36 Week Scan

[Eddy2008]

Hello,

I'm 36 weeks and I've had some early labour signs, irregular but uncomfortable contractions and I'm 99% sure I lost my plug two nights ago. Midwife on triage said it all sounds like baby is getting prepped but there's no telling when the time will come. This morning I went in for some monitoring as baby wasn't moving very much last night / this morning, they hooked me up and luckily baby is fine - still not quite as active as I'm used too but the midwife was happy with movements. Contractions were showing up on the trace too. Again, the midwife said that suggests baby is warming up but that she couldn't say how long it would take!!
But then the doctor came in and said she's booked me in for a scan this week, as she wants the baby's growth checked? I've not been told at all that baby isn't growing properly, up until this point. They didn't measure my belly during the trace. Can anyone shed any light on why now they might be concerned enough that we need another scan at this stage?

Thanks 😊 x

In my area you get a growth scan at 36 weeks to check the placenta is working correctly still, look at fluid levels around the baby and do measurements of head, abdomen and femur and estimate baby's weight so it sounds like that's what there going to do. Hope that helps.

Ah ok, round here we have our last at 20 weeks routinely. That sounds a lot more reassuring if some places do this as part of your normal care! Thank you ☺️

Usually in our area our last scan is 20 weeks too, but my SIL mentioned to me today that our area has reinstated 36 week growth scans recently so your area may just be doing the same too? I also came across a few articles online from surrounding NHS trusts that have done the same and reinstated them where you wouldn't usually have these done, hope that helps?

I'll definitely ask when I go at the end of the week, just be handy to know for others locally too if it doesn't become routine! I think it sounds like a good scan for everyone to have ☺️

I think it's a standard thing they do if somebody reports lack of movement. I went to the hospital for lack of movement at 32 weeks. After two hours on a monitor they said baby was fine but they booked me in for a growth scan a few days later. They said it was routine, nothing to worry about which it wasn't.