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?

There was never a pattern in my
Sons movement. Any movement is good. We had reduced movements with him twice. There is definitely a difference from irregular movement to no movement.

The last time resulted in a very stressful birth experience. So really listen when I say there is a difference. And I'm not preaching or trying to sound like I know it all but I definitely knew when he hadn't moved all day, at all. Not a flutter, not a wiggle.

Thanks Sinkgirl. I’m going to really monitor movement today to try and put my mind at rest. It’s hard during the week when you’re at work and rushing about!

I felt quite a bit at around 4am, then nothing when I woke up at 8 - but have just felt a small movement or two now after eating some toast with jam! I’ll sit down again in two hours and see what happens.

There was never a pattern in my
Sons movement. Any movement is good. We had reduced movements with him twice. There is definitely a difference from irregular movement to no movement.

Thanks Jessie. A lot of websites seem to suggest there should be a pattern by 32 weeks and it’s so hard when there just isn’t one! It sounds like I should be worrying less about identifying a pattern and focus more on feeling movement on a fairly frequent basis.

I had two anterior placentas.
That was always a barrel of laughs.

I found it impossible to know not only because there were two in there, but DT1 was super active and DT2 had an anterior placenta so it was just impossible to know.

If you’re able to I would put your feet up this weekend, relax and monitor what’s going on - I think there is an app you can tap when you feel movements, this might help you establish a pattern. I know for me when I was on my feet and busy I was really unaware of the movements unless they were big ones but when resting I could feel much more.

I obviously did not notice the change between two moving twins and one moving twin, but I’m sure it’s clearer with one. I can say that I just did not feel right at all - I did have a headache, but mainly I just felt unwell and “wrong”. I would have brushed it off and was lucky my MW was really on the ball. I’ve never been a “trust your gut” sort of person but my body definitely was telling me something.

If you’re worried, IME MWs would always prefer that you call and get checked out. Movements are the best way to monitor your baby’s health and if you’re used to movements being irregular but you still feel it’s less than normal (or much more than normal, as I said earlier) i would play it safe. I was very much of the “I don’t want to be bother” mindset, but in hindsight I should definitely have been more of a bother!

I sat down at 11.30 and felt a few very small movements, but that was it! At least it’s something I suppose?

When you ring the midwife unit here they will ask if you have felt the baby move recently. Then ask you to sit down and focus on it for 1 and 2 hours. Then if you don't feel movements they get you to go in and hook you up to a machine. So by doing what you have just done you have taken the steps the midwife would advise anyway. I hope that adds some reassurance.

Everyone is saying that the NHS can’t afford it - yeah, but maybe it could if it were properly funded?
Research supports the idea that a 3rd trimester scan reduces infant mortality. It would be no bad thing if it were standard.

@Firstbornunicorn

The OP HAS a third trimester scan on the NHS at 36 weeks. She wants an extra one again...

I'm 36 weeks and was lucky to have the two extra scans at 28 and 36 due to abnormal Doppler readings at 20 weeks. Everything has been fine, and I'm just grateful I got the extra scans for peace of mind.

Regarding movement, some days she's super active and others she's really quiet. If I'm ever worried I just feel around and apply pressure until I feel her bum. Giving that a nudge always gets a squirm!

If you’re in your third trimester then you’ll be having midwife appointments every couple of weeks who will then check the heart beat to ensure everything is okay. This is reliable enough in my opinion if nothing was wrong at your 20 week scan?

But it's not reliable enough. As has been proven by our appalling infant mortality rate.

I think the link posted by @stargirl1701 says it all, really. It’s just sad that the NHS is so much underfunded that it can’t offer more (I’m assuming that is what it comes down to).

Emerging research suggests that ultrasound is not entirely risk free

rubbish.

Your evidence base is what, Ultrasound increases the tissue temperature. Probably no harm in moderation but repeated scans have potential to cause harm to developing neurological systems. Only proven in rats at similar gestation but a potential risk, nevertheless. Excessive testing is probably best avoided.

www.nhs.uk/news/pregnancy-and-child/warning-over-souvenir-baby-scans/

Liebeskind D, et al. Diagnostic ultrasound: effects on the DNA and growth patterns of animal cells. Radiology 1979;131(1):177-84.

MH, et al. Diagnostic levels of ultrasound may disrupt myelination. Exp Neurol 1987;98(1):78-92.

Stanton MT, et al. Diagnostic ultrasound induces change within numbers of cryptal mitotic and apoptotic cells in small intestine. Life Sci 2001;68(13):1471-5.

Mole R. Possible hazards of imaging and Doppler ultrasound in obstetrics. Birth 1986;13 Suppl:23-33 suppl, p 26.

I'm 25 weeks and I'm very lucky that I've had a number of scans since my 20 weeks but mine has been to issue with the baby at one point they was convinced my waters had broken so had a number of scans to determine that the waters had not broken and because my BMI is slightly high I'll be scared ever 3 weeks from 28 weeks I'm extremely grateful but with my other 2 I just got the normal routine scan, your midwife is right as long as your feeling movement that tells you baby is ok within reason

Four papers, the newest of which is 19 years old? Stretches the definition of emerging!!!!! You're not by any chance an anti vaxxer too are you?

I just wish I could have a scan to put my mind at rest
The problem is it would only put your mind at rest for a short time then you would feel as though you needed another. I don't think mores scans are the answer. You sound very anxious OP I think you should talk to your midwife about how you feel. Are you an anxious person generally or has it just been since you became pregnant?