consultant and sonographer and apologized for the sonographer's brusqueness and lack of information and did another scan and talked me through what was wrong as she did the scan. Had he done what she did I would have felt very differently. I should add that I changed hospital for my subsequent pregnancy as I could never have faced that sonographer again.

By the way, I have had bad news at scans twice (nuchal scan in earlier pregnancy revealed a baby who wasn't going to survive). That sonographer (different one) was great.

Thanks for all further support- have had 3 scans where found out about early miscarriage and the 20 week scan. I do remember the monographer leaving us to wait to get consultant but she had calmlynand nicely explained what she had seen so although the experience was devastating it was handled in as nice a way as it could be. I think issue with first sonographer was h is very literal and quite often is talking to dh not me which is fine but dh doesn't have same emotional reaction I do re scan. I accept that it's all my emotions not what is actually happening that upsets me but notwithstanding I don't think this guys coomunication style helps.

The most helpful thing to me (not that you would know it from my panic last week) was having therapy post first scan, it has helped me through the aftermath the birth of dd and my subsequent mc. The biggest thing that came up ties in with too manyopinioms tale of her experience of scanning her friend- what happens factually and emotionally are different and need to seperate and try to contain the two bits. That is why second scan was more about my emotional need than anything else.