Is it worth having a fetal well-being scan later in pregnany?

[LoveInAColdClimate]

I'm 31+4 and have been dithering over paying for a fetal well-being scan to check the baby's size etc. I'm measuring fine for dates but am clearly just a bit paranoid. Did you have one? Did you find it helpful and reassuring? TIA.

I've never had one nor heard of one.

What do you hope to find out from the scan - any problems would more than likely have been picked up at the 20week anomaly scan (when the whole baby is still small enough to scan easily, but big and developed enough to see properly).

IMO you're better off relying on counting kicks and watching out for symptoms in yourself for problems (eg signs of PE or waters going).

Even scans to check growth are unreliable - they can be out by a pound or two. If you're measuring OK and have no symptoms of any problems, then personally I really wouldn't bother.

If you want a scan for reassurance, then go ahead and pay for a private scan.

I had an extra scan during my pregnancy with DD at about 30 weeks - but that was because I was in Spain and there it is routine to have three scans rather than the two you get on the UK NHS. So if you happened to be living there rather than here, you'd have that scan anyway!

I was pleased to have another scan because I always enjoyed the chance to "see" my baby and yes, it was good to be told "todo bien" ("everything fine").

I'm at the same stage as you and I'm not planning to have any more scans unless they are specifically recommended by MW or a consultant. I agree with flisspaps that there isn't an obvious reason if all evidence is that everything is going normally.

If you do decide to have one, being as you are concerned to make sure all is OK medically, I'd go to an actual private hospital to have it done rather than one of these high street scan operations. I know a lot of people opt for the private '4D' scans, which are sold mostly for 'bonding' purposes, but having read a few threads on here I'm not keen on the idea. Aside from the fact I find it a bit weird to see exactly what the baby looks like before it's born (just my own feeling), apparently there isn't much research on the effect on mum or baby of having an ultrasound that lasts an hour or more, with machines which are pretty powerful. A consultant told me that they prefer to keep hospital scans to a minimum for the same reason (apparently not just cost savings!).

Thanks for the input - we would definitely use a proper private hospital rather than dubious high street version if we did it. I think I have been made paranoid by the fact that most of my yoga group seems to have paid for one to check the baby isn't either tiny or giant, and I felt I was being rather negligent in not having done so! DH's colleagues also seemed taken aback that we weren't having one so the fear has spread to him as well. Perhaps I will spend the money on a nice treat for us or the baby instead...

Personally, I think a treat is a better idea

Perhaps your yoga group friends aren't aware that scans to check growth aren't particularly reliable - and what difference thinking you know what size your baby is makes I don't know...it's still going to come out of one of two exits, and isn't an indicator of how 'easy' labour will be :)

Loveinacoldclimate if it makes you feel any better, I don't know anyone in the UK that's had one, and pretty much everyone I know has been pregnant in the last couple of years... Also no-one in my Yoga class has had one, we all seem quite old-school!

Some of my friends based abroad seem to have scans every month all the way through, but that's always under a different (always private) medical system.

Enjoy your treat

That sounded like I know everyone in the UK... I meant no one I know based in the UK...oh my hormone addled brain...

Hope the second part of the post made more sense...

Thanks, everyone... now, what treat will I have instead of a scan...

I had them with both pregnancies but have history of problems. If you can feel baby move are measuring ok there is no need- usually they will recommend one if needed . Also it's not just about growth (and i diaagree that they are inaccurate if done properly )but also about blood flow in placenta/cord, amount of fluid , position (more relevant post 34 weeks), position of placenta etc

That said if there are no medical concerns and you and baby seem well then I would go for your treat.

Gigondas I am not an expert (not do I claim to be) however WRT growth scans:

In 1988, Miller, Brown, Khawli, Pastorek & Gabert in "Ultrasonographic identification of the macrosomic fetus" found that the typical mean error ranges from 300 to 550g (11.6 to 19.4 oz). That's out by up to a pound.

In 1992 Chauhan, Lutton, Bailey, Guerrieri & Morrison In "Intrapartum clinical, sonographic, and parous patients' estimates of newborn birth weight" found that ultrasound was the least accurate of the three methods, i.e: it was less accurate than the educated guess of the obstetrician or mother.

In their study "Pregnancy outcome following ultrasound diagnosis of macrosomia" Delpapa & Mueller-Heubach found that "In 66 of 86 women (77%) delivering within 3 days of ultrasound examination, estimated foetal weight exceeded birth weight. In only 41 of these 86 women (48%) were the estimated foetal weights within the corresponding 500-g category of birth weight"

(pulled off a website, not my own research!)

Apparently trying to predict the size of a baby before birth by ultrasound is akin to trying to guess the weight of a man sitting in a bath full of water, in the room next door by measuring his waist and thigh bone.

Anyway. What sort of thing would you like as a treat OP? I don't even know how much one of these scans would cost so can't offer any useful suggestions!

It's not just weight they measure but head size and stomach size as these can 1. Indicate that baby thriving as still taking in/getting rid of water 2. Also indicate whether a vaginal birth is suitable . This is relevant if you have pelvis size/shape issues or thinking about how easy it will be to turn a baby / go for a vaginal delivery.
Yes the baby is going to come out one of 2 ways but if you could have as much info as possible on pros/cons of both options .

And The weight thing was barely mentioned and always with a caveat at my scans - it happened they have been right but the variance on measure was pointed out. Tbh when measure was mentioned I assumed you meant size not weight.

Oooh, I don't know! Scans are about £140... DH and I are going for a really fab lunch at the Savoy next weekend (so excited, never been before) before the baby arrives and ours days in quiet restaurants are curtailed so maybe I'll use it to pay for that...

Ooh, lunch in the Savoy definitely sounds like a treat!

I'm going to go add a different pov here; I would have one and as far as I know the vast majority of countries do perform one as a standard.

It can pick up certain problems, like low amniotic fluid, problemes with blood flow to placent, and reduced growth in baby.

As much as I dont like having an over medicalised pregnancy I didnt feel comfortable about not having baby checked for a whole 20 weeks.

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy!

InmaculadaConcepcion at the nhs hospital that I go to they give 3 scans (the first two are exterior and interior) not just two. I guess that it's a bit of a lottery as I've heard that there are parts of the country where they only get one

save your money!

if its big/small a scan cant do anything to change that!

as long as its wriggly then dont worry :)

He is a very determined rib kicker and cervix puncher (mostly at the same time ) so will use that as a guide! Thanks, all.

Blimey MiauMau, that's thorough! I think most places in the UK stop after the 20 weeks anomalies scan.

InmaculadaConcepcion I know, I'm really luck to have that hospital so close to my place :)
I've heard horrible things about places like Glasgow, where in some hospitals they don't even do the nuchal scan!!

My hospital is a major teaching hospital and until January 2011 (I think) you had to go private if you wanted a nuchal tranlucency scan. The inconsistency is awful.

that's horrible!

"Places like Glasgow"
Do you mean Glasgow itself? Not sure what a place like Glasgow is!
I'm having a 30 week scan on nhs but my pg is a consultant-led (ie higher risk) one.

I mean that I've read here on mumsnet that there are hospitals in Glasgow and other places that only do one scan, someone was complaining about that. I didn't mean to offend

Sorry, being over-sensitive
Hormones!

I had one at 38 weeks at the Fetal Medicine Centre on Harley Street. I wanted them to check the placenta etc and they were also able to check the position of the cord. Personally I thought it was money very well spent as they were able to reassure me that the placenta was very healthy, blood flow to baby was great and also, that the cord was well out of the way of my cervix and her neck (she was already engaged so they told me there was no risk of cord prolapse). I am a worrier though