October 2016. Thread 3 - Booking In and Dating Scans!

[leoniethelioness]

I thought I'd start a new thread now we'be reached 1,000 posts on the last one!

fuzzy owl . I've had very light symptoms each time and each time it's been ok. I think it just depends on your body.

Great news Afresh.

Thanks for the reassurance Always. I am just finding it really hard to stop worrying. I've had a mmc before so know that no bleeding isn't always a good sign but it did have symptoms with my last pregnancy whereas this time there really is nothing. Oh well, a fortnight until my scan and then I will know. I haven't been brave enough to book an early one.

I've booked a gender scan for in four weeks time!

Nt measurement was 1.7 which I believe is good. Unsure if we should tell DC now or wait for the results

That is a great measurement Afresh. I think the 16 week scans are great because it feels so long in between scans otherwise and you also get to find out whether you are having a boy or girl that bit sooner (and feel confident it is right).

With my last pregnancy the hospital were very vague about gender at my 20 week scan and I ended up paying for private at 22 weeks anyway so figured I might as well!
Although I have been told today I may need extra scans anyway as my last baby was big for my petite frame

I think (and I might be wrong here) that the NHS are deliberately vague at 20 week scans just in case they get it wrong. I can also understand that they have a set appointment time and have to check for all the baby's organs which is more important, whereas a private scan is purely to find out the sex and they allow plenty of time to make sure they are certain.

It was baby three for us fuzzy , she was deliberately being a cow I think. First two were nothing like it! She was a grump throughout the entire thing and had serious arse face when I asked!

Apart from the first sonographer I have had, I've always been lucky to have nice ones. I get that it must be quite unpleasant at times when you have to tell expectant parents bad news, but there is no need for them to be grumpy to other people.

Exactly! Maybe she was having a bad day I dunno. She seemed judgemental of us for asking.

Today's was lovely. Explained really well, talked through everything and was reassuring. It was ridiculously busy there today too.

My fingers are twitching now to shop. But I should wait for the blood results shouldn't I

I would imagine that more parents ask than don't! I know I certainly did and will in future. I think you have had such a low measurement that your result should be fine. I know of women who have been warned purely from the scan, so that must be a good indicator of any concerns before the blood test anyway. When did you have your bloods taken?

Bloods were taken today

Is it generally unheared of to have low nt and come back high risk ?

In my last pregnancy, I had my bloods taken on the same day as my scan (the original ones were taken too early) and I was told that it could take a fortnight to receive the results but they actually came back very quickly and if there was a problem I would be telephoned within a few days. I guess the low risk ones come through and then wait for someone to type up the response and send it, whereas high risk are immediately flagged and telephone contact made. As for a low nuchal measurement and to still be high risk, I honestly don't know. I would guess it is unusual because it is such a defining feature of DS, but I suppose you are also tested for Edwards and Patu as well and not sure whether the measurement has any bearing on them.

I had once had an ultrasonographer say really angrily, "Your bladder is COMPLETELY empty!" That was the only time I ever attempted to follow their pre scan drinking instructions but since I was dehydrated and threw up just before setting off it had no effect. Other than that apart from when my first MC was confirmed by the ultrasonographer questioning whether I'd ever been pregnant they've generally all been pretty nice when doing scans and I've had 16 so I think the norm is for them to be nice. They always ask here at the start of the anomaly scan whether you want to know the gender. My friend's NHS trust charge you to find out the gender!

During my last pg, I had 5 NHS scans, and the chap that did them was someone both me and dh had worked alongside for some years. They know the sex of that baby alright, but for whatever reason, some trusts have rules about whether or not they are allowed to divulge it. We didn't find out, and when we saw him post-birth, he said "how's your daughter" with a wink. The USS machines are so accurate you can see hairs on their head - you can certainly see boy bits lol.

And Poem - we were asked so that we could be told to look the other way whilst they were checking out the kidneys & bladder. It was funny actually, he did the 20w scan really quickly, then said he had 5 mins spare so did we want to have a play with the 3D scanner - er yes. So he was showing us all sorts and happily pressing print, then when he was checking through the pictures before he gave them to us, he went "ooh-er, hang on, this gives the game away" and chopped the pic in half to remove the bum section

I've had ten scans at 20+ weeks and have never noticed despite watching all the time but mine have all been girls so maybe less obvious. Or it's just that I'm not very observant of visual details - I didn't realise my friend wore glasses until my daughter happened to mention it!

I've had a real mix so far ... I've had 5 scans in this pregnancy (only 13+3 now) and I had 3 last time when I MC. I found the EPAU staff much friendlier than the ultrasound dept,I'd had a bleed just before my 12 week scan and when I asked her if she could see any reason for it she was really sharp with me. The consultant scans I've had this time I found really awkward as he just talked over me to his student and the other sonographer there.

Badly - did that on a few of my scans too! Desperately trying to force down water in the car on the way there as id thrown it all up (on one occasion as I locked the door and walked to the car!)

Morning all. 12+3 by new dates. Felt a whole little group of movements earliest! Was crazy! Still not strong enough to be felt from the outside but surely that can only be a couple of weeks away

Fresh I am 14 weeks with number three and have felt movement since 11 weeks.
Also wondering about blood tests - I had a low NT but no idea if bloods could still indicate high risk. I got over excited and announced to everyone after the scan as well 😚
Good luck with scans x

It's hard not to announce! But I wouldn't want to have to explain to the DC if there was something wrong

I totally agree afreshstartplease - We ended up telling the in laws last night. Really wanted to wait until after the scan on Tuesday, but FIL went in fridge and saw I was drinking A/F wine and they had brought a bottle of champagne for my birthday so we had to come clean. They were sooo excited which is lovely, just hope everything is ok at scan now

Adult family members know

If anything went wrong that wouldn't be an issue telling them it's just the kids

Am I right in thinking if something is wrong I would hear sooner and not the full two weeks for the letter

Fresh yes, that's right. High risk is notified via a phone call within a couple of days. I had mine on Thursday and they told me I'd definitely get a call Monday if it's bad news.

Scan was on Tuesday so assumed we'd hear by Friday if there was a problem (within 3 days or letter within 10 if it was fine). No phonecall but letter arrived today - low chances for everything :) didn't expect it so quickly! Things must be quiet in the pathology lab!

Guys, at 14 weeks, does anyone else feel desperately awful still. I have had 1 half hours sleep, awake all night with itching all over, pressure in head, dry hard to swallow throat, palpitations, boiling hot hands and feet that feel tight and swollen, gnawing hunger pain and general sense of foreboding. Today I am just exhausted and tearful and had argument with boyfriend and made son cry because he overheard me get cross at something. Yesterday I woke up with headache and got really dizzy even though i was lying down. I just hate feeling like this. I cannot wait for baby, but honestly the thought of feeling like this for the next 6 months is just too much to bear. I will be crazy by then. :(