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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Datimg Scan less than 5 minutes. Is thus normal?

30 replies

Whatn3xt · 30/06/2021 18:36

I had my dating scan yesterday and it was all extremely rushed. Nothing was explained and the scan was over in under 5 minutes. I was out the door in less than 10 minutes.

The sonographer didn't even TRY to take any clear, still images so all I have a blurred waves as the wand passed over. I'm worried they didn't take time to measure and check things correctly. Overall it was very underwhelming and disappointing. Is this the norm? Should I contact my midwife to see if it can/ should be redone?

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CookieMumsters · 30/06/2021 18:41

The NHS website estimates the appointment (not just the scan) probably takes 20 minutes, so it does sound fast if you were out in 10. Having said that, it also says:
^What is the purpose of the dating scan?
The purpose of the dating scan is to check:
how many weeks pregnant you are and work out your due date (the estimated date of delivery, or EDD)
whether you're expecting more than 1 baby
that the baby is growing in the right place
your baby's development^

Did they confirm your due date?

MrsTophamHat · 30/06/2021 18:48

I don't remember mine being anything like 20 minutes. At dating, I think they just look for heartbeat, number of babies and measure the length. Sometimes it can take longer if the baby is not in a great position but i think if they are sitting right then it's straighforward.

I would assume they were running late and trying to catch up.

llol031 · 30/06/2021 19:04

I had a scan at 7 week scan off the back of fertility treatment, not sure if this is the same as a dating scan

My scan was incredibly quick though and I was quite shocked too but it seems to be the norm

The consultant was more fussed with checking how many babies were in there, he then checked for a heartbeat and quickly showed us the flickering of said heartbeat on the screen (like a super quick glance, I missed it and spent the rest of the day asking hubby if there definitely was a heartbeat!) and then that was that until the 12 week scan. We were given 1 scan photo which was pretty clear but obviously baby is more of a bean at that point

The 12 week scan felt a bit longer but it was only about 20 minutes and I think that was mainly because baby was misbehaving! We got to see baby a bit more at the 12 week scan whilst they checked for measurements and they also explained things a bit more too.

The 20 week scan has been the longest for me so far. It was about 40 minutes as they are having to do detailed checks.

Not sure how long reassurance scans are but I think average scan length is about 10-15 minutes at max (other than 20 week scan)

FakeTanandProsecco · 30/06/2021 19:13

Book a private scan if you're not happy with your experience. I don't see there's any reason for it to be redone if the sonographer got the measurements required, confirmed viability etc. It's unfortunate that the sonographer's bedside manner was off and you didn't get a good view but I'm not sure that would be a good enough reason for a rescan

ScarfLadysBag · 30/06/2021 19:14

That sounds fairly normal for a dating scan as opposed to 12-week scan. They're just measuring the baby and checking it's in the right place, not really checking anything else. It doesn't take long to do when you do it every day, all day! It's not really an 'experience' like the 12-week scan is.

Trinacham · 30/06/2021 19:16

Got my dating scan appointment through today and says it will take 20 minutes, including completion of paperwork

Trinacham · 30/06/2021 19:18

@ScarfLadysBag the dating scan is the 12 week scan though?

Mummyof2andapig · 30/06/2021 19:19

That does sound rushed but if the measurements were taken and all looked well, there’s nothing more to be done.
But
I will say in general, don’t have high expectations for any of your future scans. When I had my first baby, I expected the scan experience to be like it is in American films...but the NHS is nothing like that, they really do like you in and out quickly.
It’s very much just getting the job done ASAP before getting the next woman in

Trinacham · 30/06/2021 19:19

@llol031 the 12 week scan is called the dating scan. It's the same thing.

ScarfLadysBag · 30/06/2021 19:19

I assumed dating scan was the early scan you have when you don't know how pregnant you are. That's what it was called here anyway. They don't call the 12-week scan dating scans but maybe the terminology is different.

MrsTophamHat · 30/06/2021 19:22

Yes the 12 week scan is the dating scan, as this is when you will be given your due date. If you don't know how far along you are then they will want to scan you asap to make sure that there are no problems with the pregnancy.

