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Pregnancy

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Original poster

Not getting 1st scan til 15 weeks- is this normal?

30 replies

maca2011 · 13/12/2011 15:35

Just found out this moring that I won't get my first scan until week 15 and then my 1st antenatal appointment 3 days after this....am worried this is quite late, so i thought I would join mumsnet to find out if anyone can give me any advice!! so thank you in advance!

Its my first baby and I just want to know everything will be ok....I presummed I would get a scan at week 12?

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woopsidaisy · 13/12/2011 15:43

I am pregnant with my third DC. I don't think I have ever had a 12 week scan at 12 weeks. Although perhaps not as late as 15 weeks either.
There is bound to be a "queue" ahead of you. The system just works out this way. You could always go for a private scan at 12 weeks?
I have found the NHS brilliant throughout previous pregnancies, so wouldn't be worried about 15 weeks for initial scan/booking in appointment, but I can understand that with a first you are very excited and concerned.
I suggest you look at private scan if you really can't wait.
Good luck and congratulations!

Crosshair · 13/12/2011 15:46

Sounds late to me, I thought the 12 week scan should be done sometime between weeks 10 - 14?

smk84 · 13/12/2011 15:48

No I don't think it is normal. There is a limited window in which you can have a nuchal translucency test done. By 14 weeks it is too late to take a reliable measurement. (This is a measurement that is taken as large measurements can be a sign of downs syndrome or other abnormality - although a large measurment doesn't always mean the baby is at high risk). Normally the measurement is combined with a blood test to produce a risk factor. The test is optional, but I was told that most people accept it in my area). Also I think that from a dating point of view (i.e. to work out your due date), that scans done later are less accurate, but if you know the date of your last period and your cycles were regular you should have a good idea yourself. Do you know why it is so late? I also find it strange that you won't have a midwife appointment before your scan, as that's usually when they give out all the info about antenatal tests, and I don't know how you can decide if you want them before you have been given the info ! Hope this helps.

VivaLeBeaver · 13/12/2011 15:50

Is it an NT scan or a dating scan as I don't think all hospitals offer NT scans yet, though most do. If its an NT scan its too late.

VivaLeBeaver · 13/12/2011 15:51

You can ring the antenatal clinic and ask to speak to a midwife who would hopefully be able to sort something out.

smk84 · 13/12/2011 15:51

I have just checked and it appears that there is a test that can be done after 14 weeks called the quadruple test, see
www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Antenatal-Screening-for-Down%27s-Syndrome.htm

user59457812 · 13/12/2011 15:53

Sounds a bit odd to me, I was told it had to be done by 13+6 at the latest, but that is because of the nuchal translucency test (measurement of the skin fold at the back of the neck that can indicate some chromosomal problems). Not all health authorities offer it on the NHS though, so if yours doesn't this could explain the longer window.

I would call your midwife/GP and check. Normally you see a midwife for booking in before the scan (about 8 weeks I think).

In any case 15 weeks seems a long time before you get to see anyone - I wouldn't be surprised if someone in the system got their sums wrong and it's a mistake.

Congrats and good luck!

Original poster

maca2011 · 13/12/2011 16:03

Oh thank you everyone! I did call the clinic and spoke to the unfriendliest woman ever...she said it was normal to wait this long ( am still not convinced) so am going to call my nurse at GPs tomorrow...I agree, Ithink 15 weeks wait without seeing anyone is a bit ridiculous! thanks smk84 for that link....

I really thought I would get a scan, appointment and then be able to tell my work....the way my belly is expanding I think they will know after Christmas!

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Original poster

maca2011 · 13/12/2011 16:06

Also....am not quite sure what kind of scan it is....NT or dating scan. My due date has been given as my LMP was 14th Oct and am fairly regular! but did have a very weird period the month before that didnt appear for 6 weeks....so who knows now!!

OP posts:

Northernlurker · 13/12/2011 16:07

I would guess the scanning service in your area is under heavy pressure. Have you not even had a booking appointment yet? You usually have that before the scan - or I did anyway three times!

It's only relatively recently that the dating scan at 12 weeksish became the norm. I had one with dd2 and dd3 but not dd1 who is 14 next year. It was happening in some areas when pregnant with her but not everywhere. It's useful for dating and for some tests like the nuchal but not essential unless you want those tests of course. However I don't understand why you haven't been booked for a midwife yet - no reason at all why that should be. very odd!

Original poster

maca2011 · 13/12/2011 16:11

I live just north of Glasgow- so I presume it may just be a typical NHS Glasgow type of service!
Can I ask what a booking appointment is? I have the antenatal visit but that is 3 days after the scan...

