Does the sonographer tell you if there's something wrong at the first scan or do they wait until 20 weeks?

[b4dmum]

I don't know if I'm just being a worry wart but the sonographer was very serious looking as she scanned. I'm not saying I want her to be friendly or grinning, I know she's doing a serious job. But its just made me think maybe there was something wrong. She made me go and wee midway through which worried me a little also. Then the NT number was 2.4mm at 13 weeks which seems high.

I'm thinking maybe they wouldn't say anything until they can be sure at 20 weeks. IDK what do you think? Do they keep quiet or would they tell you? Maybe I'm overthinking her seriousness. They were very busy and running an hour behind. She could have just been stressed.

Of course they tell you if they suspect something is wrong! You would likely need additional scans/tests. Given that she asked you to empty your bladder, she probably just couldn't get a clear image.

They would tell you if there was any concern or arrange for you to wait and see a doctor. They definitely would not wait until twenty weeks.

Scanning and measuring a moving three-dimensional baby on a 2D screen is a tricky job! If they seemed serious they were probably just concentrating on getting accurate measurements.

Oh, and asking you to wee just helps them get a better view by getting the bladder out of the way. I had to go and wee, lie wedged on a pillow and jump around before my baby would behave and get in a good position!

They would 100% tell you if anything was even vaguely expected to be wrong

Ok thanks I feel a lot better now. I'm very mistrustful of docs/nurses etc for some reason. I always think they're hiding things.

Yes they would tell you.
I’ve had three pregnancies and have had to faff around with emptying bladder/part emptying bladder etc in all the scans I’ve had! It’s just so they can get a better image.

They would absolutely tell you.
We had problems spotted at the first scan and I had a counsellor come to talk to me and a next day appointment at a specialist unit booked before I’d even left the sonographers room!

I had a bladder that was too full and I had to wee twice during my scan. If there were concerns they would let you know and you would probably have some follow up appointments.

We are in Germany and they do lots of scans here but we were given extra high detail ones at 12 and 20 weeks due to family risk factors. We asked the doctor and he said they can only really screen out about 30% of issues at 12 weeks, and it's more like 90% at 20 weeks. This is why most problems are picked up later. It's not that they are seen at 12 weeks but they aren't sure. It's just that everything is so tiny problems don't show up until later.

2.4mm is a perfectly normal measurement, it can be up to 3.5 without concern :) DS2 had 2.5 I think and he is totally normal and healthy :)

If something is wrong they call in a dr to rescan you. It's horrible, after nearly 2 hours and three separate health professionals scanning me I was asked to come back the following day but "not to worry". Needless to say not a lot of sleep was had. Turns out I had an unusual two vessel cord so loads more tests.

Completely normal to be asked to go pee. I think my son's NT was 2.4 too...I never even wondered about it. He's here now and 9 month old and perfectly normal!!

They don't keep secrets from you! If they have any concerns they will flag them up immediately - at most the sonographer will leave the room to get someone more senior or a second opinion but they definitely won't wait until 20 weeks to tell you. How full/empty your bladder is makes a big difference to the clarity of the early scans.

The sonographer was probably just concentrating, it's not an easy job. My gynaecologist went silent and screwed up his face when he was scanning me yesterday, and seemed to be repeatedly scanning the same area. I could feel my anxiety rising but when I asked him if everything was ok he said he was just struggling to get a measurement as the baby kept moving, 1 minute later it was done and everything was fine.