Did anyone only have the 12&20 week scans?

[mistermagpie]

I keep reading about everyone getting growth scans or other additional scans in the third trimester and most of my friends have had similar. I am 30 weeks and have only been offered the 12 & 20 week scans and that's it. My pregnancy is low-risk (obviously a good thing!) so I guess that's why, but 20 weeks between the last scan and the birth feels like a very long time! I wondered if you can request an extra scan or are they only for certain medical conditions?

With dc2 and 3 I was only supposed to have the 12 & 20 week scan but with dc3 I ended up having a scan in labour because she was undiagnosed breech.
The consultant was openly annoyed that scans further on aren't routine so that problems like that can be picked up.

I had lots of scans with ds due to reduced movements. Also had low Papp a so I had about 3 growth scans for that.

Pregnant with dc2 now and had to have 2 early scans but hoping it's just the 2 from now on, although I agree 20 weeks until birth is ages

Had one scan at 11 weeks 18 years ago. I would have loved a second scan, but private scans weren't as popular back then.

Oh my god, this is awful. I'm so glad we aren't in the uk, as I am getting scans at least every 4 weeks. How do they pick up changes then in the uk which could lead to problems later on? Like decreases in the placental blood flow, the cervical length or the amount of amniotic fluid? Or the growth of the baby? I know so many people who have had problems picked up during routine scans which are then more closely monitored as time goes by, it would absolutely terrify me to only get 2 scans in pregnancy.

I don't think monitoring for the sake of monitoring is always a good thing in pregnancy/childbirth.

Two scans is normal for an uncomplicated pregnancy. With DS I just had the two and I'm pregnant with DD now (36 weeks) and decided to get an additional scan at 26 weeks through a private clinic only because I'm a bit of an older mum and wanted additional reassurance, not because there was anything wrong with the baby.

DC1 I had 12 and 20 wks and then another at 39 wks as they thought baby was breach (was not.)

DC2 I had 12 and 20 wks and then weekly from 37 because they thought baby was breech. He was. And kept turning oblique, breech, head down, breech, oblique.

I would have preferred not to have needed the extra scans and instead have normal pregnancy and normal presentation and then not be induced (DC1 due to lateness and dc2 due to unstable lie).

Every scan is a chance for them to find something else that isn't really wrong but they will take weeks of extra scans to decide that was the case all along. Extra scans = Very Bad!! ime.

I think that there should be a scan in the third trimester. How else could they check for things such as deteriorating placenta

Extra scans are only for high risk or problematic pregnancies. I had one every two weeks from 10 weeks to 20 weeks, because of bleeding and thankfully everything was okay but unless you have problems they only offer 2, my sister only had two because she had an easy pregnancy. Growth scans are only for smaller or bigger babies when their is an issue like baby not growing correctly or gestational diabetes, so if you havent been referred dont worry x

I had a 12 week and 20 week scan with DS1.

With this pregnancy I had a scan at 6 weeks due to severe cramping, 12 week and 20 week routine scans and I've got a growth scan booked for 30 weeks and then I'll book one for 34 weeks (both followed up with consultant appointments). My third tri scans are growth scans due to DS1 being 10lbs 8oz and suspected GD. I also had an EMCS due to failed labour, DS1s position (back of his head/neck was presented) and other reasons. These scans are to help assess baby's weight and position as well as schedule an elective c-section.

I have had extra scans but that is because I got an electrical shock at one point and then a few weeks later had bleeding which turns out to be placenta previa so I will again be having more scans to see if it changes position.

You can always pay for extra scans if you want the reassurance :)

I had about 10 with DS1 as he measured behind throughout and was thought to have Down's.
Thought I'd only have the 12 and 20 with DS2 but due to lack of foetal movement throughout the whole pregnancy, we had another 3 scans.
These subsequent scans aren't remotely interesting to watch, as they're purely for medical purposes so they don't faff about showing you babies face or counting toes or anything. Both children were born healthy btw

But both of them had to be induced as they weren't sure if they were going to be okay.

I am 12w and had 6 scans already because of IVF and a previous late loss, the cause of which needs to be managed during this pregnancy. Expecting many more over the coming weeks. No one should wish for the need to have extra scans.

With dc1 I only had the two scans at 12 & 20. I do think that there should be a later scan at maybe 32 or 34 weeks to pick up growth and other problems. Might decrease our terrible stillbirth rate.

It depends on the hospital. The one I was with offered one at 36 weeks, but that isn't standard practice for most hospitals

One midwife I had said that although scans are deemed safe they are a medical procedure and you wouldn't have MRI/X-rays needlessly and that an ultrasound should be thought of the same way.

I had extra scans with all of mine for various reasons - postition of baby and placenta, very low iron levels requiring a infusion drip etc.

Just to add, it was a standard scan, there wasn't anything wrong with my baby

Every 4 weeks for me as it was twins. I had a brilliant pregnancy but I was convinced I could never feel DS move so very reassuring.

I've had more than the usual two for all three pregnancies. DC1 was measuring big. Well, my fundus was measuring big, so I was sent for a scan and DD was indeed big so they kept an eye. She came out at 8lb 15oz so not massive but not tiny.

With DS he wasn't cooperating at the 20 week scan and after a walk and drinking loads he still hadn't changed position so we had to come back a couple of weeks later. It was a scary wait as the measurement for the ventricles in his brain was "borderline" but everything turned out fine. He also measured big so I had to have a couple more scans for that, too. He was 9lb 13oz.

Currently PG with DC3 and again they weren't cooperating at the 20 week scan so I had to go back. They want to monitor this one because of the last two so I'll be having more scans.

To be honest I was very anxious with DD (DC1) and I thought I would find the scans reassuring. They were, to a point. I would feel reassured seeing baby on screen but it wouldn't take long before I was back to feeling anxious again. It's a vicious cycle really.

If your really feeling it's too long you can always go for a private scan between week 20 and your due date.

Be pleased your low risk with a healthy pregnancy.

I wish I only had 2.

I had at weeks: 6,12,16,20,24,26,28,30,31,32,33,34,35and 36.
Ultimately all the extra scans stressed me out so much I couldn't enjoy my pregnancy.

Ended up with a small but completely healthy DD was on 2nd at birth and now at 7 months is on 25th.

I'm old, no scans at all.

I only had 2 with my pregnancies.

Bear in mind that there is evidence to suggest frequent scans do affect foetuses. The research is in it's infancy so not conclusive yet.

Personally i'd avoid any scans that were not medically necessary. People all thought x-rays were safe imaging- until they weren't, but it takes many years for the data to show the effects...

Ive only had 12 and 20 week scans so far and I'm 36weeks. Glad that it's low risk and nothing worrying about baby but I wish I'd had another one, I'd pondered paying for a 4d scan but didn't in the end and now it's too late.....but I was so nervous at the scans I did have that I didn't really 'enjoy' them if that makes sense. Wish I'd appreciated the moment a bit more but I was freaking out in case anything went wrong.