OP posts:

VeronicaSpeedwell · 13/12/2011 16:12

Have you decided whether you would want the nuchal test? Because if so it will be too late for that. Not every area offers it on the NHS though. If you area does offer it, you should say that's why you want an earlier time, and that you're prepared to come for a short notice cancellation. If they insist they can't see you sooner (and certainly they are super busy where I live), or if they don't offer the NT scan anyway, and you do want it, you might want to look into going privately, in which case you should tell the clinic about the potential date confusion.

My area does offer the NT scan but they lost my documents for ages and then squeezed me in at 13+5. I phoned up and said I was worried that if the dates were out it would be too late for the NT scan. The brought it forward two days, and at the scan they dated me at 13+5, so I was right to have pressed them.

VivaLeBeaver · 13/12/2011 16:13

The booking appt is the one where the midwife asks you all about your medical history, tells you what foods to avoid, etc.

Am I right in thinking that in some parts of Scotland they don't do a 20 week anomoly scan? I'm sure I read that on here a few years ago?

VeronicaSpeedwell · 13/12/2011 16:13

Oh, cross posted -- I have heard other women in Scotland describing a similar timetable. They will be able to advise better on whether this is normal where you are.

Northernlurker · 13/12/2011 16:19

Viva - they didn't used to offer the 20 weeks in Edinburgh - my sil wasn't offered it in late 2008 I don't think but I think my other sil did get one in 2010 and again last month with baby number 2.

VivaLeBeaver · 13/12/2011 16:20

I've just googled and found threads on other parenting boards saying that Glasgow don't do NT scans and also don't do a 20week anomoly scan. Now if this is still the case I'd leave the scan at 15 weeks as you'd be betetr having a scan then than at 11 or 12 weeks if its going to be your only one.

VivaLeBeaver · 13/12/2011 16:21

These threads I found were 2010. Maca - I would find out asap if you're going to get a 20 week scan or not.

VivaLeBeaver · 13/12/2011 16:24

community.babycentre.co.uk/post/a2666935/20wk_scan

stinkingbishop · 13/12/2011 16:26

I think there are 3 issues with leaving it that late.

Accuracy of dating and, if it's twins, being able to tell whether they're ID or not
The nuchal scan which looks at Downs and some other genetic abnormalities
Then (and just giving facts here, don't shout everyone!) IF the nuchal scan shows up something which makes you question going ahead with the pregnancy...15 weeks is the cut off for most terminations I think, and you'd be unlikely at that short notice to get an appt much less have proper time to consider whether it's what you wanted to do or not.

So, yes, stamp your foot with your GP. And steel yourself for unfriendly/jobsworthy/computer says no people throughout this process. Smile, and be beatific - you're the one having the baby :)

Northernlurker · 13/12/2011 16:43

stinking - I agree and that's why I can't understand why the op hasn't been offered an appointment to at least establish her attitude to testing. When expecting dd3 I didn't ring the midwife till 10 weeks. The midwife was hugely flustered and booked me in for booking asap so that we could discuss this. As it happened I didn't want any testing so no big rush for the scan but her attitude was very much that she needed to know which way my thoughts tended so she could book accordingly.

duvetfan · 13/12/2011 20:05

Hi maca, I live in Glasgow and was not due to get a scan until i was nearly 16 weeks. I swapped hospitals (for a variety of reasons including this one). There are some in this area that are struggling to give scans before 17 weeks. Glasgow do not offer nuchal scans. Other areas near Glasgow do. My friend works for one of the said Glasgow hospitals and I think they are being swamped by demand and staff cuts. I totally understand that this doesn't help you. As far as I am aware, they do offer 20 week scans now that has not always been the case (just don't take my word for this- I may be wrong!). Hope you get this sorted out.

Alibabaandthe80nappies · 13/12/2011 20:23

stinking - 15 weeks is not the cutoff for terminations. The cutoff is 24 weeks.

VivaLeBeaver · 13/12/2011 20:36

There's no cut off for termination for fetal abnormalities.

DizzyKipper · 14/12/2011 07:45

That's definitely not a normal amount of time to wait! I was slightly frustrated at having to wait until 10 weeks for my booking appointment, this is where they actually tell you things that you need to know (assuming you don't already know them) like taking folic acid, foods to avoid, not cleaning cat litter etc.! This information is important, they shouldn't be waiting until the second trimester before bothering to check you're informed!

QueenOfMuppets · 14/12/2011 08:00

Maca, I live in glasgow and didn't get my first 'proper' scan until I was 15 weeks. If I hadn't had a little scare at an earlier (visit to the EPU required), I wouldn't have seen anyone before then. Was just grateful to library books and internet as it meant I had enough info mean I knew what I should/shouldn't be doing till then! other girls at work who are currently pregnant didn't make their announcements till about 15 weeks so I guess it's just standard up here at the minute.
I got a 20 week scan... they seem to offer those as standard. I wasn't offered Neuchal fold thing, but was offered a blood test (at 15 weeks or over I think) which would highlight high-risk of downs or spina bifida. They also checked for spina bifida at the 20 week scan.

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