20 week scan - has anyone opted to not have one?

[blossomgirl]

Hi. Wondering about not having my 20 week scan (the first). I'm not needing to meet our little person like this; know they are in there, wanted & loved. Also sex is unimportant. Wondered if there is true value to the unborn child?

I'm not a tree hugger but I do seem to be feeling very protective over having measurements and classifications made of this person in my tum, and I know they can only detect form not function of what they test, so i'm questioning if i want to even go down this interventionalist road when not all the facts will be to hand anyway?

Please help anyone, my prep notes only mention screening for 'abnormalities' so perhaps im taking a negative view of this and need to get a grip! Thanks

how are you hc

hello b, good thanks, though stinking cold. you? shall we get together with the kids soon?

wd love to. just finishing off some late-night editing (disastrous studio sesh) and off to eat some trashy food at home. prob not online now till next tues but lunch possible next week. poor you, everyone seems to have spring colds.

how about lunch on thursday? i'll e-mail you.

fab. lunch always top of my 'to do' list..

e-mail gone

Blossomhill - the choice is yours.

The 20 weeks anomaly scan is something all women should be offered. However, I do think that a lot of women do not recognise that problems may be detected rather than just seeing the baby. I have seen women who have refused blood tests to screen for abnormalities have the scan to see the baby.

There are advantages and disadvantages. It can be good to have knowledge in advance of problems that need treating. However, there are many more possible problems identifed causing anxiety and worry which turn out to be fine in the end. That is why some units do not do them (mine does) however, that is wrong too. Women should have the choice.

The placenta problem isn't a major issue with the 20 weeks scan. Most low lying placentas will be fine at delivery and that is a needless worry for women. For women with major placenta praevia, they will present with bleeding mainly. If not there are other reasons to suspect it such a head that is not engaging. Women are scanned when admitted with bleeding so it is not a problem that will be totally missed by not having the 20 weeks scan.

I had the scans with all 4 of mine and probably would again. Even as a midwife though I didn't think much of the negative aspects. I just likes seeing the baby at that point. What would I have done if there was a problem?

Blossomgirl,
I have my anomaly scan in a couple of weeks. Am getting really nervous. I'd personally always opt to have a scan though.

ps Mears - can they usually spot any problems quickly? The anomaly scan lasts longer than the 12-week one, doesn't it?

It does last longer so that they can look at everything. Sometimes problems are detected on scan that turn out not to be preoblems at all. Scans take varying lengths of time depending on whether the sonographer gets a good view of the baby or not. Sometimes they can be lying in a position that makes it difficult to see so don't worry if it takes a while.

dinny - I would not worry too much - as mears said - it can take longer if the baby is in an awkward position. My dd refused to roll over - she was quite happy on her tummy - at first they tilted the bed every which way to see if that would prompt her to move. They then sent me off for oj or something very cold - again no success - I had to come back the next week for a further scan ( when she would be more co-operative) so they could finish checking everything.

I always start wittering nervously on - then shut up when I realise they are concentrating hard.

If the baby is moving lots is it a sign things are likely to be OK? Or is that a really stupid question?

I think I'm more nervous than with dd1. Prob as you hear more horror stories once you become a mother...?

Hello, sorry mears, dinny and eidsvold about not thanking you for your thoughts - been away camping(!?) in Ireland!

Hope you didn't get too nervous Dinny? I know what you mean though. Im going to the hospital tom to speak to the radiographer whose kindly agreed to chat with me about the scan before next weeks app. Still researching...