Surely not 20 weeks

[hfl]

We found out last week that i am pregnant, 7 weeks. Very excited and went to the doc, who told me that my first scan wasnt due until week 20 - surely not? Everything that I have read is 12 week dating scan.

I am going back to make sure that I get booked in for a 12 week.

This is our first, am I right to demand a 12 week scan?

absolutely. making you wait til 20 weeks is ridiculous!

In some areas the 12 week (nuchal) scan is provided freely and routinely on the NHS.

If you are in an area where it is not provided on the NHS, you may be able to pay for it privately.

I did not have a scan until 20 weeks with my dd (now 2.5) as the hospital I attended didn't offer them unless it was in conjunction with DOwn's testing. I am pregnant again now, and they are doing them now. I think it depends on the area you are in whether they offer a purely 'dating' scan.

According to NICE, pregnant women should be offered a routine dating scan between 11 and 13 weeks, so I think you'd be within your rights.

There's a leaflet here: www.nice.org.uk/pdf/CG6_ANC_NICEguideline.pdf

Maybe you could say there is some uncertainty about your dates and that it's causing you a lot of stress?

Not necessarily hfl/dal21, they don't do 12 weeks scans everywhere. I have a friend who lives near Southampton and she only ever had the 20 week scan offered to her with both her children. You may have to go privately if you want the earlier scan (unless you have specific reasons why you need an earlier one - like for example, you have previously had repeated miscarriages) Good luck with the pregnancy anyway (shouldn't be on here really as have two dcs but not pg at the moment!)

It should be provided, according to NICE guidelines. If not, complain vociferously to the Chief Exec pointing this out. One scan is not enough.

I'd be surprised if they don't offer either a 12 week dating scan or nuchal fold scan, but guess there are still some places where they might not. I would certainly tell the doc that you understand there is normally a scan at around 12 weeks and see what he/she says...

Aloha NICE guidance is just that, it is guidance, not a diktat. The Healthcare Commission will assess against it but not in every area.

However, if for example, hfl had indicators that showed that she ought to have a 12 week scan, then the Trust could be asked why, in her case, it had not followed the NICE guidance.

Actually the department of health's maternity standard says all PCTs should implement the NICE guidelines on scanning. If you don't get offered a scan, complain to the chief exec, the healthcare commission and/or write to your MP. This should not be happening.

I was told I couldn't have a 12 week scan when I was pregnant with ds, because I'd had an 8 week viability scan (after lots of infertility problems) and was booked in for the nuchal fold, despite the fact that these scans were ones I arranged privately.

My GP said it would be a waste of NHS resources and could put the baby at risk.

That was in St Albans. This time (different GP, same hospital) they're insisting I have a 12 week scan even though I'm booked in for the nuchal one (paid for privately) 3 days later, with the same consultant.

I live in Bristol and you are not scanned until 20 weeks. We had to pay privately for the nuchal fold scan with Downs testing at 12 weeks (£196). Most people we know end up paying for the scan. I think it is disgusting that we are not scanned earlier to try to pick up on any problems.

The 12wk scan (unless a nuchal scan) is pretty much just a dating scan. Anomalies aren't looked for until 20wks.

Aloha If that is the case then I stand corrected in this instance and hfl should complain (however it isn't going to get her her scan necessarily if they just don't offer it in her area at the moment)

No, it won't necessarily get her the scan, but it will increase her chances IME!

I have written about this subject, and I think it's a bit of a scandal that there are still health trusts which are not implementing the guidelines.

Hi all, I live in Scotland and have the opposite problem here. I am only entitled to 1 scan on the NHS at 12 weeks. I am having my 20 week scan next week but it is private and is costing £150. I have written a letter of complaint to the health board and have contacted my MSP (must be the hormones!) as I think it is a scandal that maternity provision is not standard across the country. I would advise you to complain - good luck.

thanks for all the comments. i went back to my gp yesterday and saw a different doctor who was excellent.

she's made me feel at ease, and said that i should get a 12 week scan - although one of the hospitals in the local area only do 20 week scans (Watfard). I wasnt planning on going there anyway.

as this is our first, its quite bad that i came away from the docs last week quite unsure of what was going on. but going back yesterday was totally a different experience.

hfl, glad the news was more positive this time. I found the info you're given isn't always very clear - for example, my local hospital does do 12-week scans, and sent me a leaflet detailing all the tests that could be done.

Thing is, it was a national leaflet, so it listed ALL the tests - not the ones the hospital did. So I thought for ages I was going to get a nuchal, and was very upset when I realised we only got the quadruple test at 16 weeks. Ended up paying for my own nuchal (which I have to say was well worth it, for the peace of mind but also the amazing 4D images ).

It is normal for the 12 week scan not to be offered. With my first, it was not offered and we went private (which by the way was really worth the money I thought, we were with the consultant for 1 hour had lots of pictures, he scanned all my other gynae regions for irregularities and answered loads of questions) with my second a 12 week scan was offered but this was not a nuchal scan - it was literally dating scan only. So, this time I opted for a private scan too and again, it was worth it.

I was told that if I was considered "high risk" then a nuchal scan would be offered but with my young age and good health it was not.

I have my 20 week scan booked and - as this is not private - sure it will be a "straight in and out" job like my 20 week NHS scan was last time (not that I am meaning to slag them off - of course they don't have an hour to spend with every person and I understand that)

I was told its routine to now only offer 20 week scans. They only offer 12 week ones if you're unsure about your dates.

I had a nuchal scan with dd so had a 12 week scan that way.
I also had an 8 week on because of bleeding.

I'm in st Albans/watford area too for hospitals etc.

Round here it depends on the hospital.

At Wycombe they charge for a dating scan but not a nuchal fold, at Wexham Park they'll do dating scans for free because it has foundation status - or so my midwife says. Both do 21 week anomaly scans for free.