20 week scan private alternative?

[JoannaStayton]

Hello.

I have the NHS 20 week scan booked for 24th December, they cant move it, I asked.

I'm due to see my Mum for Christmas and am isolating before that to avoid the risk of bringing Covid. I'm worried about visting a hospital and then travelling straight up to see her for Christmas.

Would anyone know if there is a private alternative so I can have the scan after I see her? I know you can get scans privately but is there likely to be any issues missing the NHS one?

Thanks so much if anyone has any advice. X

I don't think the NHS would accept it unless it had been done by a private maternity services clinic - it's not something window to the womb or other high street scan place are equipped to do nor would I trust them

I have to say that unfortunate as it is you need to put the baby first. Is your mum clinically vulnerable? The risk of catching it at your scan is incredibly low

Thanks, that's useful to know. Yes, I think I will have to go and hope for the best that I dont pick anything up.

You can get a private anomaly scan; you need to go to a proper medical scan place which will be more expensive than the ‘window to the womb’ type scans. Ideally it needs to be done between 18+6 and 20+0 weeks but you can get it done later than that and still get accurate results.

Hope that helps.

Only way is private like BUPA there's been bad press recently about private scan clinics covering their arse and saying check with the NHS, yet they still take your hard earned cash.

Helloooo. I’m an nhs midwife, and I used to work in an antenatal clinic in this field. Your 20 week scan is done to a specific criteria and has to be done within a certain timescale as has already been said to ensure what they are looking for can be seen: it’s based on national guidance according to the best evidence. It can’t be done accurately outside of this window but as the window is a couple of weeks there is absolutely no reason why this could not be moved under normal circumstances. However in order to reduce risk to your mum you’d have to isolate for a period of time (like 14 days) before seeing her as you could develop symptoms at any point in that time. It is unlikely they could move the scan by that much unfortunately and still be within the timescale needed, in addition if your BMI is above 25 it can be difficult to see everything at the earlier gestations which is an added complication. However the risk of you contracting covid if you are all wearing appropriate PPE is low- the sonographer will be in apron/gloves/mask and you should wear a mask also- preferably a disposable surgical mask rather than cotton. Make sure you wash your hands etc also. Can you socially distance with your mum? Or can you move your visit to your mum? I appreciate that it’s Christmas but it will just be this one Christmas and delaying for a few weeks or months could be much safer?

@ivfbeenbusy

I don't think the NHS would accept it unless it had been done by a private maternity services clinic - it's not something window to the womb or other high street scan place are equipped to do nor would I trust them

I have to say that unfortunate as it is you need to put the baby first. Is your mum clinically vulnerable? The risk of catching it at your scan is incredibly low

This is an excellent point: fetal anomaly scanning is a specialist role so high street sonography is not qualified to perform it —or anything else for that matter—