Anomaly scan not clear.

[day86]

Hello there, I went for my anomaly scan yesterday and was left feeling really deflated by the experience. I am diabetic and was desperate for some reassurance on the development of my baby. It was a very quiet scan (obviously concentrating) but I left feeling very anxious & confused. Nothing that was done throughout this time was explained to me although the doctor had stated that she was unable to conclude the scan as some parts were unclear, iv saw a few people writing that it was because of the position etc... however this didn’t seem to be the case with me. Looking at my notes online I was able to find out that the abdomen, legs arms hands etc were ‘normal’ but it was then followed up with the heart, spine in sagittal view and other parts of the cranium were unclear, although I was aware that these areas were being looked at multiple times throughout the scan. I know from forums and advice that if anything shows great concern they are suppose to make you aware that day. But has anyone had a similar experience where it wasn’t the position, it was just more ‘unclear’.

Have they asked for you to come back for a better view. In both of my pregnancies I have had to return a week or so later as they didn't get a view of something which they needed to tick off. First was face as he kept turning when she tried and second was the other side of her heart.

@popcorndiva thanks for your reply,

yes they have booked another appointment for me, it's a week on Friday. My bmi is high, so I was wondering if it was a possibility that this was making it less clear. But I didn't really get any more info other than it was unclear. It was more a fright because she didn't say it was a positional thing just that it was 'unclear' she then thought my placenta was low but it checked again and it wasn't. I wish I had asked for a bit more clarification.

Oh it might be the bmi though they usually put that in the notes subtley.

I wouldn't worry as they would have said if they had seen something worrying

Thanks @popcorndiva I keep telling myself the same, just with it being my first pregnancy, I'm finding the milestones quite nerve wracking. Hopefully everything will be clearer and okay when I go back 🤞🏼

If they were worried, they would have told you and shown you what the problem was there and then. And they would have reffered you to fetal medicine for a scan. It would have been a matter of urgency that it happens before you are 22 weeks.

My baby had spina bifida and so had issues with his spine and cranium. I was told there and then, taken through to the quiet room and reffered immediately for a scan to happen within a week.

Anything serious would have been reported and explained to you on the spot. I'd assume that they just couldn't get all the measurements needed if baby was in an awkward position.

Wishing you all the best.

@SemiFeralDalek

Thankyou, this happened at my 12 weeks scan but because they said it was down to position it was easier to comprehend, it probably is just this, and the baby seems to be laying quite low in my abdomen still.
I will surely find out soon enough when I go back. Thanks for taking the time to reassure me, I appreciate all the help.

Hi just wanted to resure you I have i high BMI and had to go back 2 weeks later when baby was a little bigger as they said they couldn't see anything alarming but couldn't quite get some of the more intricate measurements...

@joanneligthelm thanks for your help, it's highly possible that this is the case, I guess I just needed the clarification as I'm such a worrier. She did mention that because I was just short of the 20 week mark (by one day) that hopefully my next appointment will mean the baby will be bigger and hopefully easier to see these things 🤞🏼

[quote day86]@SemiFeralDalek

Thankyou, this happened at my 12 weeks scan but because they said it was down to position it was easier to comprehend, it probably is just this, and the baby seems to be laying quite low in my abdomen still.
I will surely find out soon enough when I go back. Thanks for taking the time to reassure me, I appreciate all the help. [/quote]
Oh! Dating scan!? It will definitely just be down to baby's position and them being a monkey! Good luck with your next scan! Fingers crossed baby behaves for that one!

My dating scan with my DS1, I was told to go buy a can of coke from the vending machine and do some star jumps and come back in half an hour he was a bugger then and is 4 now and still a bugger!

@SemiFeralDalek

Yes this already happened at my dating scan as well as my recent anomaly scan. Then one of my extra scans showed my wee one putting their hands over their ears, so clearly just a little cheeky 😂 .
thanks for the advice for the future. That's lovely, 4 is such a magical age as well

In both my pregnancies I had to go back for a second attempt at getting the heart measurements. There was nothing wrong, they just can't sing it off until they've been able to see it clearly. And like you, with a high BMI things are already harder to see on the scan.

Next time you go in ask questions! Ask them to talk through what they're checking.

I just had my second anomaly scan today, also high BMI. They didn't tell me any details at the first, just that there were no issues, at the second today I had two full detail reports to take away so if your trust is the same, they might just give you all the info at the second scan.

@crispywaffle

Thanks ladies it's comforting to know this is quite common. I will definitely be asking more questions, it's also my own obstetrician that will be doing it next week so I hope that will make things a lot clearer 🤞🏼

@PineappleSun awe that's good news, must have been a relief for you. It is going to be my obstetrician doing it next week so hopefully will be a bit clearer and more communication. 😊🤞🏼

Same happened at my scan, they weren’t able to clearly see everything they needed to & take all the measurements so I was booked in again exactly 2 weeks later. All was fine, sonographer reassured me it’s fairly common and from speaking to my friends most had to go back again. I was totally unaware so I was anxious too but it seems to be a fairly regular thing.

Is there any mention of body habitus in your notes? This terminology is sometimes used when a high BMI limits the view of the baby.

I had the same experience as @SemiFeralDalek

I know lots of people who have had to be rescanned due to baby in awkward position etc. Hopefully they'll get a good view at your next appt.

@ER20 thanks so much for the reassurance, glad all was okay for you 😊
I think it is because it's all the vital parts I'm panicking, but I need to remember not to stress 😅.

@malikaqi hey, no mention of this, just that it wasn't very clear and that she was having to change a few settings. Hopefully we will get a better result next week. 🙏🏼

Thanks @lisamarii
Yeh that seems to be the most common reason iv seen too. Think I was more nervous because it wasn't so much the position, or at least that wasn't said.. it seemed to be more of an unclear picture? Iv heard if you don't drink enough water it can make the fluid cloudy?? Hoping with the baby being bigger next week we get a more clear view 🤞🏼
thanks again 😊

I had the same, high BMI, needed a rescan. It's a combination probably of baby not in the optimal position and your weight making it hard to see. In reality they've probably seen everything and know it's fine but they have to get the pictures to evidence this and haven't been able to. 20 week scans are usually quiet, the sonographer is putting themselves in a serious position legally and professionally if they don't get all the measurements and pick up on something they should have seen.

@Definately
Thank you 😊 this has helped make me feel better, I really hope that this is it, I know they have a tough job, I don't know how they see half the things, it's amazing! Just a bit nervous as I'm diabetic, so these are the things I was anxious about. I will hopefully have a much clearer scan next week 🤞🏼