1st scan nerves

[TooSkoolForKool]

Hello!!
So I have my 1st scan tomorrow and I'm so nervous It's unreal.
I'm 13 weeks pregnant with my first child and have this feeling of dread that something is going to be wrong.
Can anyone advise me on what to expect and how long it should take?
I know I'm probably being silly but I just have this fear that I have imagined the whole thing and I'm going to loom stupid.
Argh any advice to calm my nerves would be great. Tia

If you tell the sonographers that you are nervous when you go in, they will hopefully do what they can to put you at ease and point out the heartbeat straightaway. Remember, that at this gestation the odds are hugely in your favour of everything being fine.

The scan itself will probably be all over in 10 mins unless your baby is uncooperative and you need to do some jiggling/drinking more water/go to the loo to get him/her in a better position.

Are you having the combined test?

Firstly, being nervous is totally normal, so don't beat yourself up about that.

The 12 week scan took around 30 minutes, they just do an abdominal scan and look at baby's measurements to date your pregnancy. They may have a little look around at baby to see if there's anything obviously out of the ordinary, and if you've opted for edwards/pataus/downs they'll take the nuchal translucency measurement as long as baby is in a good position for it (may ask you to move around to get baby in a better position if not). I then had my bloods down straight after the scan to go with the NT measurement and that was it.

Good luck, enjoy seeing your precious little one for the first time 😍

Thanks for the replies.

Erm I don't think I have opted for the combined scan. Is that normal? I remember briefly talking with my MW about downs and she stated it's up to me but she finds it's a bit pointless as a high risk result will just make me panic so I opted out. Is that what you mean by combined???

I was petrified going for my first scan. The feeling of seeing your baby on that screen for the first time is just amazing.

My sonographer wasn't the most warm person, I was in & out in 10 mins!

Try not to worry, I'm sure everything will be fine. Let us know how you get on :-) x

I don't think your midwife has quite counselled you properly about the combined test. It doesn't just test for Down's syndrome, it also screens for Edwards Syndrome and Patau's syndrome. It doesn't tell you if the baby has it but it does give you a risk, for example 1:300 or 1:1000. If it came back as high risk (high risk figures change depending on individual hospitals) you would get the option of further testing to tell you for definite if the baby has it. Some of those conditions are mostly incompatible with life (obviously not Downs). The vast majority of people get the test done but you can opt out if you want. I guess it depends on whether you would act on a result that showed you were high risk or not or whether you would want to know in advance if your baby could be affected.

Just too add..I declined the tests so if you have opted in it may take longer x

It's not pointless if you would act on the result...not necessarily a termination but having adequate preparation for the birth etc.

I was expecting a jelly-on-the-belly scan for my 12w but it was an elephant's trunk holding a dildo up my chuff

Didn't hurt one bit - i was just a bit taken by surprise hadn't shaved my legs

When i firat saw DS on the screen and heard his heartbeat i cried buckets. When we went for the 20w anomaly scan and found out he was a he, i cried buckets!

Congratulations TooSkoolForKool

I was supee nervous when mine was due too - totally normal to feel that way! Never know what’s going on in the inside after all. Strange the midwife downplayed the tests, it’s a pretty big deal to find out if there are any issues / risks to be aware of. Pretty big tests.

An elephant trunk with a dildo!!!! Is that what I'm to expect???

I thought it was a jelly on the belly scan too, I'm even more confused 

As for the tests my midwife played it down massively!! She did say however if I wasn't going to act on it then don't worry. I'm not sure if I have made the right choice now.

I had jelly on my stomach which I think is a lot more common at the 12 week scan than a vaginal scan.

And I completely understand, I was so nervous the night before and morning of my 12 week scan. When you can't feel him moving yet it is hard to feel reassured that everything is ok in there. So how you are feeling is completely normal and I am sure your scan will be absolutely fine!

As for finding out about the genetic abnormalities, it is completely your choice. My husband and I wanted to know so that we could mentally prepare if something wasn't quite right. But I am a 'need to know everything' kind of person. If you are happy not to know then that is completely up to you and your partner.

Good luck and do let us know the good news tomorrow 😁

Mine was an hour. I’m not what checks I had as I honestly thought they were going to tell me I’d made the baby up I didn’t put much attention before the sonogram.
They checked and measured every inch of her, and we also listened to the heartbeat.

Phew!!!! I had not mentally prepared for an elephants trunk lol although I'll shave just in case 

Jelly on belly here too OP  they usually only use the dildo thingy in very early scans. It's so normal to be scared about the scan! Take lots of deep breathes and Do. Not. Google! Haha. I spent hours the night before googling all the worse case scenarios. Statistically you should be absolutely fine. Congratulations!

Good luck with your scan! Mine is in a few weeks. I had an early scan at 6 weeks and that was a vaginal one. I was horrified when she said, although it was a bit embarrassing at first getting my lady bits out, it didn't hurt at all and the embarrassment soon passed. Good luck for tomorrow ❤️

As a pp has said, even if you wouldn't act on a high risk result, it may help you to prepare if something wasn't quite right. In all of the hospitals I've ever worked in, you don't have to decide until the day whether you want the test or not. If I were you, I would see if someone in the department can explain it to you again before you make your final decision. Your midwife seems quite blasé about it all.

Thanks for all the replies 😊

@Tinypause so I have until my appointment to change my mind about the additional tests? I didn't know this. Maybe I'll do some reading tonight to make a more informed decision

I'm still super nervous but feel much more reassured now tho. The elephant trunk and Dildo comment has had me chuckling all day 😂😂

Eek to think this time tomorrow it will all be over and I would have seen my little cupcake

...the dildo had a camera at the end added bonus!

Best wishes for tomorrow

Good luck for today OP. I had a full on panic attack and passed out because I couldn't breathe before my first scan! Everything was fine, the sonographer will have seen it all before when it comes to panicked ladies so don't worry.

I had my scan today and little munchkin was wriggling and I saw their arms, hands, legs, get and nose! It was great. Wishing you luck and peace!

All is perfect 😍😍😍 thanks for the support, it was actually really good fun

Gorgeous! That's brilliant.

Oh what a beautiful scan picture, it’s so clear! Congratulations, so pleased all was well x