First scan not until 14 weeks

[HJ88]

Hello.
I’m new posting here but have been lurking for a while ☺️

I’m about 11 weeks pregnant with my first child. Had awful MS from about 5 weeks but things seem to have settled now, which makes me think I may be further along.

I had my booking appointment last week and have just received my letter from the hospital for my first scan, but it says it’s the first trimester screening test, nothing about dating scan? Will this be the same thing? It’s not until the 18th Jan so if my dates are correct I will nearly be 14 weeks by then?

I conceived about a month and half after coming off cerezete so my periods were non existent/ irregular so not 100% sure on dates.

I have tried to ring the hospital and the midwifes at the surgery but no answer for the last two days.

Thanks 😊

Hey. Yes dating scan is what you have at 12 weeks and they combine the screening with this scan, as well as blood tests, if you have opted for the screening.

14 weeks is the latest time this screening can be done. I’d keep trying contact your midwife. Just in case you are slightly further along, or if you have to isolate you may miss the cut off for this screening.

@WalkingMeAway thank you.. I didn’t even think about it being postponed due to having to isolate. I’m a teacher as well, so it’s highly possible. I’ll keep trying to call.

@HJ88 oh yes definitely keep trying then. Mine is next week, at 13w+1d and I’m worried about having to isolate and missing it. I’m in tier 4 anyway so not mixing with anyone, and kids don’t return to school until the next week.

I’ve booked the NIPT as well just in case, and due to my age (38)

I arranged a slightly earlier private scan for this very reason (but didn't tell my NHS midwife).
If there had been a serious issue with the baby I decided I would rather know about it before 14 weeks from which time a termination is a surgical operation.

I spoke to my community midwife today and she didn’t really seem to understand my worries. She said it’s fine as I’ll be 13w 4 and when I mentioned about the possibility of self isolation she said everyone is in the same boat.

She said I could try and call the antenatal clinic but she doubts they’ll do anything and I can just have the tests at my 20 wk scan ?

How frustrating. Yes everyone is in the same boat re isolation. But if the test was earlier you’d have more of a window.

You can’t have those tests at 20w. They look for abnormalities and might pick things up but you’re a lot further on!

It’s max 14w. Unless you choose to go private and have an NIPT test which can be done anytime from 10w. Or you can have an amniocentesis or CVS which both carry slight miscarriage risks as they are diagnostic rather than screening.

That’s frustrating. If you are further on then they won’t be able to do the neck measurement test but will do a quad blood test instead, I think. My DS was in the wrong position at the 12 week scan and they couldn’t measure so did the bloods instead. Still comes back with same results, as far as I’m aware.

I was in exactly this boat. My scan was booked for when I was 14+1 by my dates at the time (had sex once so was pretty sure!) I rang, told them... etc... they said oh don't worry about it. Didn't take me at all seriously, which still pisses me off.

I then had to isolate. My covid Test thankfully came back negative and I had my 'dating' scan at what turned out to be 15+5 by the time the could fit me in. It put me two days even further ahead than I thought I was (15+3 by my dates).

I ended up just having the quad test as I was too far ahead for the 'normal' screening. This just looks at downs' risk. I was told that Edwards and Pataus come with strong anatomical markers that would be seen on my 20 week scan (if present).

I'm still pretty pissed that my original scan date would have meant I couldn't have the screening tests either (as I would have been 14+3 by their measurements). I didn't have a late booking appt or anything. They knew I was over 14 weeks for the original scan. Not cool.

As long as you're under 14 weeks, you will be able to have the full screening.