There is usually a bit of admin as well but the actual scanning isn't especially long.

Mummyof2andapig · 30/06/2021 19:23

@ScarfLadysBag no, dating scan is 12 weeks. Even if you have an earlier scan, they won’t date you from that, you still have to go back at 12 weeks

Original poster

Whatn3xt · 30/06/2021 19:23

Thank you all for your replies. This was my 12 week/ dating scan, so same one. They did confirm my due date and that it was a viable pregnancy and that's it. Trying not to be ungrateful but I was hoping to see more or at least for the sonographer to stop and focus for 20-30secs for me to see the baby properly. I know I'm lucky it was good news so will try and focus on that

OP posts:

Trinacham · 30/06/2021 19:24

@ScarfLadysBag ah, where is here? I'm in England and the dating scan I have just had my letter through for is my 12 week one - the first NHS one we get.

SpamIAm · 30/06/2021 19:41

Mine took about 5 minutes and that was with them just letting us watch baby on the screen for a bit. The dating scan is really quick! The anomaly scan is a lot longer.

happygolucky20 · 01/07/2021 05:54

Mine was three and a half minutes, we were majorly disappointed! My midwife apologised and said that was incredibly quick and should have taken longer. Gutting when you build up to it so much!

BastardMonkfish · 01/07/2021 08:08

While covid is still about you can expect all your appointments to take the shortest time possible. You could always book a private scan if you want the whole experience.

ExcitingTimes2021 · 01/07/2021 08:46

Book a private scan! I’m currently 34 weeks and I have had two. I had one at 10 weeks as I was so anxious incase the pregnancy wasn’t viable, then I had my 12 week one as part of NHS checks. I have to say the difference was amazing. The private one was so much more comfortable and personal (but that is what you are paying for). The NHS one was what I expected it to be - they see what they need to see and as soon as they have it’s out, wipe down, next one in. Which is fine. All I wanted from the nhs one was confirmation everything was still ok.

I was so impressed with the first private scan I booked a second one at 18 weeks as I wanted to find out the sex of the baby and wanted to be more special then the NHS would be able to offer us. Then when I went for my 20 week scan, whilst it was still lovely to see baby again all I wanted them to do was all their checks and measurements for abnormalities and to get out as soon as they told me all ok. The private scans where such a lovely experience for me.

Thefaceofboe · 01/07/2021 08:51

Did you opt to have the screening for Down’s syndrome etc? If not, I can imagine it only takes a few minutes but to take all the measurements mine took about 25 minutes. Our sonographer was lovely and made sure we had a variety of really good pictures too but I do think that just depends on who you get x

mn2022 · 01/07/2021 08:55

In the nicest way, you're not there to ' see the baby' and get good pictures

Thefaceofboe · 01/07/2021 08:56

@mn2022 OP also said... I'm worried they didn't take time to measure and check things correctly

mn2022 · 01/07/2021 08:58

[quote Thefaceofboe]**@mn2022* OP also said... I'm worried they didn't take time to measure and check things correctly*[/quote]
Thanks. I can read.

AvantGardening · 01/07/2021 09:32

I know it’s disconcerting but a short appointment is good news. If you’re in there ages it’s likely because there’s an issue (that might just be an uncooperative baby but it might be more serious). A quick appointment means everything looks great.

Congratulations on your healthy baby/pregnancy

Baker0104 · 01/07/2021 10:12

My 12 week scan was a bit longer but only because baby wasn't playing ball (a theme that has continued throughout my whole pregnancy 😂) and I had to have an internal scan as well as an external one.

I think films and TV programmes almost romanticise a baby scan when in reality in the NHS it's very much in and out thank you very much! Totally understand why but it can leave you feeling a bit flat.

Book a private scan - do your research about the best clinic locally and you'll have a must nicer personalised experience to remember x

motogogo · 01/07/2021 11:34

I don't remember my 18 week scan (the only one I got) being more than 10 mins for dd1, dd2's was a lot longer with all kinds of senior drs called in cue major panicking ... not what you want! (All was ok in the end but she had a marker that's associated with a number of conditions hence concern and rebooking for a different kind of scan at another hospital, then experimental but the kind you get today)

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