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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

20 week scan couldn't check heart

31 replies

Robotsindeskies · 13/04/2015 13:21

I've just had my 20 week scan and they said the baby was lying in an awkward position and so they couldn't check the heart properly. I've got to go back in a couple of weeks, has this happened to anyone else? I'm worried sick now.

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WinterBabyof89 · 13/04/2015 13:24

I'd be more concerned if they found something notable - however, in your case baby was just being awkward (not that baby knows it's being scanned ha!).. So try not to fret and your second scan will be here before you know it :)

seaoflove · 13/04/2015 13:26

Why are you worried? It sounds like there's no reason to believe that there's anything wrong with the heart, just that they weren't able to carry out all of their routine checks and measurements due to the baby's position. That's really common.

Call your midwife for reassurance if you're really concerned, but it really doesn't sound like there's a problem.

Original poster

Robotsindeskies · 13/04/2015 13:27

It was moving around loads too, don't think it liked being prodded.

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happygojo · 13/04/2015 13:28

With mine they couldn't check the head. It is quite common that they can't do all the measurements first time. If bubs was wriggling and everything else was fine then I wouldn't worry. Plus it means you get another look at bubba in a couple of weeks

Original poster

Robotsindeskies · 13/04/2015 13:28

Thanks I'm just panicking I think.

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scarednoob · 13/04/2015 13:29

it's totally understandable to be psyched up about it and then disappointed/nervous to have to wait. but there is nothing bad or ominous about that reason, just a baby who didn't feel like co-operating!

moving around loads sounds like there should be a nice strong little heart in there. lots of luck for the repeat scan!

Original poster

Robotsindeskies · 13/04/2015 13:32

Thanks that has made me feel a bit better.

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KittyandTeal · 13/04/2015 13:36

Yes this happened to me.

They managed to get the measurement after I'd jumped around, eaten and had coffee.

I'm sure it will be fine but waiting is worrying. Try to relax. Chances are there's nothing wrong.

I was also told that as I has an early then a late anomoly scan that the heart is the tricky thing to get in the earlier scans. I'm not saying that's the reason but it doesn't show hearts are notoriously difficult to visualise.

croon979 · 13/04/2015 13:55

This happened to me at my 29 week scan too. Baby was lying in an awkward position and wriggling around too much for the accurate heart measurements to be completed. I went back for a reach at 21 weeks and all was fine and scan was completed with no problems. Hard to say I know as I really panicked in-between those scans but it really was fine and nothing sinister. As they said, they simply couldn't complete the measurements on that day. It was nice to have a bonus scan too! Best of luck, I'm sure all will be ok

croon979 · 13/04/2015 13:56

Oops should have said 20 week scan and not 29 weeks!

dancinglorna1984 · 13/04/2015 13:58

Hello, This happened to me a couple of weeks ago and is rather common. The baby was in a really awkward position at the 20 week scan so the sonographer was unable to check the heart and confirm all of the measurements and we were advised we needed to go back for another scan 3 weeks later. Like you I was worried sick and was really upset about the whole experience. I actually ended up calling the hospital and had my appointment moved forward by a few days as I wasn't happy to wait 3 weeks as it felt too long and my initial appointment was very rushed. When I went back again for the scan they got all of the measurements and confirmed all was fine, so I had been worrying for nothing. They just have to make sure that they check everything thoroughly before they confirm the scan is complete. Hope this helps and please try not to worry as it isn't good for you or the baby.

WiIdfire · 13/04/2015 14:00

I had exactly that scenario, and everything was absolutely fine at the second scan. Don't panic!!

Original poster

Robotsindeskies · 13/04/2015 14:02

Ok I will try and stop worrying now. It seems more common than I thought. Thank you.

OP posts:

Losingmyreligion · 13/04/2015 14:02

Well if they thought there was something amiss they would have called a colleague in to check. It's a pity that you have to wait so long for a follow up though. Might be worth contacting your midwife and tell her it's stressing you out and see if she can move your appointment forward. Good luck.

MerlinsBeard87 · 13/04/2015 15:33

This also happened to me. They could see everything else at the 20 week scan but then baby wouldn't move to show the heart. I had a drink and went for a walk and rolled about on the table, but in the end had to go back again 2 weeks later. I tried not to worry and was happy I would get an extra scan to see the baby again. At 22 weeks everything was fine and the sonographer kindly gave me another tour around the baby, and we double checked the sex again. Hope everything is ok for you

Duckstar · 13/04/2015 15:37

Happened to me. Couldn't check heart or face. After jumping up and down a lot (and baby refusing to move) they said to come back a week later. Scan week later totally normal.

Littlemissjt · 13/04/2015 16:10

Happened to me. Couldn't see face or heart at 20 week, everything was fine at 22 week. I did quite like getting to have another look at baby to be honest! Hope you're feeling more reassured now.

westcountrywoman · 13/04/2015 16:17

Don't worry. If they'd seen anything of concern, they wouldn't be leaving it a fortnight before rescanning you.
It sounds genuinely like they just couldn't see properly.

Gillian1980 · 13/04/2015 17:49

I had this at 20 week scan - due to her position they couldn't check heart or feet. I went back again at 21 weeks and after shifting myself about in various positions they eventually managed to get a look at both.

From what the sonographer said it's a fairly common problem. If baby is comfy and won't move then there's little they can do about it.

Try not to worry, I'm sure they'd say if they thought there was a possible problem.

BonnieBeaumont · 13/04/2015 18:33

This happened to me too. Baby was in an awkward position to see the heart but the sonographer gave me the option of going for a 20 minute walk and baby moved into a better position during that time. Everything was fine!

NancyRaygun · 13/04/2015 18:36

Hello - just to add: this happened to me too at 20 wk scan. It is fairly common, the baby was just in a bit of an awkward spot to check the heart. Went back a week later, heart fine and had a nice long look at the baby as it was a normal appointment but only heart to view and the lovely sonographer took me on a 'tour of the baby'. It was amazing!

I hope you are less worried now. :)

Original poster

Robotsindeskies · 13/04/2015 19:26

Thanks everyone, I am a lot less worried now.

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Sparrowlegs248 · 13/04/2015 20:35

Happened to me too, couldn't check heart, spine or kidneys at my 20wknd scan, and I had to wait 4 weeks til my next scan.

All was well but it took ages to check the kidneys. I was really starting to worry that there were no kidneys to check but we got there in the end.

It is a very common occurrance. Good luck!

rugbychick · 13/04/2015 20:44

I had to go back at 23 weeks because my dd was wriggling too much (still very active now at 3!). A quarter of measurements were missing due to the wriggling. All well at second scan.

TwinkleTee · 15/04/2015 09:17

I had to have three 20 week scans as little bean was always lying curled up facing the back. Nothing I did moved her around in the scanning room. Eventually got all the heart measurements on the third appointment and things were all ok. No need to worry!

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