12 week scan at 11 weeks and 4 days - is this still ok?

[kmini]

Very silly query for a very pathetic reason. I'm going to sound totally ott and looney, so bear with me!

12 weeks from last period is the day after my birthday, 11 wks and 7 days is my birthday, 11 wks and 5 & 6 days is the weekend.

Basically I'll be 41 at next birthday and already petrified about all the higher probability of things going wrong with this DC.

Would prefer to have scan at 11 wks and 4 days, so that I dont ruin my birthday being a complete ball of nerves and worry.

Can I have the scan early or would I be risking them being able to do all the relevant tests.

Any sonographers/midwives out there??

Thank you

Not sure if they'll let you choose a date I was just given one but at mine I was 12 weeks but they measured the baby at 11 weeks based on its size and I had to come back for another scan. They could obviously tell me the baby was there with a heartbeat but didn't do any other checks so depends how much will give you peace of mind.

You could go privately? That may offer you some peace of mind.

The NT test can only be done between very specific dates. I think you may be a tiny bit early.

NHS won't book you in earlier than 12 w - maybe not even til 13 weeks.
If you're very worried I'd book a private scan after 7 weeks

It would be unusual for you to be offered a date that makes you bang on 12 weeks. More likely to be a bit later. A lot of places won’t book you in before you are 12 weeks either because baby may be too small to get the relevant measurements especially if it turns out your dates are slightly off (I am a week behind mine).

If you are worried about screening tests then definitely make sure you are 12-13 weeks when you have your scan. If baby is too small then some trusts don’t invite you back to rescan, they just offer you the quad test later in pregnancy which is less accurate and only screens for Downs and not Edward’s or Patau’s. Some trusts will offer to try another scan later but many don’t and they are extra stretched at the moment for obvious reasons.

But anyway I think this will probably end up not being an issue as most places won’t book you in before you’re 12 weeks anyway.

Also the chances of you being able to request a specific date for an appointment (ie on the day you’re 11+4) are slim to none in my experience. More like “the only scan we have available for that week is on Wednesday at 4.20, is that ok?” in my trust. Some scans I’ve said no I can’t make that time due to work etc and they’ve not been able to offer me any alternative date at all!

At my trust, NT can be done from 11+2. Your hospital will have all the protocols for scans in a public document somewhere and it'll tell you the range for a 12 week scan.

You get given a scan date, you don’t choose. You may be able to change it but only if they have space available and they usually will tell you the days/times. The scan is usually done between 11-13 weeks usually on the later half of that

It's not something you can lock and choose a date for - many hospitals especially the smaller ones only do certain scans on certain days. The earliest they will do them is 11+6 (which is when I had mine) and that's the minimum date for the NT combined test

The scan is offered between 8&14 weeks (although usually 11-13 weeks), you'll be given a date you won't get to choose

As others have said if you're very anxious then book a private scan. Around 8-9 weeks is usually best. Too early and you risk not seeing much which can increase anxiety.

I had my NT at 11+4 and it was fine.

OP, I'm a bit confused as to how you are counting your weeks? You discuss 12 weeks and 11+7 as separate days. How many days are you counting in a week?!

And yes 11+7 is 12 weeks?

@ShowOfHands

I had my NT at 11+4 and it was fine.

OP, I'm a bit confused as to how you are counting your weeks? You discuss 12 weeks and 11+7 as separate days. How many days are you counting in a week?!

I read that as the OP just emphasising that her birthday is at exactly 12 weeks.

The combined screening can be done between 11+2 and 14+1 weeks. Some trusts don’t like to book 11+ scans because the earlier you are, the higher the chance of you having to come back because the baby isn’t big enough yet to do the screening. So pp aren’t ‘wrong’ per se but it’s not a given; our Trust will do them at 11+2.

If you are in a Trust where you can choose or book a scan then you could have it on the Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, with the caveat that they might have to bring you back for the NT measurement but don’t forget that your personal chance of a trisomy is just that- your age risk goes up with the years yes but in real terms nothing happens to that baby the day you turn 41. The variable part of the screening is the blood test and the NT measurement. If you are really concerned and want a more accurate result I’d look at non invasive prenatal testing but it is likely to be private. (SAFE test, Harmony/Panorama etc).

Lots of people have these worries, you aren’t alone.

@BikeRunSki the op says 12 weeks from last period is the day after my birthday, 11 wks and 7 days is my birthday

Thank you all! Such helpful replies. Thank you for trying to understand my crazy logic!

My plan was to tell them my last period date was oct 16th rather than oct 20th. Thereby making me 12 weeks pregnant on the 8th jan rather than the 12th.

My greatest concern are the accuracy of the tests, so I think I'll stick to the truth and put up with an anxiety riddled birthday. You would think at almost 41 you would be grown up enough not to care about silly birthdays !!!

Just for clarification - there really is no value getting an early private scan other than for confirmation of the heartbeat and perhaps some measurement for dating?

Thank you again all

The 12 week scan is a bit of a misnomer, it's really the dating scan. A lot of women will either not know the date of their last period/have it wrong, or not have ovulated on day 14. It can be done between 8 and 14 weeks (www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/dating-scan-ultrasound-10-11-12-13-weeks-pregnant/).

Generally you will get sent an appointment and not get to pick a date. A private scan will give you a measurement but the NHS won't accept it, they will go on LMP until your scan date. You will get some photos out of it though, and another chance to see your baby. A reassurance scan can be about £40 (at least locally to me!) So not extortionate.

Personally I wouldn't lie about dates. As others say you don't get to choose the scan date and they can be very inflexible so it could still end up being on your birthday. My scan for my first baby was when I would have been 13 weeks but my Due date got moved by 3 days earlier anyway. This time around its 12+1.

I'd suggest getting an early scan to reassure yourself ahead of the 12w scan

I had a private one at 11 weeks and the NHS one at 12 weeks and they gave me exactly the same info if that helps.

Mine was through the NHS and booked for exactly 12 weeks which fell two days before Christmas but I wanted to go home so I asked it to be moved and they moved it to 11 weeks + 2 and said it would be totally fine. Once they book you in your can always ask for it to be moved or, as above, go private if you want it earlier.

I had my nhs nuchal and dating scan at 11+4 but they won't give you the choice more than likely

You should never lie about dates to make things
More convenient for yourself 🤷‍♀️

I went for my scan at 11 weeks (thought I was 12 weeks)

They wouldn’t do the screening tests as it was too early - I had to come back in a week!