To wish there was another scan between 20 and 36 weeks

[wondering7777]

I had my routine 20 week scan at the end of last year and everything was fine. Since then all has been well, as far as I’m aware - I’ve felt movement, there hasn’t been any bleeding or abdominal pains. I’ve been to the midwife appointments and my bump is measuring as it should (although I’ve read these measurements are quite unreliable).

But what if there was something wrong - how would I actually know? What if something has happened to the placenta or the baby is unwell in some way?

I just think it would be so reassuring to have a scan at around 28 weeks to check the baby is developing as it should. As it is I have to wait until 36 weeks for the next one - and I think some women don’t even get that.

I know this isn’t the AIBU section, but am I being unreasonable to think this?

I wish I could call the hospital but my baby’s movements have always been sporadic - there’s never been a pattern as such. So I’ll find that just as I’m starting to get really worried, they will start moving again. I’m not sure the hospital would class that as needing a scan to see what’s happening. It’s so difficult to know what’s normal.

Your baby's movements are by far the best indicator of their wellbeing. Scans only tell you what is happening at the time of the scan. One scan are 28 weeks wouldn't really tell you much - some women are eligible for serial growth scans which happen regularly from 28 weeks to term, and each scan is compared to the other to build a picture

Thanks Popl - maybe everything is ok then, as I am feeling movement. Still, the 36 week scan can’t come soon enough

In most EU countries you get a scan about every 4 weeks! I had 4 scans in the Uk as high risk pregnancy so I completely understand where you are coming from OP.

@wondering7777 I agree with you and I always pay for a private one (4d) in the third trimester

You can have a scan and something can go wrong an hour later and you're not aware.

Some women can have a scan every few weeks and that still wouldn't be enough.

Worrying and anxiety is normal in pregnancy a scan can pick up on things but can also miss certain things or something develop inbetween them.

My scans were amazing, I had some extra because of baby size, come 30 weeks I become high risk and booked in for a c section next week and have to go in to monitor the baby daily until then.
Any thing can change at any point scans or not. They reassure you for a short time only.

Yes, there should be a placenta scan in the third trimester. It would help to reduce the stillbirth rate. There was a Panorama programme about this a few years ago.

I think we should have more. Our Infant mortality rate is appalling for a developed country.
Some issues found in labour or postpartum could be resolved with more monitoring.
From Scans and better maternity care.

Overall our NHS is stretched. But it's not good enough.

What @stargirl1701 said. There’s research to show that a Doppler scan at 32 weeks which assesses the blood flow from the placenta reduces the risk of still birth by 50%.

Most places you don't get a 36 weekly scan, so you are getting more than most already.

You say you want it but can't afford it -neither can the NHS.

Most places you don't get a 36 weekly scan, so you are getting more than most already.

@Hugtheduggee Yes, as I said in my OP

What @stargirl1701* said. There’s research to show that a Doppler scan at 32 weeks which assesses the blood flow from the placenta reduces the risk of still birth by 50%.”

So it really is worth having one if you can then.

I would personally say it's worth it.
But then I was lucky to have regular scans for two of my pregnancies but for no urgent need. So I got to have the scans but none of the worry.

You only get a 12 week and a 20 week scan on the NHS in my area.

With ds I was very anxious after some previous complications so paid for a private scan when I was 16 weeks to put my mind at rest. MIL was very poorly and wanted to see the baby on a scan so we paid privately for one at about 30 weeks.
With dd I just had the NHS ones. I understand what you mean, but as long as you’re feeling regular movements and midwife is happy with measurements everything should be fine.

Thing is, If you actually need one, you get one.

In my last pregnancy (NHS) I had to be scanned every 4 weeks.

If you are being left longer it’s because you are OK. If you wish additional private scans they are available.

It's not medically needed. If you need one, you'll get one, and you are already getting more scans than most. Of you want more, just for your reassurance it's for you to find the money to do so, not the cash strapped nhs.

And if we start adding in reassurance scams, then we'd probably have an early one because the wait to the 12 weeks scan can be worrying, oh and one between 12-20 weeks because it's a long couple of months and baby isn't usually kicking much by then. Then you'd be at 6 scans, and clearly the NHS can't afford that!

There is a free and constant way of checking your baby is ok, and that is by keeping an eye on the kicks. That is usually perfectly good enough, and if it's not, and you need a scam, you'd get one. If you want a reassurance scan, then there are some good deals around for private scans.

You can often have a scan & they say "Hmmm... that might be a problem."
Weeks of them guessing & scanning again & stressing you out hugely only for them to decide in the end
"Neah, it's nothing to worry about."

Extra scans are NOT reassuring. Just opportunities to find non-existent stressful maybe-not-actually-problems.

I truly have no like for any sort of screening test.

It might be worth asking your midwife to use a Doppler so you can hear your LO's heart beat? It's such a lovely sound. Like a galloping horse :)

I’m in a country where the Dr does a scan at every monthly visit. I also pay £650 per month for my health insurance with a £2k excess.

I agree with others that movement is a better indicator and I also find it more reassuring. That said, if you feel your baby’s movements aren’t right then push for assessment.

I think the 36 week scan should be standard to assess position and weight. I know the baby could move, and growth scans can be way off, but it would still be much more accurate than other methods.

It’s difficult. I had a scan every 4 weeks after 20 weeks because i was having twins. At 32 weeks everything was fine. At 35 weeks I needed an emergency section because DT2 had stopped moving and had a static heart rate. I had no idea because I was feeling lots of movement, but it was all the other twin. I only found out because I wasn’t feeling well and my MW sent me in to get checked out. My placenta was fine at 32 weeks but wasn’t by 35 weeks, he had IUGR which hadn’t been picked up. So even with scans every 4 weeks, I would have lost him if I hadn’t felt unwell enough to go in.

Movement is the most important thing - less movement or a period of frenzied movement, either should be checked out. Heart rate checks aren’t sufficient. Between movement and monitoring the fundal measurement and referring for a scan if that’s outside of normal range, most issues should be covered.

When I was pregnant with DD in 2014/15 my NHS trust had a policy that if you presented for abnormal movements you were to be referred for a scan to check blood flow through the cord and to check the placenta. I had one of those scans at about 30 weeks (can’t remember exactly), and they were very keen to say that while the scan gave an indication of how things were going, it was still important to rely on movements.

Here is a BBC report from the time. It was 2014.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-29367001

Thanks all. Do you think my midwife’s advice (that as long as I feel movement every day the baby is fine) is right or should it be more than that? I’m definitely feeling some movement every day but there’s no pattern. I’m 32 weeks.

Thanks @stargirl1701. Does anyone know if the 36 week NHS scan checks the placenta and blood flow?

Personally I don’t think that just expecting movement every day is enough because you could then be waiting 24 hours before seeking help if you’ve felt nothing.

How often do you generally feel movement, if you sit or lie still and focus on it? The advice I always had was to call if I’d felt nothing for two hours, but if that’s common for your baby it’s more difficult.

It’s very difficult if you have a baby where you don’t feel as much movement as others.