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SO Disappointed with my 12 week scan pics

81 replies

Dudedudey · 02/03/2021 15:45

I went for my 12 week scan yesterday and I saw an agency sonographer who was one of the coldest people I have ever met in my life. We aren't allowed partners in with us at our local hospital and this is my first baby so I was a little anxious anyway but to make things worse my scan pics are AWFUL! I asked if he could do any clearer ones and he just said no and that was that! They are so blurry and one of them looks like an old guy with a mullet!

I suppose theres absolutely nothing I can do about it either apart from pay for a private scan. I am so disappointed.

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VodselForDinner · 02/03/2021 15:59

one of them looks like an old guy with a mullet

Well, he’s your baby and you’ll come to love him anyway.

You went for a medical appointment to check on the status of the baby, not a photo shoot.

Just think of women who also had scans yesterday who got devastating news, and would kill for a mullety baby.

TheDamnFoolThatShotHim · 02/03/2021 16:09

OP, I mean this in the nicest possible way, but yes - you are being ridiculous.

I do understand why it's disappointing, but your scans aren't a photoshoot opportunity to get the best and most photogenic pictures, they are appointments for specific medical purposes.

At the last 12 week scan I had I found out my baby had died.
I'd have killed for a fuzzy picture of a healthy baby with a heartbeat.

Be pleased with what you've got, and if you really want something clearer you can pay for a private scan for this purpose.

JemimaTiggywinkle · 02/03/2021 16:14

Sorry you’re disappointed, but all 12 week scans look like blobby aliens anyway. You’ll have your 20 week scan soon, hopefully you’ll get some better pictures then.

JackieWeaversAuthorityHere · 02/03/2021 16:16

My last pregnancy I came away from my 12 week scan having been told my baby had died shortly before. You have a healthy, moving baby inside you who is now passed the most dangerous part of a pregnancy, you should be delighted.

Head. Wobble.

I'm currently 34 weeks pregnant and if you think the photos are bad now, wait until your baby is so big you can't see anything but the profile of a nose or a foot/hand!

BlueberryPancake21 · 02/03/2021 16:19

All scan photos look like crap - I have never had any desire to keep any of mine. And if you think the 20wk ones will be better try not to get your hopes up - you could barely tell it was a baby in mine. If anyone asks I show them the 12 wk ones - at least you can tell where the head is. If it matters that much to you you'll have to get a private scan but honestly it's more important that your baby is healthy.

Chelyanne · 02/03/2021 16:24

My dating scan pics were pretty rubbish too because baby moved every time the sonographer hit the button to take one, I got 3. I could see baby clearly on the screen before she started to get the measurements and I was alone as hubby watching kids at home. I would much rather see a very active baby than have perfect pictures as this one followed a mc (after seeing hb on a private scan) at 9wk in July. I have booked a private scan for Saturday because I can't wait 7 weeks for my anomaly scan to see how baby is doing. Hopefully will get some better pics then but if not it's not a big deal because hubby is coming too so will be able to see baby himself this time.

DwangelaForever · 02/03/2021 16:30

I understand your disappointment but I think to a certain extent you can't complain.

My first scan was horrific as they couldn't see the baby properly (due to high BMI) then I had to wait and see a consultant who did another scan and it was really clear (yes I had a high bmi but my bladder was TOO full causing reduced visibility)

MrsComte · 02/03/2021 16:36

Alive healthy baby = positive scan.

luxxlisbon · 02/03/2021 16:37

The point of an NHS dating scan is solely medical, the angles and the pictures are rubbish because that isn't the focus.
If you want a nicer photo then consider booking a private scan and have a full bladder. The sonographers will be much more accommodating about getting a good keepsake.

ThinkingIsAllowed · 02/03/2021 16:38

you are being really really unreasonable. It's a medical appointment, its purpose is not to give you photos.

Soontobe60 · 02/03/2021 16:39

@Dudedudey

I just think they are really blurry and unclear compared to other peoples? Am I being ridiculous?
Yes!!!
2bazookas · 02/03/2021 16:45

A 12 week scan is a medical review, not a celebrity photo shoot .

WaitingForNormality · 02/03/2021 16:48

Currently pregnant with #2 and baby hasn't stayed still at ANY of my scans... including private ones (paid for so DH could attend as he wasn't allowed to 12wk one back then). I haven't got a single pic from 12 wk NHS one or 20 wk one... and the private pics are terrible, but it comes with the service so we took them. Baby just clearly despises being scanned! It's actually a bit of a pain as measurements and checks have been more difficult to get at each scan as a result.

Honestly, now I'm coming to 3rd trimester I don't really care about it at all. It's just one of those things.

MNnicknameforCVthreads · 02/03/2021 16:48

@2bazookas

A 12 week scan is a medical review, not a celebrity photo shoot .
This.

In the nicest possible way OP, you need to give your hear a wobble (as they say on here).

OverweightPidgeon · 02/03/2021 16:52

Scan pictures are nice for the parents and possibly close family but I really don’t think anyone else cares anyway. If they are posted on social media I very much doubt anyone will comment on the quality.

2bazookas · 02/03/2021 16:53

Just wait till its born; all mess and no make-up. Shits a lot. Won't tell you why it's crying. Might be pudgy plain with little screwed up eyes and a square mouth like Donald Trump.

EmbarrassingMama · 02/03/2021 16:53

Your 12 week scan exists to ensure the health of your baby. I'm sorry you didn't get the photos you hoped for, but I'm sure there are other nice things you have to hold on to? For example, seeing your baby for the first time, watching him/her wriggle, hearing their heartbeat, etc etc?

Retrogal · 02/03/2021 16:54

As for the coldness of the sonographer - they often are like that because they do not know what they are going to find. It took me aback too, but then I thought it through and realised it was for a very good reason. They are concentrating deeply on getting it right - and may have to be giving out some ver bad news off the back of their assessment.

Good luck - it does sound like it went well if there was nothing adverse to report

Littlepaws18 · 02/03/2021 16:58

I had three miscarriages last year and had scans which identified them with the same sonographer. I Nick named her doctor death, she was Curt, abrupt, made the whole experience a million times worse and her parting comment for one of them was... "you know what this means" that was it!

But to her credit she was right in what she found, she just had zero bedside manner.

HopingForOurRainbowBaby · 02/03/2021 17:13

At least you actually got your scan photos! our Baby was dead so they wouldn't give me mine

TheDaydreamBelievers · 02/03/2021 17:24

@Littlepaws18 I hope you considered a complaint! Managing emotions and showing empathy is part of her job!

cremeauchouchou · 02/03/2021 17:27

Wow. You are very lucky. You got a scan and the biggest problem was that the person wasn't fluffy enough for your taste. I hope you have a healthy successful pregnancy, and when it is all over, you realize that the most important thing was what you didn't have to hear today.

WhySoSensitive · 02/03/2021 17:27

Was baby healthy? If yes, then there you go.
I’ve never had a clear scan picture yet.

TheDamnFoolThatShotHim · 02/03/2021 17:28

Oh @hoping 😢 I'm sorry you didn't even get a photo.

When my sonographer left the room to get someone to confirm what she had found, I quickly took a photo of the screen because I wasn't sure if they would give me one and DH wasn't allowed to be there (covid).
She did actually print one for me though and I feel very lucky for that.

OverweightPidgeon · 02/03/2021 17:30

As for the coldness of the sonographer - they often are like that because they do not know what they are going to find. It took me aback too, but then I thought it through and realised it was for a very good reason. They are concentrating deeply on getting it right - and may have to be giving out some ver bad news off the back of their assessment

Also the implications of the sonographer missing something are huge.