Repeat 12 week scan

[Baby193]

Hi everyone. Getting a bit frustrated and hoping someone else has been through this! I went for my 12 week scan (first pregnancy) last Thursday where I was told my the sonographer that I shouldn’t have booked it in, it was too early, I was only measuring 11+1 (I didn’t book, my midwife did). It was a bit of an unpleasant experience for various reasons, mostly the sonographer’s manner, but I was rebooked for this week, so fine.
I went for my scan yesterday where another (much nicer) sonographer, who spent 15 minutes trying to get a good view of the baby, but couldn’t. She said structurally everything looked OK but she wasn’t able to accurately date the pregnancy or measure the nuchal fold. I was told to jump up and down etc and go for a walk, come back in 40 mins. I did all that, came back in 40 mins but wasn’t seen for another hour and a half by which point the baby wasn’t moving again and I felt thoroughly knackered and sick (stupidly didn’t bring snacks). I’ve been told I have to come back again next week for dating scan/tests.
I’m getting really fed up now. I spent the best part of 4 hours sitting waiting yesterday as they were running so behind and I just want the tests to be done to see if there’s anything wrong with the baby. I feel like the more I see it the more I’m “bonding” with it/it feels real and it’s becoming more upsetting that something could be wrong. I know chances are it won’t be but I just wondered if anyone else has had to keep going back for scans? I don’t know anyone else this has happened to. Thank you!

You have the option of paying privately for the NIPT test which is a more accurate blood test for the 3 chromosomal abnormalities that the 12 week screening offers, but it is quite pricey at several hundred pounds. Just an alternative option if you are concerned about getting the screening.

I don’t think you’ve had very good service from the sonographers though!

Me! I'm on scan number 3 on Wednesday at 15 weeks..

Scan 1.. which was 12 weeks from my last period showed Baby to only be at 10.1 weeks so had to go back at 12 weeks to a sad scan.

...12 week scan the baby would not move into the right position no matter how much I ran, jumped, or rolled.

..so I'm back for scan 3 at 15.4 weeks.they explained that it would be too late to do the tests for Edwards and Pataus so would have to wait for 20 week scan to pick up anything like that but I could have the quad test for downs if I wished.

Our sonographers were so very apologetic though.

I had to go back at my 20 week scan as they couldn’t get good images of their spine.
My second appointment was a 2 min scan and I got more pics.
I hope your next scan goes well

Unfortunately if baby is in the wrong position to take accurate measurements there's nothing the sonographers can do except try again another time. This happened to me at both scans, but take the positive and see it as another chance to see your baby for free!
The long wait sounds unreasonable though

I've had two dating scans in both of my pregnancies. It's not really the midwife/sonographers fault... The whole point of it is to date the pregnancy so there will be occasions where the dates won't be right and as with any scan there will be occasions where they can't get a good angle or view.

I understand it's frustrating though... In the vast majority of cases all is OK so try to relax and see it as a positive - you get to see your baby more than most pregnant women!

You're lucky you've been asked to come back to repeat the scan. The sonographer I had at my 12 week scan couldn't get any measurements as the baby wasn't in the right position but I was not offered a repeat scan. I was asked to come back at 15+4 to do the Down syndrome screening via blood test instead which revealed that I had a high AFP marker in my blood (which I would never have known had I not had the blood test instead). A high AFP marker can indicate spina bifida so was asked to come in for a scan at 17+5 to check. Got the all clear thankfully but the baby still wasn't in a good enough position to get all the required measurements.

My 20 week scan is in 2 weeks time and I'm not sure what will happen if they can't get all the measurements again (which seems likely, difficult child already!). If that happens I'm going to try and push for a rescan.

At least they're getting you back in to check, not much anyone can do if the baby doesn't want to cooperate!