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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

No scan since 20 weeks. Now 35

16 replies

FolkyFoxFace · 01/02/2021 14:44

I'm 35 weeks at the moment, and haven't had a scan since 20 weeks. My midwife said I don't need more scans because my BMI is healthy, and everything is fine.

Surely at some point I should be having more though? My midwife is lovely so it's not that I disbelieve her, I just find it odd? Other women I know are having more scans! I know some things have been cancelled because of Covid, and I'm also having a home birth (don't know if this affects anything).

Has anyone else experienced this?

Thanks!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

YawnyOwl · 01/02/2021 14:46

The other women may have a reason to be sent to scan? But without a reason in a normal NHS pregnancy 2 is your lot

October2020 · 01/02/2021 14:47

Nope, two is normal unless you have a medical reason to require baby growth scans or other issues. If you want another scan then there are private companies.

BumbleNova · 01/02/2021 14:48

It's completely normal. There is no reason to have any more scans if everything is fine.

MarinaMarinara · 01/02/2021 14:48

That is 100% normal unless there is a medical concern or need for more.

PolarnOPirate · 01/02/2021 14:49

2 is normal except for very few hospitals eg Kings College where they do one at 36 as it’s a research hospital (few years since I had mine there though so maybe it’s changed). People who have scans at the end are usually having c sections, need growth scans, need to check the placenta etc.

LemonBreeland · 01/02/2021 14:49

Perfectly normal. When I had my first DC I only had a 12 week scan. I did have an extra late scan for one of my home births but that was because the baby had been breech for most of the pregnancy and they just wanted to be 100% that the baby was now head down.

Other women you know who are having more scans are possibly higher risk, but it is unusual to get more than two.

Coffeeandaride · 01/02/2021 14:50

No that’s usual, unless there is a problem picked up on 20 week scan (eg low placenta or problem with baby) or you are at high risk of something.
That said I did get a very brief scan to check not breech with my last baby (but this was around the time I was asking for sweeps so must have been overdue).

Ttwinksy · 01/02/2021 14:50

Its standard practice in the uk to only have a 12 week and 20 week scan. You would only be offered more scans if there was considered to be a medical need for it, e.g. concerns about babys growth or heart rate etc.
I know we scan a lot less in this country than others (for example in spain I think they scan monthly all through pregnancy), but that's just the way it is I'm afraid! If you want additional scans for peace of mind and can afford it, you can always have them done privately. I agree it feels a long wait from 20 to 40 weeks though! (I'm 31 weeks now and my 20wk scan feels soooo long ago....)

beela · 01/02/2021 14:50

Standard.

Mysa74 · 01/02/2021 14:50

Sorry op, I agree. 2 is normal.
Congratulations, not long to go now xx

Original poster

FolkyFoxFace · 01/02/2021 14:52

Oh, thank you all! I had no idea - my folder has a list of all kinds of growth scans in it (just a print out), so I thought I was supposed to be getting all of them. 😂 Started to get a bit worried!

My midwife didn't explain that it was this way across the board - I feel daft now!

Thanks for setting that straight for me!

OP posts:

peachypetite · 01/02/2021 15:01

The nhs has a schedule of appointments on its website

ALew15 · 01/02/2021 15:06

I'm 34 weeks first pregnancy and I'm the same as you, 20 week scan feels so long ago. As long as everything is going well, that's your lot!

NinaMimi · 01/02/2021 15:14

I’m not sure if it’s different in the rest of the UK but in Scotland we get a booklet, with details about scans etc, which tells you what to expect.

I’m booked in for scans at 30 weeks and 34 but that’s due to the blood test showing there could be issues with growth. At first I was a little worried but now glad to get more scans of baby as I agree it seems quite a long while to wait.

Chelyanne · 01/02/2021 15:28

It's the norm just to have the dating and anomaly scans in a complication free pregnancy. You could always get a private wellness scan if you'd like to see how things are getting on in there.

Growth scans are only available on the NHS where there are high risk factors or worries for baby/mothers wellbeing.

BlueberryPancake21 · 01/02/2021 15:35

2 is normal. I looked into this because it felt like a long time to me as well and you hear stories about people who had things found at late scans so I was wondering whether to pay for a private scan. There was some research done, I think in the Netherlands, that showed no change in outcomes for women who had an extra scans but did show a higher level of interventions for those who had them which is generally seen as a bad thing. I think I've decided to leave it and just go with whatever NHS thinks is right for me.

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