What can 20 week scan pick up that a 16 week scan cant?

[Stillmonday]

Im starting to get really anxious about my 20 week scan next week. Im pregnant after many many years of trying and numerous rounds of IVF and this is my first pregnancy so im pretty anxious to be honest.

I had a scan at 16 weeks and the sonographer said after that she couldn't see any 'Major abnormalities' so im wondering if that 'should' reassure me that all looks ok will they look deeper into everything / be able to see more at the 20 week scan?

Why did you have a 16 week scan? Usually they do 12 and 20 week scans as standard.

I had a 16 week scan due to an abnormal blood test result.

I then had a 17 week private scan to determine baby's sex.

IME, the 20 week scan goes into more depth. They spend longer looking at bits like the face (check for cleft lip), the kidneys, the spine, the heart, the brain etc.

Although both of my other scans were detailed, they definitely didn't take as many measurements in those as they did at the 20 week scan.

Both scans said that there were no obvious issues, and the same was said at my 20 week scan. Hope this eases your mind a little :)

I had a 16 week scan as im an ivf'er and I also haemorggahed at 13 weeks.

Thanks Stephisaur - im still nervous! I don't think it helps as I've still not really felt anything and im 19 weeks. Just keep praying all is ok!!

Some women feel their baby move early, while others feel them much later up to 24 weeks. If you have an anterior placenta you are likely to feel your baby's movements much later as the placenta dampens their movements.

They go into a lot of detail at the 20 week scan... check the nose/lip, detailed look at the heart including all 4 chambers/valves etc bladder, kidneys, the angle of the feet, the spinal chord... it takes approximately half an hour. The reason they do it as close to 20 weeks as possible is that’s when the baby is the optimum size for all those things to be seen.
I had a scan at 16 weeks then the anomaly scan at 20 weeks and also panicked in between the two! It is nerve wracking. All was fine though.

The 20 week scan is standard. Prior to that the baby isn’t developed enough to identify potential issues. It’s good that there was nothing of concern at 16 weeks. I was about 21 weeks before baby kicked hard enough to feel.