In need of some hand holding over 20 week scan please.

[owlini]

Had anomaly scan on tuesday and right at the end radiographer said baby's stomach looked small. Everything else was normal apparently. First she said she would try to get us seen at the fetal medicine unit then came back and said there was no one there and she would scan me again in a week. She said it was probably nothing, just that baby had not recently swallowed any fluid and not to worry. Yeah right.
After a bit of research it looks like it could indeed be nothing or it could be several not so great things.
I read in a couple of places that if after 45 minutes of scanning stomach is still small that is abnormal. Well there is no way we were in there for 45 minutes. 30 tops more like 20 probably. I did think she was very quick compared to previous 20 week scan I have had.
We also asked her for a picture a couple of times and she was a bit evasive and didn't give us one. Now I wonder why.
The scan next week is with the same person. I wonder if I should try to change the appointment to a different radiographer.

Has anyone had any experience of this type of thing?

I havnt but I would ring and change the appointment, tell them you were not comfortable with her and ask to have a different sonographer.

Hm, I'll have to find out if they have different people doing different days as there is only one there at a time. I'm thinking of having a private scan as well, I think they will be more detailed and less rushed.

Ask to change sonographer. At my 20 week scan we were in there for a total of 1 hr 20 mins - an hour checking everything in minute detail and then another 20 mins after a break to walk around as the baby was lying in an awkward position to check the heart during the first part.

20 mins seems very short to then leave you with an inconclusive result as well...

I am a sonographer an I get 25 minutes to scan each patient. If I don't see everything in that time I have to rebook. That is pretty standard practice in the nhs. Besides you don't want to keep scanning and scanning for an extended period of time. I wouldn't let anyone scan me for longer than that anyway. I rebook for stomachs regularly and the majority turn out to be normal. Hope that reassures you xxxx

Agree with bodecia; I'm also a sonographer and have 25 mins to get anomaly scan done. If not done in that time due to baby position etc then we rebook. If after that point we don't get it then possibly a fetal med appointment. The stomach runs on a 15-20 min cycle so of you came in. Just as baby had emptied it, it may take a while to refill. And hour to do an anomaly scan it very excessive and I would be concerned if colleagues were taking this amount of time in one go to do a scan. We have regulations to work to and comply with. There may have been a reason smerlins scan was so long but that should not be the norm. Some hospitals only allow 20 mins!

Thank you Bodicea and Worley, that is reassuring. Do you have any idea why she would'nt give us a picture though? I thought that was a bit strange.
I think the guy that did the scan in my last pregnancy explained a lot more along the way and thats why it seemed so much longer.
I don't think we will be able to change to a different sonographer without waiting even longer for the scan so we will just have to see what happens next week and keep all fingers and toes crossed.

I'm not sure about that, maybe she couldn't get a good one or she just forgot?
Every sonographer is different in how much they talk. some are more quiet when concentrating especially if they are newly qualified. I vary, sometimes I do go more quiet especially if I am struggling a bit or if I pick something up. Maybe your baby was in a difficult position.

I understand that people or more or less talkative, she was nice enough. I was just trying to figure out why both DH and I thought the previous scan was so much longer when it probably wasn't if you only get 25 minutes per patient.
I think I just got very worried when she said the stomach was small and its just all tumbling around in my mind, having to wait is the worst bit.

I know what you mean, having to wait is horrible.
But in all likelihood it is probably normal. Just try and stay away from dr google in the meantime as it will just make you worry more xxxxxx

I'm trying my best to keep googling to a minimum.

At my 20 week scan they couldn't see everything but also said the brain fluid was at the top end of normal and there was a possible heart defect so I had to go back in a week then had to go to the Yorkshire heart centre in leeds (1.5 hours away) to check the heart. All turns out fine but it was the worst week ever waiting to go!

Hope you get rescanned and get rssssurance.

Everything was ok at the scan today. Phew!
And we got a lovely picture too.
Thank you for your support everyone, it really helped me get through the week!