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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

how many scans?

8 replies

Mummytobe2014 · 28/01/2014 11:54

Hello, i am 34+1 and my last scan was 28 weeks with my nxt booked in for 36 weeks. I was classed as high risk due to bmi but sonographer said she didnt feel i was and cancelled my 32 week scan and booked for 36 weeks.
Does this seem about right? Its jst i read alot of posts on here with people having scans at 31/32 weeks or seeing their mws but i havent seen anyome now for six weeks!?

I appreciate everyones situations r different so just looking for general consensus i guess!?

Thank you

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blacklily3 · 28/01/2014 12:05

Hi, this is my second pregnancy and I have had only two scans - 1 at 12 weeks and 1 at 20 weeks. I don't have any complications and if it stays that way I will not be having any more scans :c) As it is my second pregnancy I have also had between 4-6 weeks between all my midwife appointments (no complications though), the last time I saw my midwife was 28 weeks and will not see again till 34 weeks.

Writerwannabe83 · 28/01/2014 12:06

I'm currently 31+4 and am also classed as high risk - my care plan was that following my 20 week scan I would be scanned every 4 weeks to monitor baby's growth.

When I was 20 weeks pregnant I had to have my anomaly scan performed at a Foetal Development Centre and it was a Consultant who did it. After the scan she told me that she didn't think I required regular scanning as everything looked fine. However, my actual Obstetrician still wanted it done 4 weekly and so that's what is happening. Following every scan I see my Obstetrician for a review.

I guess it depends why they think your BMI is an issue? Are they anticipating problems? Do you feel you need regular follow-up?

My situation is different as I'm high risk due to two health conditions I have and am under 3 teams at the hospital - hence why I need regular check ups and reviews etc.

bonzo77 · 28/01/2014 12:25

last pregnancy was high risk, and I was very anxious following a mc. by the time I had my 12 week scan i'd had 3 scans. After that I lose count, but probably one at about 16 weeks (worried about heavy discharge), my 20 week scan, then 24, then 26 as I had a bleed, 28 weeks, when growth was shown to have slowed, 30 weeks, 32, 2 at 33 weeks, 2 at 34, 2 at 35weeks and baby born at 35+5. The scans from 32 weeks were done by foetal medicine, and the decision to deliver early was made by them.

My first pregnancy I had the usual scans 12 and 20 weeks. An extra at 28 weeks to as I was measuring small, then 32 and 36 for growth, then one at 38+5 due to reduced movement. Baby born at 39+1, induced for low fluid and reduced movement.

I remember being very surprised at the big gap between appointments as suggested in my maternity notes. those appointments are what are suggested in a low risk pregnancy. I guess if they no longer think you are high risk the that's why you have a gap. If you have concerns you should be able to get an extra appointment or see your GP. Look out for the normal concerns (changed pattern of movements, bleeding, leaking fluid, sudden pain in legs or chest, difficulty breathing, excessive leg swelling and head aches). If these happen then you should get immediate attention, either at the GP, or to maternity triage or labour ward.

thecakeisalie · 28/01/2014 12:44

Sounds similar to what I'll be having due to high bmi. Personally I don't think high bmi as the only issue makes me as high risk as they make out (I have always had low blood pressure and don't have gestational diabetes). I last had a scan at 22 weeks but only because they didn't get all the measurements at 20 weeks. I'm due a growth scan and consultants appointment next week at 32 weeks then another at 36 weeks. I'll also see the midwife in between at 34 weeks.

Unless you have a specific medical condition alongside bmi then they are probably only scanning you to check the growth of baby. From my experience with my other two pregnancies these growth scans can be so inaccurate.

If you want an extra appointment I'm sure you can just book to see the midwife to discuss any concerns.

Mummytobe2014 · 28/01/2014 13:04

Thank you for all your replies, they were worried because i have a high bmi because i am over weight so nothing medical but more at risk of issues i guess but they were happy with my last scan so maybe i am over thinking it. I have made appt to see mw nxt week and then following week is my scan and consultant appt then i expect u see them more frequently! As this is my first its hard to know whats normal esp when i had to see a consultant who told me everything that can go wrong because i have higher bmi than "normal" altho as you said thecake my bloods amd gtt have been normal so i was unsure how this mde me higher risk than anyone else? I hve been told i cant have a water birth because of my bmi but anyway.

I will relax as i feel movements r normal and everything else seems ok :-) thank you all

Ps i have swollen feet and ankles but have done since being pregnant. Told mw but she has never checked them if she did she maybe surprised!? Will mention it again nxt appt

OP posts:
thecakeisalie · 28/01/2014 14:36

I'm actually planning a home birth this time with dc3 (much to the consultants dislike). I've had 2 straight forward pregnancies and labours despite having a raised bmi and no additional health concerns so I fail to see why my bmi alone pushes me into needing consultant led care. I don't know why they don't simply do it on a referral basis i.e if the midwife has concerns she refers you to the consultant rather than consultant care being standard.

The reason they won't want you to have a water birth is a high bmi is linked with increased risk of bleeding after the birth so they will want to check blood loss as accurately as possible which they can't do if you labour in water.

I think the reason they still see us as being high risk despite everything appearing normal is because there have been various studies done linking high bmi with increased risk of various outcomes. Rather than judging it on a case by case basis they automatically assume we will have complicated pregnancies. I'm personally somewhat dubious about these studies as there is still a lot of stigma surrounding having a raised bmi and pregnancy. It makes me wonder whether some of results of these studies are affected by the type of the care being given. For example they encouraged me to have an early epidural with my first and it led to a stalled labour needing a hormone drip to restart my contractions, long pushing stage and I nearly ended with an assisted delivery. If they hadn't suggested early intervention I would probably have progressed normally. It does make me wonder about whether they intervene too soon because of bmi and as a result cause some of these issues.

Sorry that ended up being a bit of an essay. I guess I'm just getting fed up after 3 pregnancies of being treated as high risk despite everything being normal.Good luck with it all, hope everything stays nice and straight forward for you too and don't let the HCP's worry you too much.

Tea1Sugar · 28/01/2014 15:41

28 weeks here, second pregnancy and have had 4 NHS scans at 6,12,20 and 28 weeks. Actual obstetric appointments though have been sparse, last saw consultant at 16 weeks, MW this week then consultant again at 34 weeks.

BEEwitched · 28/01/2014 22:31

I'm 22 weeks with a high BMI and thankfully I've been mostly just treated as a normal pregnancy - I was made aware I was considered higher risk, but don't need to see a consultant and I only had a short scan at my booking to make sure baby's heart was beating (no nuchal scan here) and my 20 week anomaly scan. I'm not getting any other scans on the NHS.

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