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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

What to expect at 20 week scan

28 replies

AndBeholdAWhiteHorse · 11/07/2019 07:42

I have my 20 week scan next Wednesday. I'm feeling increasingly nervous about it (have counted down the weeks and now the days!)

Please can someone explain to me what happens? Do they scan the baby for a length of time and then give the all clear; or if they find something do they carry on the scan and then tell you?

I'm concerned how long it is going to take before the sonographor tells me whether there are issues or not. Perhaps when I'm there it will all go so quickly anyway but I think it may be helpful to know.

Tia

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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PrincessSarene · 11/07/2019 07:44

I’ve got mine this afternoon so can you let you know what happens after that

Original poster

AndBeholdAWhiteHorse · 11/07/2019 07:56

Thanks @princesssarene I would really appreciate it and I hope it all goes well. Will you find out what sex the baby is?

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hormonesorDHbeingadick · 11/07/2019 07:58

Mine was about 40 mins long and I had to go back because the baby was uncooperative in position. The sonographer was very clear that was she had seen showed no problems but she could not get all of the heart measurements.

ems137 · 11/07/2019 08:00

Normally the do a quick all over scan and take measurements, in the same way as the 12 wk scan. They'll then usually say that the measurements look good or you can ask. I was always nervous so asked after each check!

Then they will move onto the detailed scans of the organs, brain, bones, mouth etc. They usually explain the process step by step and tell you what they're looking at now so again, if they don't automatically say yep the heart looks good then I'd ask "did that all look ok?" Not all areas will let you know the sex but once they've finished the important checks you can ask if they don't automatically offer.

Original poster

AndBeholdAWhiteHorse · 11/07/2019 08:08

That's really helpful thank you. I was excited and now more nervous. The first sonographor I had was a bit abrupt for me (partner thought she was fine) and I know they need to concentrate but maybe I'll say if they could explain as they go it will help. Only 6 days to go!

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PrincessSarene · 11/07/2019 08:09

Yes, we’re going to find out - I don’t like surprises and I love being able to plan, and thinking about baby names is a lot easier if you only have to consider one sex. Plus referring to baby as he or she rather than it

Original poster

AndBeholdAWhiteHorse · 11/07/2019 08:18

I want to find out too for all the same reasons as you have listed. However, my partner doesn't want to know so I hope I can find out and keep it secret from him for the remainder 😁

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MrsxRocky · 11/07/2019 08:21

The lady who did mine was amazing. I had my 7yr old with us and she explained literally everything she was doing to us. As if she had all time in world. Was amazing and I couldn't have been happier if I'd paid for it. Was NHS scan.
My sons 20wk scan was rushed and felt very flat

MrFlibblesEyes · 11/07/2019 10:07

Mine was lovely, the sonographer gave running commentary throughout and kept saying everything was measuring well as she did it. She obviously went quiet when she was concentrating on things like counting vertebrae etc but told me what she was about to do and that things were as expected. She spent a while trying to help us get a good photo too (although he moved too much so it's a bit blurry). Fingers crossed you have a great experience!

MrFlibblesEyes · 11/07/2019 10:14

One word of advice though if your partner doesn't want to know the sex he might want to look away as the sonographer does the first quick run through as I was sure I saw a penis as she quickly scanned! Turns out I was right and when she showed us later in more detail it looked very similar to what I had thought I'd seen earlier!

Weathergirl1 · 11/07/2019 14:04

Most of the others have covered what my experience was like. I had mine on Tuesday. Take a drink and something sugary with you in case you need to leave to room to persuade the baby to move position (seems common - there was another woman in the waiting room pacing up and down too!) And I'd have been a bit narked if I'd had to buy a bottle of pop from a vending machine if I hadn't had haribos in my handbag!

kimlo · 11/07/2019 14:10

at dd2's scan she finished asked if I wanted to know if it was a boy or girl, realised she couldn't get her to uncross her legs, then told me she had found a problem.

Original poster

AndBeholdAWhiteHorse · 11/07/2019 14:33

@kimlo do you mind me asking what the problem was?

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kimlo · 11/07/2019 14:39

not at all. Both of her kidneys were enlarged. I had to have another scan at 36 weeks where one had gone back to within the normal range but the other one was still enlarged. She had to be on abtibiotics from birth, then at 10 days go for a kidney scan (which she hated), and by then they were both within the normal range.

