Scans

[Sunnytimes04]

Hi, ftm so I don't really know how many scans you'd normally have or anything but I'm almost 27 weeks and already had 3 scans because they was worried the baby was so small, but now I have to wait 3 months before I can have another one, is that classed as normal?
They say everything is fine on the last ones but I'm still not keen on having to wait until September to make sure the baby is ok.
( Doesn't help someone keeps telling me the stories when they lost their baby about the same time I'm at now. )

Hi,

Yes that's normal if they aren't worried about baby.

In my area you would only have 2 routine scans at 12 & 20 weeks.

That would be it unless there were any concerns along the way, such as I had 2 more because baby was measuring large at midwife appointments and I was polyhydraminos so I had extra growth scans (at 36w & 39w)

During your future midwife appointments, they'll measure your uterus to check growth progression and also listen to your baby's heartbeat. This should reassure you nicely!

I have only had two scans at 12 and 20 weeks. Since 28 weeks I have had my bump measured to monitor growth progress against our personal chart. If the growth changes pattern (above or below expected growth) that would trigger a further scan.
I have been in once for reduced movements so baby was monitored then. My trust does extra monitoring for multiple episodes of reduced movements.
I wouldn't see the next scan date at 36 weeks as the only time they will check progression/wellbeing. There are other indicators they keep an eye on in the interim period and if they have any concerns they will do more checks. If they were concerned they would book you in for more scans and monitoring.
Try not to fret, they will be keeping an eye on you and the little one.

The NHS standard is for scans at 12 and 20 weeks. Some areas do one at 36 weeks too but otherwise you can go the entire secind half of pregnancy to birth without another scan.

You do have appointments where the midwife will listen to the heartbeat and they measure your uterus from around 28 weeks so any issues with heartbeat, growth or position you would get sent for extra scans.

My partner is in a different country and they do extra scans as standard over there so (prior to lockdown) I had 2 scans at 6 and 8 weeks to check viability and rule out ectopic.

I've also paid for 2 private scans. One at 17 weeks where we found out the sex and then a growth scan with 4D images at 31 weeks. I tried to spread them out a bit so I had some extra reassurance and it definitely worked.