12 weeks scan - what will I except

[littleredmonkey]

Hi I am 43 excepting first wee one and have my appointment for 1st scan. What will they do and show me. Is there any difference as I am older mum? Do they do blood tests at the appointment? I live in Lincoln and wonder if anyone has any advice. Is there tests for older mums as I am aware the risks are greater as us older birds have dusty wombs ??

It depends on if your having a dating scan or a nuchal scan.

I just had a Dating scan. It was over in less than 10 mins. They literally checked how many we're in there (just the one!) and give you a due date. They then showed me and dh the baby and pointed bits of it out. Like there's the heart legs etc

I have looked it is a dating scan. Can you request nuchal scans? and what is invovled in those. I know I can look on line but also prefer to get actual expereinces

For a nuchal scan you will have a blood test just before, then a slightly longer scan while they take some measurements. They use the results, plus data about your lifestyle, age etc, to calculate your risk factor for Down's syndrome. There is a small window where these tests are effective, so if you want one, I would suggest you ring your midwife and ask about it.

I had a scan at lincoln hospital, did your midwife ask you if you wanted the nuchal test?

All they did at the scan is to take an extra measurement of the fatty bit behind the babies neck, once the scan is over they will also take a blood test and then you get the results in about 10 days in the post from your midwife.

If they havent requested a nuchal you will be able to ask for one on the day as its performed during the dating scan, only takes an extra 30 secs or so to do.

Make sure you drink loads before you go, i had 2 litres of water an hour before but was told that i drank it too late so had to walk round for an hour and come back to have the scan re-done.

At the scan they get you to lie on a bed with your stomach uncover and put the gel on the press the handheld scanner bit of the machine around your stomach and you will get to see the baby wriggling around. It lasts for about 20 mins and you do have to pay for any photos you want so make sure you take plenty of change. If you want more than a couple of photos i would tell the sonographer before they do the scan as at mine they printed of 2 during the scan and showed them to us after. We werent able to get more copies or more pics when the scan had ended which was a shame as i wanted to give one to both sets of grandparents

In our hospital in Northants women are counselled when they have their booking appointment with their midwife and can choose whether they would like to have Downs screening or not. If they do then they are booked at 12 weeks for a nuchal (and dating) scan, if they dont then they just have a dating scan.

Has your midwife asked you about this? You could try ringing your ultrasound department tomorrow and asking what type of scan you have actually been booked in for and if they do nuchal scans? If they dont you can get them privately but they have to be done before the baby is 84mm long (14 weeks 1 day), so you would need to get that sorted asap!

The procedure at a nuchal scan is fairly similar to a dating scan as described by melliebobs. However, in addition, the sonographer has to get a good measurement of a fluid area under the baby's skin at the back of the neck, and this can take some time to get, as baby has to be in a good position. This can involve turning you from side to side on the couch, tipping you head down for a short while, sending you to the loo to empty the full bladder we asked you to have!, or even sending you off for a short (10 min) walk.

If the measurement is successfully obtained and your baby is within the length range (45mm - 84mm) then you will have a blood test as well. You will get the results later - in our hospital it is within 2 weeks.

Hope this helps - I am a sonographer who does these all the time.

I would like to say that it certainly doesn't take an extra 30 seconds to get the nuchal measurement in the majority of cases! babydust Your baby must have been extremely photogenic! It depends on the baby being in exactly the right position so it can be as quick as this if baby is being obliging, but can take 20 or 30 minutes if we need to send you for a walk or do lots of tipping and turning! A more usual length of time would be about 5-10 mins.

babydust - did you realise that the pictures you have been given will scan into a computer very successfully so that you can print off as many as you would like? (That's assuming you have access to a computer with a scanner of course!) Otherwise you are correct in your advice to ask for extra pictures during the scan.

Hey
Bebemoose and babydust . Thank you both so much for taking the time to answer my thread and bebemoose as a sonographer your information was so useful cant thank you enough.
I have my first midwife appointment friday 9th March and scan 4 weeks later so I will ask the midwife about booking me for the nuchal scan. xxxxx