NHS SCANNING EQUIPMENT VS PRIVATE CLINIC

[Pla88]

hi everyone. Does anyone have experience of discrepenses with measurements from the above. NHS are measuring the femur about 5mm shorter than a private clinic got. we went for a 4d scan and they measured a lot longer when they done the normal scan. Nhs are saying because they have done repeat scans and they are all about the same growth rate, they reckon they are correct.Does anyone have any experience at birth of discrepancies?

Bump anyone?

In my experience it's not the equipment it's the way the baby is laying that makes a difference I had early scans with both nhs and private and nhs measured me smaller then private and I think this was because of time with the nhs it was very much slap dash but private obviously as I payed they took more time to get correct measurements

I think it also depends how many weeks you are too, at full term 5mm is possibly within the margins of user error but at 20 weeks could tip the balance between normal range and suggesting an anomaly.

Thanks for the replies. We are at 30 weeks and experiencing short long bones. The 4d results being 5mm longer against the nhs. Nhs have basically said their measurements are correct

Can i ask why you are worrying? There will always be discrepancies between different scanners. If the NHS hospital, where you will be having your baby, are saying its correct then don't worry. When i went for a 4d scan with no 2 they said she was measuring small. I then had my daughter and she was a perfectly normal size and weight. She is now 18 months and on the 75th c.

Yep, different scanners, different users will all measure differently.

The NHS are correct, it's the differences between scans on the same machine, showing how your baby is growing, that's important.

Private machines are not always "better" than the NHS version. NHS scans are done for medical reasons, and need to be accurate at measuring and picking up problems. Private 4d scans are often done for the pretty pictures so there is likely to be more variability in the quality of the machine, and also in the ability of the user. NHS sonographers are highly trained and experienced.

Why did you go for the 4d scan? What did the sonographer there say? Did they pick up any cause for alarm?

Yes we are going for repeat growth scans with the nhs. The 4d was just for a DVD but they measured as part of the service - extra 5mm on femur.

Please try not to worry too much. At 27 weeks a scan showed my baby was very small and femurs even further behind than everything else. Weekly scans showed consistent growth but still very short femurs. I was imagining and googling all sorts although amnio was clear. Anyway my ds was born nearly three weeks ago. Small as expected but otherwise fine and his legs are perfectly normal.