Called back for a rescan at 20 weeks - should I worry?

[Sarah93advice]

Hi everyone.

This is my second baby. DS2.

I had DS1 in April of this year. He is perfectly healthy and his 20 week scan went smoothly.

I had my 20 week scan with this baby last week however was 21 weeks pregnant as they were experiencing delays. I’d already previously seen him at the 12 week scan and a private gender scan at 16 weeks. No worries or concerns noted. Genetic testing also came back fine.

Last week at my scan the sonographer kept remarking she couldn’t get a proper look at baby as he was in an awkward position. She made me walk around and stuff. I didn’t overly worry on account I had to do the same with DS1.

When we went back in, she managed to see everything aside from his lips and heart. But I found this odd because I saw her focusing on his heart so I don’t know if she meant that she hadn’t seen what she wanted rather than hadn’t seen it.
(I know it was definitely his heart I was seeing, as DS1 had missing heart beats in the womb so they often scanned me once a week and focused on his heart)
I could see it beating but I couldn’t see the four chambers they usually like to see :-( Just two. DH reassured me it was because baby was in an awkward position and they’ll see more at my rescan.

So I’m being rescanned on Christmas Eve. I’m so worried. The sonographer put in my notes that the reason the scan was difficult is because I’m overweight however I was MUCH more overweight with DS1 and this was never mentioned as a factor. DS1s placenta was also on the front whereas this baby’s is on the back which I was told makes viewing easier.

I’m so worried. Should I calm down? :-( would the consultant and scanning lady have told me if they were concerned? My DH is convinced it’s was all baby’s position and at the rescan we will see his heart and lips/mouth just fine.

Thanks.

That’s normal. At my 20 week scan they couldn’t see his spine properly. They were able to check everything else but he wasn’t in the right angle of his spine.

They asked me to wait half an hour before they scanned me again and he had moved and they could see what they needed. But they did said I would need to go back if they didn’t see his spine.

It’s more likely that they have to check everything and baby wasn’t in the right place, so they need you to come back, that’s all. Don’t worry!

Completely normal. Had to go back at 21 weeks for a rescan with DD1 due to not being able to see the heart at correct angles at 20 week scan and am currently 22 weeks pregnant and I'm having a rescan tomorrow with Baby No 2 due to not being able to see spine at correct angles at scan last week. Sonographer said she wasn't worried but they need to have certain pictures at the correct angles to be able to give everything a tick 😊

This is normal and I wouldn’t start to worry just yet. With DD1 (my first baby) I was called back after my 20 weeks scan as they saw her heart beating away on the scan but due to position couldn’t verify the four chambers. We went back and DD was in a good position and they got to see what they needed.

There is really little point in panicking and worrying yourself, though I know it’s easier said than done. Wishing you the best for your scan.

I know it's difficult but please try not to worry.

I had to go back to be rescanned after my 20 week scan because they couldn't see the heart and kidneys well enough- everything was fine, sometimes babies are just in funny positions

I also had to go back for a rescan after 20 weeks, can’t even remember for what specifically but they just said DD was in an awkward position so they couldn’t see everything they wanted to. It was all fine at the second scan. Don’t worry, try to relax.

If it helps, I was told then and there that they suspected something was wrong, then they got someone else in for a second opinion and confirmed it as far as I can remember, then asked us to to wait for a doctor to come and explain it.

Thankfully it was fairly minor and all turned out well in the end but I think they would have told you if they had actually seen something that was a problem rather than just not been able to see what they needed.

With both my kids they sent me away for a walk as couldn’t get the images they wanted. I was also tilted on the bed to try and get babies to move.

I had to go back for a scan another day and with DC2 they still couldn’t manage to get clear images but I wasn’t invited back for a 3rd scan.

I had to be rescanned for all 3 of my dc at 20 weeks. It’s normal. Try not to worry, which is easier said than done. They said my weight was an issue too and the awkward positioning of the baby. Enjoy your extra view of baby.

Very normal, but I’m sorry you’re so worried.

I was sent out for an hour to walk around and then come back to see if the baby had moved to a better position at my 20 week scan - so I’d say pretty likely it was to do with the babies position at the time being awkward and she couldn’t see everything

This is normal. My second hated being scanned. For her 12 weeks scan she literally turned her back on us. Had to be done again at 14 weeks.

At 20 weeks she curled into a ball so tight they couldn't see half of what they needed.

At midwife appointments she'd kick the Doppler when it was on my tummy 🤷🏼‍♀️

I had the same and was also worried. They couldn't see all of DSs heart. They couldn't say they'd seen all 4 chambers. We were rescanned and they still couldn't see properly. If there was an issue they would have to tell you.

Same here DD2 was asleep and the sonographer couldn’t wake her to scan the heart. All was fine. They would tell you if there was an issue.

All very normal. I had to return a week later as baby was not co-operating with position for her heart. I had to go away (again) for about 30 minutes as the sonographer took one look and instantly said she was in a bad position and to try to get her to move.

Took all the advice to heart (fizzy, caffeinated beverage, hearty breakfast, climbed every staircase, rapid walk) and third attempt was the charm.

I had to have 3 "20 week" scans for dc2 as sonographer couldn't get a good enough view of her heart - combination of baby's position and doppler. I was also overweight (but less so than dc1) and had anterior placenta with both (but again, less so with dc2). They just like to be reaaly really sure, and I'm glad that they are. Dc2's heart was perfectly fine but they did tell me about the potential issues they were rescanning for.

Another one who had a rescan here. I saw them looking at the chambers of the heart but they need to see all 4 clearly and it opening and stuff to tick the box, baby was behind my belly button and wouldn’t quite get into the angle- so the rescan was very common.

When they say couldn’t see the heart, it means couldn’t quite see enough to tick the box

I had to go for a rescan with this pregnancy (third) so they could see the heart properly apparently they couldn't get a good front view to check everything properly.
I'm sure it will all be fine. It will just have been that baby was in an awkward position.

When they say they can't see it they mean they can't see to do their specific checks. I had it with my second child, the heart wasn't fully visible, I think she could only see 2 chambers. The scan was around now a few years ago so I went back v early Jan, it was perfectly fine. I didn't worry at all over Christmas. With my third child she was about to give up and get me to come back as she couldn't see the spine properly, again I wouldn't have worried, she made it very clear she just couldn't see it to check it properly.