Anomaly scan- chance of something 'incompatible with life'

[Chattycat78]

I've got my anomaly scan in a week or so and am now worrying about them finding something terrible which means the baby won't survive. I know this happens sometimes to people (thanks google) and am pretty much living in fear of this. :(. Getting pg involved a long slog and IVF so it would be devastating.

Am I being dramatic or Is this likely? We had the nifty tests which test DNA so I know the chances are very low of downs/patau/Edwards syndrome but there are all these other things that could be wrong.....

Does anyone know the stats on this?

I find stats a bit pointless. There maybe a 1 in a trillion chance of the baby having something wrong and your baby could be that 1, or there could be a 99% chance of there being an issue and your baby could be the one that is fine.
Yes, things are picked up at the 20 week scan that are bad news and most major hospitals will break bad news of some sort on a fairly regular basis. BUT the vast majority come out happy and smiling with a pic of their healthy baby.
I understand your nervousness. I HATED both my 20 week scans for fear of there being an issue. Everything was fine but I do know how you feel.

Good luck!

The chance really is low.

Having been victim to a 1/6000 issue and a 1/100, I actually do put store by the probabilities when used correctly in a clinic. Understanding the stats has kept me sane this pregnancy.

Generally they say there is a 3-4% chance of something being picked up on the scan. 2% comprises of issues they can either treat easily or are less 'severe'. 1% there is something more lifelong either seen or deemed high risk: eg Downs Syndrome or a missing limb. Fewer than 1 in 100 have something that would end the life of the baby come up
Of course, these things do happen.But horrible maternal anxiety also happens far more often about scans so take care OP.
Most likely all will be okay.

Thanks for the replies- squizita I'm sorry you have been so unlucky in the past, but glad things are going well thus time.

I really hate this anxiety- every week i find something to worry about, and I'm still constantly knicker checking too for fear of mc! When does it end and you feel more confident that it's actually going to happen? I nearly ordered some maternity jeans yesterday but then stopped myself just in case.

Try to relax a bit more, worrying about every possible thing that could go wrong isn't going to help you in any way. I worried about everything in the first 20 weeks, it's been quite a process for me to let go and just trust that it's going to be ok.

It's good to be aware of symptoms of common major issues IMO, but don't go googling every little thing, you won't sleep at night!

After 12 weeks chance of loss is 0.5%. Try to focus on the fact that the vast majority of pregnancies are uneventful, healthy and successful. While forums such as MN and the internet in general can be incredibly helpful, they are also skewed towards more information about potential risks, problems etc, because there isn't as much to say about a straightforward pregnancy. It seems a shame to spend a healthy pregnancy worrying about the tiniest chance of a problem, but I know it's hard not to! An overload of information can be as unhelpful as it is helpful iykwim.

Yep, I've stopped googling and it's made my pregnancy much more enjoyable. I honestly recommend it!

I think what you are fleeing is completely understandable .

Obviously here will be a scale of anxiety on this depending on previous things.

It really is a low risk, try not to worry

The risk is very, very small, particularly since you have already had the common chromosome anomalies ruled out.

Step away from Google if you can help it.
Terrifying yourself with the 'what ifs' will just make yourself feel worse and won't change a thing. Please look after yourself.

Anxiety in pregnancy is really common and horrible, particularly after all you've been through already.
Have you spoken to anybody about how anxious you have been feeling? It may be worthwhile trying to address the anxiety before you have your baby because, believe you me, newborns/babies are frigging frightening to look after .

Thanks all- pacific- yes you have a point. Maybe I should see about speaking to someone. And yes google is unhelpful I'll try to stop!

I understand as I can get really obsessed with things and go over and over them in my mind getting more upset.

My tips, stay away from searching for problems

Try some hypnotherapy on YouTube for relaxing, ie every time you staying thinking of bad things just click on it and try to take your mind off it.

Otherwise you are just winding yourself up by yourself !! You wouldn't put up with someone else putting these fears in your head so dont listen to yourself.

I have a very critical inner voice so I had to find a way of dealing with the negativity.

In 2012 I was told at my 12 week scan that the baby had a brain abnormality incompatible with life (Anencephaly) The stats for that are so ridiculously low that I would never have dreamed of even worrying about it. But it happened to me.

I am now pregnant again, and have decided just to enjoy it as, I really have absolutely no control over it. If something will happen it is going to happen. The odds are very very low.

Time passes wether you worry or not. Try to enjoy your pregnancy easier to say than do I know!