how many scans should you have?

[nugget05]

I was told at my 20 week scan that I wouldn't be having another scan unless something was wrong. However 1 of my friends had a 32 week scan today and 1 of the women I work with had her 32 week scan booked at her 20 week scan. I know sometimes different areas offer different services but I was wondering if its common practice to have 1 at 32 weeks. Im 34 weeks and although im pretty sure everythings fine in there (judging by the mma practice hes got going on ), it would be nice to see him again and make sure hes growing ok, its such a long time since 20 weeks. Just wondered if anyone else has been told no more scans

Where I used to live I was only supposed to have 1 as that was all they did. This was 11 years ago so could have changed and was at 18 weeks. I ended up having 3 for various reasons though.

As many as you medically need.

First pregnancy you get 3 scans in my area. my third is to make sure placenta has moved up

I would only have had the two (W Midlands) but unfortunately they thought there might be too much water so I had growth scans at 32 and 36 weeks. Scary but turns out s/he's just huge.

Honestly, I know it's frustrating when others have had them but I'd much rather have had no blips and only 2 scans! Plus in my case, the extra scans were - rightly - very clinical. There was no looking at cute little hands and noses.

Not long to go OP and you get the full 4D experience!

A low risk pregnancy would generally mean an initial dating scan (or nuchal scan for Downs screening if you choose and it is offered in your area) and then a 20 week anomaly scan. These are the only 'routine' scans and any others would only be offered if they were clinically indicated. A 32 week scan is probably either a growth scan (because of a previous history, medical condition or a fundal height measurement which is higher or lower than it should be) or could be a placental localisation scan if the placenta had been low lying at 20 weeks.

I had a total of seven, lots of early ones due to a previous ectopic. At about 34 weeks I was sent for a growth scan because my bump was small and I was so excited to see more of him but you really cant see a lot by then. I was a bit disappointed I couldnt see his face as he was head down and had his hands covering it! It shows everythings foing well if you dont get sent for loads, and you dont have long to go and you will see your baby for real!

I did think that and im so happy I haven't got to have a scan, had an early scan private due too bleeding and pcos, easily justified the cost for peace of mind, don't think I can justify it at this point as everything seems to be running smoothly, I was wondering as both women looked at me like something was wrong because I haven't been offered 1 so I wanted to make sure.
I know lastondancing its scary to think that soon ill have a baby instead of a belly

I'm in Edinburgh and we have 12 wk and 20 wk and that's it unless there's a particular reason to have a third. I've just had my 20 wk as well. Contemplating a private one later in the day but I'm sure if there was anything wrong, I'd get another one.

Also in Edinburgh, where the 12-14 week scan and 20 week scan are the norm.

This is my second pregnancy, and I'll be having an extra 3 scans to measure growth (my daughter was very small), as well as a scan on arrival at hospital when in labour to check position (DD was undiagnosed breech and I had a EMCS). So extra scans are reassuring this time around for me! But last time around there was no actual concern that warranted extra scans.

IME "normal" is two scans, a dating/nuchal scan at 11-13 weeks and an anomaly scan at 20-22 weeks (although I believe in some areas there is still a single scan at around 16 weeks).

I've always had an additional growth scan at around 34 weeks, because DC1 was huge, but that was unusual.

I had a 12 week and 20 week scan, as is standard but with dc2 needed a 36 week presentation scan due to a previous difficult delivery. You could see very little tbh. DS was too big.

I'm in East England and have had 5 this pregnancy - but believe me I would have been happier with just two as it would have avoided a lot of stress! Had two specialist fetal medicine scans after 20wk scan suggested anomaly, and had 32wk scan to check placenta as was low lying at 20wks.

My friend had previous small baby and problems and has dreaded having to have extra growth scans - which has happened - as it causes so much stress. Also, at my last one (32wks) I could barely make a head out and it looked more like a weather map! So I don't think you're missing much.

Normal is two; 12 weeks and 20 weeks.

I had an extra three; one at 28 weeks for reduced movements, a growth scan at 32 weeks because of family history of GD, and another growth scan at 36 weeks (yesterday!) because I was measuring 37 weeks.

12 and 20 weeks as standard. I also had 1 around 36 to confirm breech and one at 39 weeks just before ELCS to check baby was still breech!

So the last 2 were for medial reasons but I would say that Ime the scans at such a late stage were very different to the earlier ones. No little baby squirming around-instead we just got an alarming close up of head where there should've been a bum! Also I remember saying I didn't want to know the sex and they said'no chance of that; we'd be lucky to get the baby in the right position at this late stage' and also they couldn't actually see where my DD's feet were as everything was so squashed- they suspected her to be footling breech so insisted on CS but couldn't be sure (were right as it turns out).

So I suppose my point is later stage scans are, in my experience, very different to earlier ones (also bear in mind I (31 and 3/4) and maybe you were carried and delivered with no scanning whatsoever).

Routine scans at 12, 20-22 weeks and 32 weeks here. The 32 week scan came in between DCs 1 and 2, so 3 to 4 years ago. According to the blurb the 32 week scan is to show:
• How well your baby is growing. We check their growth compared with earlier scans. This allows us to spot babies who may be at risk and plan their – and your – care.
• More about your baby’s anatomy.
• The blood flow to your placenta. This shows how much nourishment (food) your baby is getting.
• The position of your placenta. Knowing its position can help us to plan how you will deliver your baby.
• The amount of amniotic fluid around your baby.
• More about your baby’s movements.

I've always had loads of extra scans for various reasons (low lying placenta, growth concerns because of UC then GD, high blood pressure).

I think I read somewhere that 12 & 20 week scans are offered everywhere, and some teaching hospitals offer 32 week scans as standard.

Im booked at a major hospital in central London and they give 3 scans as routine-12wks, 20wks, and 30-32wks the final one being a growth scan

In Australia we only have one at 20 weeks. There is no recommended minimum number if your pregnancy is fine so you could have zero. All antenatal ultrasounds are optional. WHO don't recommend having ultrasounds as routine. So please don't worry about not having another one booked in.

I had one at 8 weeks due to a previous loss, routine dating scan at 12 weeks and anomaly scan at 20 weeks. I had a private 4d scan at 25 weeks also. When I was 28 weeks I started measuring quite big so the midwife sent me for a growth scan which showed my baby was pretty big, so I had growth scans at at 30 and 36 weeks too. I'm back at the hospital on Thursday and might be having another scan then.

So for me, I've had 5 NHS scans and 1 private in this pregnancy. Didn't realise I'd had so many!

I'm scheduled to have eight in total - would have been much happier to have only needed two! After the initial magical 'OMG baby!!' thing on the first scan it's just been a stressful experience.

I've had 6 already and am only at 16 weeks. More to come!

Glad of them though as I'm high risk. But they are stressful and faff!

I have four. The basic two and one at 30 weeks to check "the flows" due to BP issues last time. Apparently you can predict pre-eclampsia through scans. I also have a growth scan at 34 weeks due to raised BMI. Ho hum.

Two is the norm- 12 & 20 weeks. I've ended up having 5.5 so far; one at 8 weeks, then at 12 and 20 and a further 2, to check out a possible VSD. Then at my last consultant appointment, I had a sort of 'half scan' to check the positioning of the baby. I've still got 5 weeks left and imagine they'll squeeze another one in before the baby arrives!

2 is normal where I live. I've always had at least one extra where someone does the teeth sucking, head shaking thing and tells me my baby will be massive. I spend the rest of the baby worrying and then deliver a perfectly normal sized baby! With DS4 I had loads extra because he had a cleft lip, polyhydramnios and kept flipping between breech and head down.