Does 20 wk scan HAVE to be before 23 weeks?

[MilfordFound]

I had my 20 wk scan on Monday, but baby wasn't cooperating and there were a few images the sonographer couldn't get. Everything looks fine but no images of the heart vessels, lips, lvot, or rvot (whatever those last two are!)

I've been offered another date on the 2nd January at 5pm, they said this is the only time they can offer the rescan, no other day or time available. My partner will be at work and not able to change his shift, and nursery will close before I can get there after the scan. So I'll have to finish work early, pick up my 2 year old from and go to the hospital at her dinner time when she's grumpy. I have no one to watch her so she'll either be screaming or rampaging round the scan room.

Midwife said scan had to be done by 23 weeks. Is that for a diagnostic reason? Like the 13 week scan has to be done in a small window in order for the nuchal fold test to be reliable?
Or does it have to be done by 23 weeks so that if there's something wrong then a termination for medical reasons can be done before 24 weeks?

If it's because of a diagnostic window then I'll drag my 2 year old along and go. If it's for the other reason then I think I might pass.

I have an appointment coming up so I'll ask then too.

I'm fairly sure it's so the measurements can be taken for the downs, Edwards and patau testing.

Sorry, I misread! Disregard my post. I'm not sure actually!

Some nursery staff like to do extra childcare. You could ask at the nursery if anyone would be able to babysit?

Sorry I know that's not what you asked, but just a thought.

Are you sure you would be able to take DD?
Lots of hospitals have a no child policy, i know my trust does, for very good reasons, if you hear bad news for example and also it makes it very difficult for the sonographers to do their job if there is a small child running around making a noise and touching things they shouldn't.

I had to bring my two children and two nieces (11,6,6,2) to my scan! I just gave them devices to play with, my youngest was a little loud at first but when I start whispering she starts eventually whispering so I did that about 10 mins before the scan and she was fine. I had no choice so it was either that or they sent me away and they didn’t seem to mind, “it happens” I was told

Sorry not my youngest, I meant the youngest * my niece

Just give her a biscuit and your phone, download a video or something

They wouldn’t want to do it any later than this in case something was picked up and you needed further tests or wanted a termination.

And it’s also something they’re audited on, having completed anomaly scans by 23 weeks so they want their stats looking bad!

Thanks for all the replies. I spoke to the registrar today who said it was diagnostic and has to be done before 23 weeks. The results are used together with the 13 week scan to give a probability of some conditions.
Ugh so I'll have to go and drag my daughter along too. Lots of snacks and books hopefully she won't rampage. Hopefully the schools won't be back on the 2nd or traffic will be a nightmare.

My unit aim for 21-24weeks