Could you please tell me if Im over reacting about the level of pre natal care Im receiving?

[BarbieLovesKen]

and be as honest as you can please, I do have a habit of getting on my high-horse and pregnancy hormones may be clouding my judgment. That said, if my concerns are founded I'd love if you could add reasons why you think I should be receiving more care (as Im considering writing a letter of complaint and it would be really helpful) .

I have had 1 scan at 18 weeks pregnant and have been informed that I wont be receiving anymore at all unless theres an issue over the baby's growth. Is this adequate? Im terrified - no anomoly scan and Im very worried plus presumed Id have another before due date to check fluid levels/ placenta location/ baby position etc..

Am I being unreasonable?

p.s. this is dc3, I have two healthy children and have had one previous miscarraige. Thanks a million.

When I was pregnant with ds I got one scan at 14 weeks and that was it. I paid privately for a nuchal scan at 13 weeks and an anomoly scan at 20 weeks. Now my health trust offer a nuchal scan and a second scan at 20 weeks - partly because a lot of women did complain to their MPs and to the health trust so I think you should write a letter, it probably won't help you but it might help others. I don't think the NHS anywhere give you a scan before birth unless they have reason to be concerned about something (although I may be wrong).

I think that scans after 20 weeks or so on the NHS are fairly strictly reserved for if they think there may be a problem.

My trust offers a nuchal scan and a second scan at 20 weeks, as well. What was the basis of the 18 week scan, if not an anomaly scan? Was it just for dating? Rather late if so...

I am currently 29 weeks with my second child and had the first scan at 12 weeks and then the second at 20 weeks which is what I expected but pre-natel care with the midwife has been few and far between. I think I have only seen a midwife 3 times so far and this includes my booking in appointment. It does apepar once you had already had 1 child they are much more relaxed about the pre-natel care. I am now not sure to see the midwife until another 6 weeks when I shall then be 35/36 weeks but I am told that after this appointment I will probably be seen weekly. I think it does vary slightly from NHS trust to trust and they have told me that I can call them anytime if I expereince any problems or need to talk to them. I do feel slightly left to it but on the other hand have also not felt the need to be seen inbetween appointments etc. I would say that as my pregnanacy has been straight forward I have been happy with the care I have recevied but would hope that if any problems did arise then the level of care would be increased.

If I was you I would question the scan appointment as I did think it was standard NHS practise to give you the 2 standard scans (12 and 20 weeks)

Thanks a million for your responses!!. Yes urbandaisy - 18 week scan was my first "dating" scan. It was a long wait. I would have loved an anomoly scan for peace of mind.

Caz I stupidly forgot to mention Im in Ireland.

Some people get extra scans because they think something is wrong... If you can't afford to pay for an anomaly scan and can't persuade your GP to advocate for you, or your midwife to agree, then this might be another option... It's a bit sneaky, yes, to go down the route I'm implying, but I really wouldn't be happy myself without the second scan (which I get in a few weeks).

I had a 12 week dating and will have a 20 week anomoly scan

thats all unless they are worried about anything else. (hope not!)

Ah Barbie, that explains a lot. My sister (who lives in Ireland) is 12 weeks pregnant and has booked a private scan in Dublin as she didn't want to wait until 20 weeks to be her first "sighting" of the baby. I do wonder if the reason they don't bother offering you anything until 18/20 weeks is even if you found the baby was unwell they wouldn't allow you to do anything about it anyway as abortion (sorry) is illegal? That was my understanding of it anyway. Personally it just makes me even more appreciative of the care we get here in the UK.

Standard round our parts is 12 week dating/nuchal and 20 week anomoly scan, but nothing after that unless there's a reason they want to look at something (I had a growth scan at 30 weeks, for example)

mini I think its more to do with the recession to be honest - what an area to be making such cuts in!!!. I had much more attention on my other 2 dc. Its gone hugely downhill IMO. You wuld imagine that regardless of the abortion thing an early scan is necessary for medical reasons (ectopic etc..). I dont know. Looks like I am being a bit ott though, from responses on here!

In Manchester the norm is 12 week dating scan, and 20 week anomaly scan. No further scans are offered as a norm unless there are problems.

I also had an emergency scan at 6 weeks. My local EPU is brilliant.

(I then had a further scan at 22 weeks but that was part of a research project that I agreed to take part in via the hospital. I got two extra midwife sessions and some extra large scan photos out of it which was nice.)

I think it's odd not to be offered the anomaly scan, although here it's offered but is optional. (We chose not to have nuchal fold part of it.) I wonder why they were so late offering you the dating scan?

Apparantly thats the normal time for the dating scan here (these days) nomoreheels.

Im going to book a private scan, for peace of mind at least. Its ?195, which we're lucky that we can afford. We actually paid ?160 for a scan before too. What about the couple that simply dont have the money? lump it I suppose?. I think this 2 tier health system is really unfair and you and your baby are only getting care if you've money. Simple as.

Can I ask (over not receiving later scans) what if your baby is breech or you have placent previa or if theres a reduction in fluid etc.. ? Is there another way these things can be detected (for instance, I heard today that an acquaintence had a scan at 37 weeks, scan showed reduction in fluid and she was kept in and induced) am just worrying myself silly.

i am now 38 weeks gone and i have one at 12 weeks and one at 20 weeks and only seen my midwife about 5 times this is my second and i found it very strange that i wasnt given as much care as i was the first time...i thought it should just be the same cause after having one baby it doesnt make you a midwife xx

I think that could be it Claire, its seems on subsequent babies, they deem it unneccessary. Im though, do I need to have a previous medical history for something to go wrong with this pregnancy? surely not? (then why did I miscarry number 2 when I had healthy number 1) but that seems to be the mindset - if you've had one healthy child/ pregnancy - all yours are going to be? .

Pah! maybe Im being a lunatic

Where I had a dating scan at just over 11 weeks, and will have my last scan unless there is a problem at 19 weeks.
With DD I had numerous scans because they were worried about her growth but apparently they have stopped doing scan for suspected small or large babies here now. With DS I also had an extra scan at 32 weeks because there was a problem on his 20 week scan that needed monitoring.

With this one I am hoping for a straightforward process.

They measure you and if there is a problem with growth or worry about fluid levels they will request a scan, they just aren't carried out as standard here now.
Also I believe a midwife can feel if a baby is breech when doing there checks and I guess they can request a scan to confirm that.

This is my third and I am little miffed about the amount of midwife appointments I will be having. I haven't even met my community midwife yet and I won't meet her till 28 weeks now.

I see a Consultant at 16 weeks and will probably have to see them again at 36 weeks, and then between 16 and 28 nothing. I suppose if I ahve a concern I will just make an appointment sooner.

But they do seem to think with subsequent pregnancies you don't require as much care, irrelevant of your history in my experience.