To have two 20 week scans

[wondering7777]

I have a 20 week scan booked with the NHS next month. I’m considering having a second scan done at the Fetal Medicine Centre a week later just to get a second opinion on everything.

When I had my 12 week NHS scan the screen at the hospital was quite fuzzy/blurry - I’ve no idea how they managed to see everything! Whereas the private screens tend to be much, much clearer.

I think I’m just feeling anxious that the hospital could miss something - is that silly? I believe a scan at the FMC costs £200 and DH and I could afford it (just).

The 20 week scan is really different from the 12 week. The 12 week is just checking baby is doing ok, heart is beating as expected and limbs appear formed normally.

The 20 week is to check every organ is it’s it’s fascinating. They show you the heart & the blood flowing through the chambers, you can see the valves and everything! They show you the brain, kidneys, lungs, fingers, toes, lips, stomach, bladder, placenta .. I’m on pregnancy two and both 20 weeks scans were really clear.

I’ve always trusted the NHS but then I’ve never had reason not too. I know they can’t always see everything on a scan, they can only do their best. Baby is in the womb & sometimes are in awkward positions etc! Even private companies could miss things..

Personally I wouldn’t spend £200 on a second opinion unless I had genuine concern the NHS one had been awful. Or had raised some concerns. Why don’t you wait & see what you think of your NHS one?

I’ve attached one of our 20 week scan pics.. I think it’s super clear!

Thanks Bol. Yes, maybe I should wait to see how the NHS one goes and make a decision after that.

I had a private 12 week scan and they were able to point out various organs like the bladder, heart, brain even at that early stage, which I thought was amazing.

I have had both private and NHS 20 week scans and there is no difference in the level of detail they see.
The NHS anomaly scan really is incredibly detailed and thorough.

Maybe see how you feel afterwards? I felt the 20w scan was very clear in both my pregnancies. Also in my second they couldn't see everything due to the baby being awkward so I had another one the following week. They are very thorough but, as I say, you could always see how yours goes and then book a private scan if you're not happy.

I would agree with Bol87 there as well. The 20-week scan is much clearer than the 12-week scan and the sonographer will talk you through the organs and what they're checking for.

For my current second pregnancy, the sonographer detected an anomaly at the 20-week scan so I was referred to the Fetal Medicine Unit (on NHS) and had another scan at 21 weeks. I couldn't see a difference on the screen between those two although the second was more focussed on that anomaly. I had another one at 29 weeks.

Also - even if you can't see things clearly, the sonographer probably will, as they're trained. At the 29-week scan, the doctor showed me a kidney but I really really had to look carefully and it was just a bit of a slightly lighter grey blob, whereas she said it's very clear to her!

I've not had a reason not to trust the NHS scan - as above, if they see something odd or something they're not sure about, they'll book you in for another scan to verify.

So would also recommend waiting for the NHS scan.

Are you worried about finding something in particular?

Oh god don't do it twice- they're so thorough and it takes so long that it's actually a bit boring towards the end 😂

You do know that it’s NHS trained staff that work in the private sector?

I wouldn't waste £200 on a scan that you would of already had. Both NHS & Private scans will be pretty much the same apart from the cost! Just think what you could spend that money on instead (ie things for the baby) or even treat yourselves to a 4d scan later on in pregnancy or something.
X

No don’t double up. I’ve used private and NHS for antenatal and NHS was excellent.

Waste of money

Are you consultant led? If so ask them - mine would not use anything found in a private scan unless you had also seen their fetal consultant and they produced a report for them. That might mean paying more.

It could be exactly the same sonographer doing both you know. Private ones aren't somehow more experienced or qualified than NHS ones. They're usually NHS staff moonlighting.

I did this and didn’t regret it for a moment.
Admittedly, my FMC appointment was earlier than my NHS which was a big incentive, but like you i’d been very impressed with their 12 week scan and felt it was worth the money.
And having a second (coroborating) opinion helped my anxiety levels enormously.

If you can afford it have as many as you would like. I had 6. 4 private. I just loved the private ones and hated the NHS ones. You dont have a baby every day so do what makes you happy

@wondering7777 if at your 20 week scan there is any worry they will refer you to FM and you won't have to pay( I'm under FM). They can see pretty well everything. Of course they might miss some things because a scan after all can do so much, they can't see baby as outside uterus. If you're really worried, at least book another scan for a bit later when organs are much bigger and much of a chance to pick up things. But wait maybe first to see how this scan goes.

You do know that it’s NHS trained staff that work in the private sector?

That’s not the issue - it’s the clarity of the screen. When I had my private 12 week scan they could point out a number of organs and I could see them too - whereas at the NHS scan, the baby just looked like a blurry blob. Perhaps my hospital has particularly outdated equipment!

At the private scan they also talked me through everything they were looking at, which I found very reassuring - whereas at the NHS scan they were almost totally silent. But I guess that’s just luck of the draw in terms of who you get on the day.

I’m not concerned about anything in particular - just everything really! It’s my first pregnancy and I’m quite an anxious person.

I think as Bol suggested I will go to the NHS scan and see how it goes. If I’m not happy I’ll then book a private one for reassurance.