Anotomical Scan at 20 weeks

[malinki]

Hi Ladies,
Well finally hit 19 weeks today, sickness sotred itself out last week, finally and I'm feeling much more normal now (I hold my hands upto anyone suffering from morning sickness and say bless you)
Next week I am seeing my consultant and having an anotomical scan, but not sure other than measuring bumps bits and pieces and heartbeats that it would tell me anything else. This is my 2nd baby and both fertility, I wasn't offered this scan 1st time round and that was 5 years ago. Can anyone explain what this type of scan is and is it a probe (internal) or external and if external will I need a full bladder

Malinki - this is an external scan, and can take quite a while. It can tell you lots, inclusing, possibly, if you want to know, the sex of your baby.
It is a screening scan and they can look in a detailed way to make sure that your baby's physical development is as it should be. they can see inside the heart, mouth, nose, etc and can spot many many potential problems if they exist. Things like cleft palate can be spotted at this scan, for e.g.
They will take lots of measurements, via the screen and computer, and may measure the blood flow from placenta to baby.
Good luck - I hope it goes well, and that you enjoy it. You do get a clear pic of the baby.

You apparently don't need a full bladder but every time I've been without one they complained so a fullish bladder would probably be good

remember to take pound coins in case they 'sell' pictures, our hospital does and only accepts pound coins..

when you check in for the scan appt. just ask if they care about your bladder; qmc hospital in NOttingham doesn't require it, for instance.

I was told when I went for this scan with my DS that a full bladder wasn't required, so headed straight for the ladies . What a relief!

I'm looking forward to this one to find out if we have a girl or a boy.

It will usually say on the appointment letter if a full bladder is needed. It's usually needed for a 12wk scan but not for a 20wk scan IME.

A lot of the tiem they say full bladder is required, but I've always had a big drink beforehand and left it at that, so that I wasn't uncomfortable. I had so many scans with the dts, no way I was going throught that everytime.

Had these scans for dd3 & ds4. Didn't need a full bladder. Took about 40 mins. I asked the doc to explain as they went along when they were able. If everytrhing was ok with what they were checking asked them to say it was ok before they started to explain. Best wishes xxx