20 Week Scan Nerves

[FirstTimeMummyKatie]

Hey everyone I have my 20 week scan tomorrow and I’m terrified, this is my second pregnancy the 1st I miscarried at 7 weeks. I’ve been to my 12 week scan and everything was fine also I heard the heartbeat very clearly at 17 weeks even the midwife was shocked how clear it was! But I have barely any bump but I am quite tall so maybe that’s why but I also haven’t felt any movement yet I thought I might have felt something but I’m not sure if that’s baby or wind ?

Everything’s been fine up to now I’ve had no bleeding and very bad morning sickness along with other symptoms which have started to fade I’m just worried about hearing those awful words again :( am I being too paranoid or is this normal to be worried, should I be worried at all ? x

Hi @FirstTimeMummyKatie
I’m exactly the same! I’ve never had a miscarriage but I’m soooo terrified for my 20 week scan which is next Monday. I’m sure everything will be absolutely fine for you, but I know it doesn’t help to hear people say “don’t worry”
It sounds like you’ve had a really positive pregnancy so far which is good! You’re not being too paranoid I think everyone feels the same at this point xxx

Congratulations @FirstTimeMummyKatie. The odds are overwhelmingly in your favour of a healthy pregnancy at this point! I also had a very small bump at this point and no symptoms whatsoever. However, they returned at around 34 weeks and I ended up having a massive bump, giving birth to a healthy baby girl.

The 20 week scan is daunting and you feel like you're holding your breath throughout the whole thing! But it is very fascinating and you, of course, get to see your lovely baby in much more detail.

@FirstTimeMummyKatie I also had a mmc in my first pregnancy so know exactly the anxiety you're feeling! I found out at a scan, having seen a heartbeat on a previous one and it makes the scan experience daunting every time.

I'm currently 21 weeks and don't look anything more than a bit podgy, and this is my 3rd 'successful' pregnancy (with 3 MC). Im a little overweight, very slightly above average height, just never got the 'proper baby belly', which is disappointing .

I've always had an anterior placenta as well, which makes it difficult to feel anything if the baby is hiding in my back (and all my kids have spend most of my pregnancies being awkward). It's frustrating all around, but im sure everything will be ok for your scan!

I feel you!

I have my 20 week scan next week and I haven't bought a single thing yet. I don't want to be anxious, but I can't help it. I'm a FTM and this is just so scary! I don't feel like there's anything wrong, but I also don't feel pregnant sometimes (I hope that makes sense).

I have got a bloat, but i'm a bigger person and don't know if it's bump or bloat at the moment (struggling to fasten jeans).

Here with you all the way! x

@FirstTimeMummyKatie it's perfectly normal to worry so don't feel bad. A lot of people who've never experienced loss get worried about this scan and when you've had a loss it's perfectly expected that you would worry more. I've had 2 early losses (8/9wks) and it does mean you don't have the same experience of PG - I will never look forward to a scan. But everything you're describing sounds like a normal, healthy pregnancy! At this point it is very unlikely to be a bad outcome and even if something is found (very unlikely) there is often treatment that can be offered at this point.

There are so many posts about movement - it isn't unusual for women not to feel any movement at all until 20 weeks or later. I was lucky enough to feel movements earlier but my MW was shocked that I had as a FTM - I'm not sure she believed me! I'm also fairly tall (and carrying a few extra lbs) and just looked a bit chubby until 22 or 23 weeks - I had a lot of bloating that gradually turned into baby without really looking like a bump for a long time. Now I have a bump that surprises me in the mirror and just had a 29 wk check up today and measuring over the 90th percentile! You also see women that don't look like there can possibly be a baby inside at 9 months who go on to have big babies. They're definitely in there - you've heard the heartbeat!

Good luck for tomorrow - I hope you enjoy seeing your LO again. Do remember to drink plenty of water so they can see properly and don't worry if the sonographer is quiet - they have to measure loads of things which can take a while, especially if your baby is moving about. The scan is very zoomed in as well so for me at least it looked a lot less like a baby than the 12 week scan but amazing to see their face developing and the crazy position they're choosing to lie in (wish I was flexible enough to get my feet behind my head!)

I'm taller than average and don't really have much of a bump - I look like I've gained a little weight on my stomach but you wouldn't know it was a pregnancy.

Good luck for tomorrow. The odds are on your side like someone else said. I had mine today and was nervous but glad to have it over with.

I think it's completely normal to worry, especially after a miscarriage. Like others have said, the odds of it all going perfectly are hugely in your favour. The vast majority of people I know also didn't have a noticeable bump or feel movements before 20 weeks. Good luck for tommorow, I'm sure all will be well and you'll get to see your lovely LO again.

Thank you everyone for writing on my post all your lovely messages have gave me so much reassurance and I’m feeling much better now, it’s lovely to talk to people who know exactly how I’m feeling!!!

Feeling super excited for my scan tomorrow and we’ll also know the gender if little one decides to cooperate haha xx