12 week scan & NT result

[NervousNewbie1]

Hi all, today I had my 12 week scan. I am 39 and this is my first baby. I had been waiting on IVF, but somehow fell pregnant on my own I've been a total nervous wreck, I feel like this is my only chance and like everyone else, I just want my baby to be healthy.

My scan today was not what I expected. I was already nervous and the sonographer was absolutely horrid! First of all it was excruciating, to the point where I had to ask her to stop. I couldn't take the pain from how hard she was pressing. I could here the girl through the curtain getting told "there's your baby and it's wee heartbeat" all lovely stuff, but I lay there looking at the screen and I couldn't even see a heartbeat. After a minute I asked if it was alive, then when she didn't answer, I said does it have a heartbeat and she just said there's it's heartbeat. I felt like bursting into tears, from the pain and from her cold and unwelcoming manner.

Then I saw her measuring the NT. I don't know an awful lot about it, but I've read some stuff on google and the gap looked quite big. I asked her about it and she told me "don't bother googling it, my measurements won't mean anything to you", then she said "you'll get a report".

So I left after a horrible and upsetting experience, with scan pictures that don't even say how far along I am, when I'm due or anything to tell me the NT measurement.

Is this normal? Should she have told me what it is?

I'm so upset because to me, the gap looks really big. There are a few measurements on the scan picture, but goodness knows what they mean.

I got bloods taken before I left, but I am absolutely sick with worry. I don't even know how long I have to wait, or what to expect.

Any advice would be appreciated x

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience. I'd consider making a complaint. Firstly the scan shouldn't hurt and secondly you should have been treated with more kindness.

Regarding the NT measurement. I asked at my scan what it was but the sonograoher wouldn't tell me as she said it wouldn't make much sense on its own and needed to be combined with my blood test. But straight afterwards I saw the midwife to have my bloods taken and she reviewed the scan and she told me the NT measurement without me asking and said it was within the normal range. She also printed me off a sheet with the measurements and details of the scan with my estimated due date etc...

I'd ring your antenatal and speak to a midwife and say that you're feeling very anxious and can they share some of the details of your scan. I'd also consider complaining about the sonographer. Sounds like she lacked the very basics in bedside manner.

Thank you for replying. I'm actually so hurt. I wanted this to be exciting and I came away feeling awful. Appropriate bedside manner was definitely lacking.

Hope I don't have to wait too long on the results, I won't be able to stop reviewing the pics and comparing on google.

Fortunately, I have a face to face appointment with my midwife tomorrow, so hopefully she can explain my scan pics to me a bit more then.

Thanks again for your reply

I'm sorry you've had such a bad experience.

Sonographers can be quite cold from my experience, but there are nice ones out there too! The NT can look quite big because they zoom in to measure it, if it was a serious concern they would have said. I specifically asked in my last pregnancy and she said she wouldn't tell me - but I saw it on the screen. If there had been any other worrying markers picked up she probably would've mentioned it. Call your midwife or maybe the screening midwife at your hospital and they'll be able to tell you more. Try not to worry, I know it's easier said than done.