Scan..what would you do?

[Tomkat79]

Had my 20 week scan just before Xmas and baby was lying wrong so they couldn't see her heart properly. Gave me another appointment for this morning and once again, she was lying face down so they still couldn't see.

The sonographer said if it was her baby she wouldn't leave without knowing the heart was ok so suggested I have some caffeine and a jump about and she'd try again in 15 minutes.

Still the same. She sent us back to the waiting room whilst writing a report and then the little madam flipped over and kicked. I told her this when she handed my notes back but she totally dismissed me and said I'd have to go private as they wouldn't offer me a further scan and they would check her heart when she was born.

So...loving the NHS rudeness today. I go over and above to help my patients out, guess I'm naive to think that others don't.

Would you go ahead and pay for a private scan to check her heart? I have no reason to think that there would be anything wrong.

Yes, I would pay for a private scan.

I probably would or I would speak to someone such as GP, MW or consultant to see if another scan could be arranged.

I'm sure everything will be fine but it's peace of mind.

What Shelly said. I wouldn't be leaving it until birth to get it checked.

What is it with Sonographer? Some have the sensitivity of house bricks!
I'd speak to your MW about it.
Is there any reason to believe that the baby might have heart problems?
You could go private if you can afford it, but a little bit of sympathy here might not have gone amiss!

Yes, I would. And I know it's frustrating but they can't keep scanning the same person over and over.

I would speak to midwife and explain situation and see if another scan can be rearranged, not your fault baby was being awkward!

Fuck me. If she couldn't see the heart I'd have no confidence that she'd fully checked the spine was enclosed, the blood flow through the kidneys, the brain and 1001 other things they check.

So sorry you've been dicked around like this. :(

"they can't keep scanning the same person over and over"

Yes they can.

I'd be making a huge fuss - via maternity services liaison, PALS (or whatever it is called these days) and anyone else I can think of. The number of babies who need rescanning is tiny, but until everything that needs to be seen has been seen then scanning needs to go on.

I would also ask the sonographer to put the advice about waiting until after the birth in writing and get on to the hospital's legal department about what their liabiltyi should a child be born with a problem that should have been diagnosable at this stage, and potentially treatable.

dolomites I'm having the exact same problem at the moment and am going back on Wednesday for a rescan. My baby was facing down too and although the sonographer could see the heart beating, she couldn't clearly see all 4 chambers so, although it's highly unlikely that there is a problem, she couldn't complete the scan 100%. She did all the other checks and I have total faith in her that it was completed correctly.

I'd talk to a sympathetic doctor or midwife about it but, contrary to what others say, if I felt happy that all was ok with the baby then I don't know if I would worry about getting another scan. I know some parents that didn't have any scans throughout the whole pregnancy. It's optional so completely depending on how you feel?

Hmm, the heart seems like a pretty major organ to not be checked by the sonographer! As far as I knew, yes they do keep scanning you - albeit often waiting two weeks for everything to grow and make visibility a bit easier - until vital measurements are taken.

Our little madam was being too wriggly and awkwardly positioned for the poor sonographer to see all four chambers. We were rush referred to fetal medicine for a specialist scan and in fact had two there (3wks apart) 'just to be on the safe side'. So it does sound poor that you've been dismissed so soon, with unanswered questions (we got the all clear happily).

I have had several extra scans for checking reduced fetal movements, and i am in the low risk/midwifery led category.

It is clearly possible to rescan, there are various reasons to do do! They appear to be being difficult in my opinion...

A basic private scan isn't that costly, but it isn't the point. If i were you i would push for another scan in a few weeks when baby has had time to move.

If they refuse, which they shouldn't, i would opt for a private scan for peace of mind, as it about is the most important organ which is why this surprises me so much!

Good luck !

I had to go back at 24 weeks as the sonographer couldn't scan everything they wanted to see re the heart at the 20 week scan (history of heart issues in babies in the family) and they (and we!) wanted to be sure everything was fine and by waiting a few weeks he'd grown enough to allow them to get a good look. Didn't have to re-book myself (hospital did it for me) but I'd definitely ask your midwife/consultant for an additional scan.

You should insist on a rescan - it's hardly your fault, in fact it's not anybody's! The only person at fault is the sonographer for being so rude - it's fair enough she couldn't do her job each time due to bad luck but you and your baby should not be penalised for it. Definitely take it higher up in management.

If there's an issue picked up at an anatomy scan, knowledge of that issue in the second trimester can vastly improve the eventual outcome. I have seen anecdotal evidence many times of this happening - heck, I wouldn't have DC2 if I'd skipped that scan, and a friend of mine may not have realised her own life was at risk as well as baby's due to placenta accreta. That's why we have the anatomy scan after all just on the slight off-chance even though nearly every scan is just fine. Instincts only go so far and statistically scans improve outcomes in the general population.

Thats seems very unfair! I would speak to your doctor and see what they can do, are you MW lead or consultant as the consultant would be the best person to speak to.

I am overweight and am 16 weeks I have scan dates come though for 20,28,32 & 36 weeks so I am sure they can fit you in for one more before birth!!

Of course they should give you another. Phone up and speak to midwife. Kick up a stink if they won't re scan you.

I've had lots of extra scans in pregnancy because of various issues so they obviously can offer you more. My hospital also does three scans as routine (I.e. for everyone) - 12,20 and 32 weeks. 32 weeks you don't get as good a view of heart as at 20 though so not suggesting you leave it that long. But if one hospital gives three scans why shouldn't you get an extra one?

I'd do exactly what Auntie Stella said.

Kick up a fuss. Although unlikely a heart problem is no small thing and you won't be happy spending the next 20 weeks wondering. The point of 20 week scans is to fully examine the baby and she hasn't done her job properly if everything hasn't been seen. You shouldn't have to go private the get the job done properly.

That's absurd. At my nuchal scan at 13 weeks the baby was being awkward and she jiggled me around a bit until the baby moved and we could get the scan done but said I could come back if the position wasn't right that time round. Granted I am in the Netherlands but still... . Not so easy at 20 weeks to get the baby to move if it doesn't want to :)

I would not book a private scan until you talk to your gp or midwife first and insist on a second attempt.

Ask for a rescan It is so important to know that all is okay . it would give you peace of mind ...

Make a fuss, insist on getting scanned again.

I had similar - a couple of attempts at 1st scan but they couldn't see everything, so they had me come back a week later to complete it.

Thanks for all the advice. The more I think about how I was treated today the more unfair it seems so I have midwife appointment Wednesday and am now emailing the fetal medicine consultant. I've already had to pay £100 for a viability scan at 8 weeks as I'd had a previous MC and was so worried, I really don't want to have to pay out again if can help it. Little monkey has been moving all day since the scan!