Why are scans too far apart

[loveyourself87]

For a first time mum, I would like a bit more reassurance. Last scan was at 12 weeks, then a midwife app at 16(no scans just routine blood test) and I have to wait to 20 weeks for the anomaly scan! I'm worried because I feel between 16 and 20 weeks is an important time for most people as some feel movement (I haven't yet and no bump). Is this normal to have no scan between 12 and 20 weeks? I feel fine but worry so much in case something has happened to the baby and I wouldn't know until 20 weeks.

Private scan not an option for me at the moment and not the point of this post x

It's normal.

Have you considered doing mindfulness or relaxation type activities to ease your anxiety?

Entirely normal. You'll have to find the money for a private scan if you want more reassurance.

Yep unfortunately it's normal. I worried during that gap of scans so in the end I booked a private scan to put my mind at rest and also found out what we were having. Dont know about the area you live in but quite a few scan places have offers on at moment, so could be something worth looking into ?

That isn't far apart, it's every month and really close!

In some places, there is no routine 16 week scan, so you are one of the lucky ones in terms of enhanced frequency.

Firstly, the NHS can't afford to scan everyone at regular intervals. You'll only be offered additional scans if it's deemed medically necessary.
Secondly, the 20 week scan is at that time because the baby needs to have developed sufficiently to be able to check everything they need to. It's not an arbitrary date.

Completely normal. It’s only 8 weeks. You’ll have to wait 20 between the next one and seeing your baby again.

Yeah it's the same where I live, except nothing at all until 12 weeks, and then nothing at all until 20 months weeks... it's such a long time to wait. My 20 week scan actually got pushed to 21 weeks because of Christmas so i have to wait until new year

It’s standard across the NHS. You only have the dating scan at 12 weeks and an anomaly scan at 20.

It is a worrying time but it’s done that way for as reason and will be evidence based. Even if we had more frequent scans there’s nothing to say things still wouldn’t happen between those. Try and relax a little for your own good.

@WinnieTheW0rm you've misread, no 16 week scan.

The scans are to check for anomalies with the baby, nothing else, so a 16 week scan is not needed for that purpose. The NHS doesn't have the budget to scan for reassurance purposes.

It's completely normal. I didn't feel movements until a week after my anomaly scan. Don't worry.

It’s completely normal to have scans at 12 and 20 weeks. In a normal low risk pregnancy they are usually the only scans.

Try not to worry - another scan wouldn’t really help as you’d likely worry just the same during the time up to the next one

It’s normal.

20 weeks is considered the best time for an anomaly scan. The baby is small enough to get a good view at them all but developed enough to spot most problems. 16 weeks won’t tell you enough.

I can understand it’s worrying as the whole of pregnancy is worrying but I don’t see why 16-20 weeks is particularly important just because it’s when movement starts to be felt?

Actually some NHS trusts are adding in a 3rd scan and it’s later on as it’s quite valuable to check on the placenta (position, function etc) closer to the end.

NHS care is based on what is medically needed, not on helping anxiety. To be honest, if you are feeling anxious, you still will be, even with more scans. It can be worrying when you aren't feeling any/much movement to reassure all is well but at this stage miscarriage is unlikely and if you are unlucky enough to have a late miscarriage, there isn't much that extra scans can do. You will get past this stage and hopefully be reassured all is well at the next scan.

Thanks, yes I did misread

Sorry everyone

(though go routine 12 week scans were introduced only as recently as the late 1990s, so MNetters with DC age 18+ (ish) may well have had only one in their entire pregnancy. It was the roll out of nuchal food measurement that changed the practice. NHS only offers those which have medical utility. For 'reassurance' it's private only, plus MW with pinard stethoscope)

It’s normal, I’m afraid. My first pregnancy went horribly wrong (picked up by the 16-week blood tests), I terminated at 18 weeks after an amino, and the second time round I got much better care as I was treated as high risk. I think I had five scans in total - 8 weeks, 12 weeks, early anomaly at 17 weeks, 20 weeks and 32 weeks - which was much more like the routine care a friend in Germany had at the same time. I felt a bit guilty as that second pregnancy was completely fine and nothing was wrong, but it was very reassuring.

Sorry, amino should read amnio - curse the autocorrect!

What’s the purpose though? The current schedule has purpose behind the timing. What purpose would an additional one serve apart from the odd mum getting her jollies for some reason. I think most would be disrupted trying to fit it in alongside life as it’s all difficult enough as it is on current schedule.

The reality is this is all taxpayer funded at the end of the day and if there is no good reason that will benefit the majority (on a cost/benefit analysis) it shouldn’t happen.

Yes they’re the standard NHS scan timings.

A low risk, uncomplicated pregnancy doesn’t need continual scans. For a start, we don’t actually know how safe ultrasound is - whilst it’s clearly not very harmful, that is not the same as completely safe. We know from experiments on cells that ultrasound can be used to disrupt cell membranes and produce bubbles.

The two standard scans (12&20w) are enough for most pregnancies, and your midwife will be looking for other signs that additional scans are needed at your routine antenatal appointments. These get a bit more frequent later in pregnancy, purely because intervention is possible when things go wrong. Until then, it’s just a waiting game.

This is totally normal. Scans are for medical reasons, not reassurance! Pay if you want more.

Having too many scans is not good for baby or mother.

It’s radiation

completely normal but private scans are pretty accessibly priced- £100 or so and you can often get groupon type offers

Don’t put too much faith in scans though! I mean what is it you want them to tell you?

Btw you might find you don’t feel anything until much later than that- my first was about 25 weeks

You do know you don't get anymore scans after 20 weeks providing there are no issues with growth or anything? I know you think 8 weeks is a long time but you'll have another 20 weeks to go after then.

It used to be one scan at 18 weeks, when they switched to two they are at 12 and 20 unless something on the 12 weeks scan/other factors make you high risk. To be honest scans are mostly a niceity, I wouldn't have one if I had another, they scared me with "markers" which ended up to be nothing. What will be will be... my other kid has sn, no scam can pick it up