23 week scan .. I refused an internal scan .. did I do right?

[twiglett]

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I haven't been offered it (my anomaly scan is on Thursday - I'll let you know if they offer an internal - I doubt it though as we almost didn't get an anomaly scan here!)

My gut feeling though is that it's unnecessary unless you're known to be a high risk pregnancy, but that might just be because I hate the thought of the discomfort/embarrassment factor of an internal!! (Daft that it would embarrass me considering how many different midwives and doctors saw my bits with ds but there you go...)

So yes, I think you did the right thing in refusing I haven't heard of any particular risk with them though, so I think it would be down to personal preference.

They didn't offer this to me at King's a couple of years ago, so I suspect you are right, it is related to new research. I wouldn't have thought there was any need to have any tests if they are just for the sake of it. I think you were fine to refuse; if it had been recommended by your MW or consultant, that would be different.

Mears, where are you when we need you? She posted 1/2 an hour ago on another thread...

Twigglett - I was also offered this scan at Kings with my dd. I did decide to go for it, as they suggested it could reveal if you were at risk of pre-term delivery and they assured me the procedure itself carried no risk. The problem arises if they do discover that you're at risk of pre-term delivery - as there are pros and cons about the methods currently available to try to prevent early labour. They can put a stitch in the cervix - but I think that has its own risks.

I would also say that your choices may well be influenced by your problem-free first pregnancy, which is very reassuring.

It's a bewildering thing to be offered all these choices without proper information to make a decision. If you're concerned - talk to your midwife or ask someone at King's to go over the details with you. It is true that this technique is in its fairly early days - so a lot of the data gathered is being fed back into their research.

I seem to remember being offered it with dd1, by scanners with all the social graces of Jeffrey Dahmer...

The only time I had internals was when I attended the EPDU during the first twelve weeks of my current and last pregnancy. I have lost two babies late in pregnancy but was never offerred an internal with subsequant anomoly scans. However, this time when they have been scanning me after 12 weeks, they have been paying particular attention to my cervix as if it is short, they will put a stitch as there may be the possibility of it opening at a later stage. This is only because of my previous history.

Strange how they are doing this if you had no previous problems but on the other hand, at least they are being thorough and try to guard aganist anything happenning in the future.

I've never heard of that Twiglett. Does seem a bit strange!
However, I'm not even being offered a 20 wk anomaly scan!

Why not M2T, I thought everyone got those.

CD - I've got a whole thread ranting about this, so I don't want to take over this thread with the detail.....but They only do a 12 wk dating scan, but the hospital I will have to go to to deliver does them routinely. Another case of postcode healthcare it seems.

I was offered that with both dd in 2000 and ds in 2002. I was informed it was optional and at that time it was still under research as to whether it did predict the possibility of pre term. I was given a leaflet at the 12 week scan to inform me of the choice at the 23 week scan. I went for it both times but my sil in Glasgow who had had a pre term baby was only offered 1 scan at 12 weeks. She went on to have a baby at 35 weeks. It is a post code lottery isn't it??

I was offered it but it was made clear that it was part of some important research - preterm birth is the main cause of baby death in teh UK. I agreed on that basis. I certainly didn't feel any pressure and had forms to sign etc. I would have felt annoyed if it wasn't presented to me like this, TBH. Then they discovered that I had placenta praevia so I had no more internal exams of any kind after that - hooray!

I was offered this with ds1 at Harold Wood hospital, Havering. It was due to the fact that the hospital was involved in research with a U.S.hospital/obsertrician into prem labour. I refused and was asked if I was sure as although it would not tell them much about my riskd of going into prem labour,the research might benefit my daughter in pregnancy (if i had one, which I subsequently didn't)
I felt that I really did not want to be poked around any more than absolutely necisary with my first pregnancy.

that would be necessary then not necisary!

Should have said in my earlier message that I do know someone who had this investigation and who WAS shown as being at risk of pre-term delivery and she chose to have a stitch put in. She ended up giving birth 8 weeks early anyway, but the impression I got from her was that she benefitted from knowing she was at risk, and all ended well as the baby is v. healthy.

I guess this is very different for a 2nd pregnancy - because if you were likely to deliver early you would have hit problems then. Mears where are you?!

Well this is news to me. Quite frankly I would have refused it too. Is it actually a trial they are doing? I would perhaps consider it if it was research being done for the good of others. I really do have a problem with all the invasive technology that surrounds pregnancy. I would need to see the outcome of research to see whethe this is really worthwhile thing to do.
Don't think it would do any harm - just wouldn't want that invasion of my private bits

Personally speaking, as I have had problems, if it was offerred to me I would say yes. Mind you - if they said walking over hot coals would improve your chances of delivering a healthy baby - I would do it!

Odd - when I had a scan for other reasons at just before 20 weeks, they checked my cervix via ultrasound from the upper side (and certainly all the scans I ended up with involved checking the placenta that way, so it's not like they would have to do an internal to catch placenta previa). I remember thinking what a great deal this was, especially since it also involved floating her little head out of my pelvis where she'd been head-butting my pubic symphisis. Of course I am in the US so everything is different.

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Hi Twigs, I would have refused too, definately. I was asked to take part in a research thing at the Kings sister hospital and took part because it was non invasive or embarassing for that matter. Whilst it's important to do research, I just feel that the baby should be left alone as much as possible. Also, it's uncomfortable having an internal isn't it and not something you want to have done easily unless necessary.

I declined this one too (ds2 21mo) at Kings. It looks at the length of the neck of your cervix... shorter means increased chance of pre-term delivery... I felt it was unnecessary for me because ds1 was born 16days late and then induced. So didnt feel it applied. It was certainly part of an ongoing research programme at the time. The more women that go through it, the more info it provides to support their theories. Its always up to you in the end whether to accept.

The internal scan doesn't hurt in the slightest (or at least, it didn't me) and it certainly confirmed my PP! I'd had them before for ovarian cysts so I wasn't that bothered. Yes, Mears, it was definitely a research thing when it was offered to me. That's the only reason I agreed.