She's all fine now.

Original poster

AndBeholdAWhiteHorse · 11/07/2019 14:44

@kimlo thank you for sharing and I'm pleased that your DD is now fine.

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hipstercat · 11/07/2019 14:48

Mine was similar to what others have described; she went through various organs one by one and checked measurements and blood flow. She did occasionally say something general like 'that looks good' but I did have to prompt her a bit. Whenever I asked a question she was very happy to answer in detail about what she was looking for and what things meant. So don't be afraid to ask! I got the impression that she would say if she found something concerning and then look in more detail, rather than continue and tell you at the end, but with mine all was good so I'm not sure how exactly they would handle that. You could certainly ask at the beginning though so you don't lie there worrying if she doesn't say anything!

afternoontwee · 11/07/2019 14:55

Mine did a quick 5 mins of showing me the baby, printed off some pictures and then told me she would be going quiet for the next bit and would call out to the technician when she had reviewed a certain body part and it was looking ok. She told me if there was an issue she would first look and then explain. Called out everything fine, had some issues getting the right angle to check all chambers of the heart but then baby moved. At the end she explained about an issue with the placenta which was the last thing she’d checked (placenta previa which has since corrected itself). She then asked if I wanted to know the sex of the baby. All in all it took about 40 mins.

PrincessSarene · 11/07/2019 17:14

Hi. Just got back from the hospital. Scan was very much as others have said. The sonographer explained what she was going to do and then talked to us at each step to say what it was she was looking for and if it all seemed normal. Takes a while for them to get all the different measurements and views, especially if baby isn’t lying in a convenient position! Everything was ok with ours, and we’re having a little girl
The worst bit is definitely needing a wee and not being able to go before!!

Purplequalitystreet · 11/07/2019 17:22

Mine showed me the heartbeat straight away and then told me she would go quiet for a bit while she concentrated on reviewing. She pointed out body parts as she went and had to get me to jiggle around a bit so she could count all the vertebrae, as baby wasn't budging. She told us the sex right at the end. It took about 30 mins altogether.

Original poster

AndBeholdAWhiteHorse · 11/07/2019 18:10

@PrincessSarene thank you for coming back and letting me know and congratulations on your little girl.

All of you have made me feel a bit less nervous about it and I will definitely tell the sonographor I'm feeling a bit nervous prior to them beginning the scan. My 12 week scan feels like a lifetime ago!

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Original poster

AndBeholdAWhiteHorse · 11/07/2019 18:10

On finding out your having a little girl*

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SummerHouse · 11/07/2019 18:22

Mine found a problem. We were told and then taken to a special room rather than going into the main room. Then we spoke to antinatal choices nurse. They were all amazing. The thing they found was ecogenic bowel, a marker for a chromosomal defect. Had lots of scans till birth but the only option was a amniocentesis which we didn't want. Turned out to be nothing at all. I know two other people who also had indicators that turned out to be nothing. In the vast majority of scans it's all perfect but I guess my advice would be if they tell you there's a potential thing that 'might be nothing' try to hear the 'might be nothing' part. I spent 20 weeks researching and planning for a baby with downs. This was 7 yrs ago so I think things have moved on as well.

1990carey · 11/07/2019 18:39

Oh this is so reassuring for me to read as well! I have my 20 week scan next Wednesday as well! I'm so excited and kinda nervous too! What times yours? 6 days to go!!

Original poster

AndBeholdAWhiteHorse · 11/07/2019 19:12

That's really good to hear @SummerHouse I can't imagine the worry you must have felt and the stress of researching so you're prepared. I just need to wait and see how it all goes. And I'll remember what you've said.

@1990carey it's at 8.30 am thankfully - no waiting all day!! What about yours? I'm excited to see my baby again but I'm so nervous of what could be. I keep trying to hear my friends voice that says the worry about them only gets worse once born! Helps me think from a different perspective.

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1990carey · 11/07/2019 19:26

@AndBeholdAWhiteHorse oh awsome! Yah in 810 am so no waiting around for either of us thank goodness!!! Haha yah one day when I was on the phone to my mum worried about the baby I said to her, this is it isn't it? This is me for the rest of.my life, worrying forever now. And she laughed and said yep!! Hope everything goes well for you, are you finding out the gender? X

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