Baby Growth…NHS scan accurate?

[Worthit2021]

Hi there,

I was wondering if anyone could tell me their experience with private and NHS scans in determining whether there was an issue with baby’s growth?

I’ve read a lot of anecdotes about the NHS being really far out with their predictions so was wondering if people thought their private scans were better?

For context, I had a 4D/HD scan last Saturday at 29+3 and they said baby was right on track and probably weighing in at 3lbs 5oz.

Today at 30+2 I’ve been to hospital for a check up. My blood pressure was high the other week and I’ve been on medication. It’s down but there was small amount of protein in my urine today and they started panicking and sent me for a scan. The baby is apparently measuring 2lbs 1oz on their scan. They’ve got me in overnight to be monitored (even though I’ve been here 3 hours and not been seen so doesn’t seem as urgent as they made out).

I’m inclined to believe the more up to date technology of the 4D scan tbh but as this is my first baby, I don’t want to tell them I’m going home because I think they’re talking rubbish.

TIA

Who performed the 4D scan? Was it an official private hospital? And with a sonographer or a doctor? Or was it a baby scanning clinic like on the high street? If the latter id say that’s far more likely to be inaccurate. It probably depends on who’s actually doing the scanning though.

Also it’s daft to turn down monitoring for your baby regardless, they don’t keep you in for nothing and it’s better safe than sorry so I’m glad your sticking around. Hopefully the NHS scan is incorrect and they let you out quickly tomorrow

So far every scan private scan I’ve had, it’s been an NHS sonographer. The woman that did my 12 week one in the NHS hospital also happened to do my gender/sex one at 18 weeks. The private scans have been very consistent. Whereas my 20 week one at hospital left a lot to be desired.

I’ve just seen a lot of people talking about being induced for big babies and then having tiny 5 or 6lb ones. Or the other way about.

In my experience...

NHS dreadful and inconsistent
Private fantastic and consistent

I’ve just seen a lot of people talking about being induced for big babies and then having tiny 5 or 6lb ones. Or the other way about.

Yeah be careful with that one though.. nobody comes online to say ‘the nhs predicted the weight perfectly..’ etc just like people don’t come online to say my relation ship is perfect and I have fantastic mental health. You’ll get the two extremes mostly. But their estimate will be just that, an estimate, some will be more and some will be less.

The size of your baby is probably not worrying them, it will be your blood pressure.

Don't focus on just the size of your baby, it's the whole picture. You're potentially developing preeclampsia! They want to keep an eye on you.

Don't want it?Go home. It's your baby's life and your own you're taking the chance with and no one else's so crack on.

You’ve got to wonder why some people are borderline rude when people are asking a simple question or looking for experiences?

My blood pressure was fine today, it was the slight bit of protein in my urine that had them sending me for a scan. I also had luekocytes in my sample which could account for the trace of protein. I feel like I have a UTI as I had one a few weeks ago.

I’ve been in hospital for 5 hours now and no one has been to see me so I’m questioning how much of an eye they’re actually keeping on me and my baby?🤷🏽‍♀️

In my experience I had a few private scans that all said baby was growing fine and at a normal rate then my NHS scan at 20 weeks said baby was big, I then had regular growth scans with NHS who said every time he was big and induced me when my last scan estimated he was 9 and a half pounds at 38 weeks, he was born 39 weeks weighing 7.11 pounds, they did say to me at the NHS ones the estimate could be inaccurate to a certain extent either way :)

Have you been to ask someone what’s happening in those 5 hours? What have they said? I’d chase them up if you havnt already.

@JaffaRaf yes, I’ve been to the desk twice so far, once at the 2 hour mark. A midwife came after that and said the midwife who is dealing with me (that remains to be seen) would be round. I went again at the 4 hour mark and I’m still here waiting.

I've never had a private scan but I had a few extra with my recent pregnancy due to growth concerns. They initially predicted 8lb 13oz, then 8lb8oz full term and my boy was born 8lb 1.5oz. So not entirely accurate but worth the protection they're giving you by monitoring. Hope everything is OK.

Far less likely that the private ultrasound equipment is having any testing done on it to check it's measuring accurately, so in general I'd say the nhs would be more reliable. Growth scans are notoriously unreliable though which is why they'd do several if they have concerns, they wouldn't just whip your baby out on the basis of one. Far more likely if they measure big on several scans that they are actually big.

Been checked now. No protein at all in my urine and BP is fine. On a monitor and baby is giving Simone Biles a run for her money. Hopefully be able to go home soon.