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.

@MazDazzle awesome, thanks!

Actually there have been reports warning about these so called ‘souvenir scans’...something to do with the different levels of ultrasound used in the 3D scans and it potentially affecting nerve development.

Here’s a link: www.nhs.uk/news/pregnancy-and-child/warning-over-souvenir-baby-scans/

How many weeks are you OP?
If you haven't had your 16 week appt yet then maybe midwife will check heartbeat with a Doppler. I know all trusts don't offer this routinely but my midwife did and it relieved my mind so much hearing that tiny thumping.

And also hopefully you will start to feel movements, mine was roughly 18w with my first. So that should reassure you too!!

It's normal because it's not medically necessary. The anomaly scan is done at a point where fetus is developed enough to see everything which needs checking.

Yes a 16 week scan may give you reassurance that there's a heart beat but it's too early to check anything else. And where do you stop? Because a heart beat at 16 weeks doesn't mean there's still a heart beat the following day.

@pottypotamus my 20 week scan is in 3 weeks, haven't felt movement and no clear bump either, which I understand are normal and perhaps early! MW offered a heartbeat check after my 20 week scan if they don't offer it at the 20 wee scan, I am just worrying I guess, the not knowing etc and me stupidly comparing my dates with other women who can feel movement and have bumps x

Hi OP, sorry to hear you’re feeling anxious. I am expecting twins so I have a lot of extra scans - trust me when I say they do nothing to alleviate anxiety! I’m terrified before every single one. With pregnancy there’s always something to worry about I find. I also didn’t feel movement until after the 20-week scan. Agree with others that a chat with your midwife about anxiety could be good - also have you tried pregnancy yoga? Lots of relaxation and mindfulness and connecting with bump and baby - I’ve found it wonderful. Try to enjoy the pregnancy - you’ll be feeling baba wriggling about all the time soon :)

@Stupiddriver1 yeah I'm understand, I was just curious being a first time preggers! My work mate had a 16 week scan so I think it could be the city I'm in

@MrsEG aww congratulations, and thank you for sharing x

Here we hear the heartbeat at 16weeks via Doppler, if the midwife finds it clearly enough. If not she’ll have you back to check. 16weeks is really early to feel movement. I can safely say I didn’t feel a bean until 24weeks with ds and literally a single kick the morning of my 20weeks scan this time.. then nothing for days and now I’m 24weeks and a walking judo gym.

If the worst happened as pp’s have said there’s nothing they could do to prevent it, so waiting until they can clearly check for anything nasty is probably better resource of their time (our scan unit covers a whole county so it’s constantly mobbed without adding in extras).

Both times though I’ve went for a private scan between 16-18weeks, in my case to let my grandmother in to the scan (they amaze her as she never seen one or heard a heart beat for all of her 3) and our hospital isn’t the easiest accessed to her and only allows one adult in with you so dp would need to miss out compared to the private clinic in a town centre with 4 adult spaces. £40 and both fell around my birthday so done that as my birthday day out.

It’s ok to be anxious, it’s weird having a whole life you feel responsible for but you can’t see or check on. But if it gets to you mention it to your midwife.

Scans schedules are set out by national guidelines so I'd be very surprised at people getting routine extra scans.

And on the note of bumps I popped at nearly 30weeks with ds (seriously work tops fitted one day n didn’t the next) by 37 weeks I was asked multiple times if he was more than one baby. Born 6lb 1 so not even huge .
Had a tiny bump at 20weeks this time but there’s going to be less than a year between these guys so I wasn’t toned or in any form of back to normal.

@Lunafortheloveogod what a heartwarming story about your grandmother seeing a scan for the fire time, so sweet 🤗.
Thank you for your comment, it really is reassuring hearing a lot of other women's opinions x

Thanks OP
I had a healthy baby after my miscarriage and I was very anxious at times through that pregnancy and even went to hospital when I couldn't feel movement (after 20 weeks) but it's down to you to try as hard as you can to be rational and calm about it.

If you're about 17-18 weeks then you should hopefully start feeling movements really soon. When it's your first it can be really confusing as to whether the popping sensations are actually movements or not.

At the 20 week scan, they might not let you hear the hb but you should clearly be able to see the beating heart on the screen.

If it's any consolation, the 2nd half of the pregnancy, all going well, is a lot more re-assuring. At this stage it's really weird, you literally feel nothing and can't see any bump, you question of you're still even pregnant and often don't have much symptoms. I found once I had a nice round bump (about 22 weeks) and started feeling movement every day, moreso from about 25-30 weeks on, that's when I could really relax and start feeling like everything was well

My midwife didn't offer the heartbeat Doppler at 16 weeks as I have an anterior placenta and I think she was worried she wouldn't find it and it was cause more anxiety.

I'd really think about what is in your control and what is out of your control - do everything you can and the rest will happen regardless. Enjoy it. All the best!

I didn't feel movement until 23 weeks (I do have an anterior placenta).

Please don't worry about not feeling anything at 16 weeks as this is still very early days.

We didn't hear her heartbeat until I think 18 weeks via a midwife with a Doppler.

@Turt thank you, I'm 18+2 x

@loveyourself87 that's still really early, I promise. You'll see your baby in just under 2 weeks wriggling about. If this is your first, you may have felt something and dismissed it as something else as I know I did! X

@Turt thank you so much xx

I think you need to try to stop worrying. Easy for me I know but really not doing yourself any favours.
Imagine me I’m old. Never had a scan in any pregnancy.

it's normal. the NHS are very experienced. trust your midwife and try to relax.

With my first I didn't feel movement until 23 to 24 weeks.

@loveyourself87 I'm 16 weeks tomorrow so only a couple of weeks behind you. I echo @MrsEG pregnancy yoga or Pilates to relax is amazing. Your bump will totally depend on your body shape, I've got friends who are taller/longer bodied than me and shown much later, good abs will mean you show a bit later. Embrace the feeling good I've got hypermesis so feel crap 80% of the time. Im a first time mum, miscarried in May so I really do get the anxiety but learnt early on it wasn't going to help or make me feel any better or change the outcome. A close friend lost her baby at 6 months pregnant but she couldn't have done anything to change the outcome no amount of scans would've helped.

Talk to your midwife about your anxiety or your partner/family. Enjoy being pregnant and look after yourself 🙂