20 week scan - worried, please help.

[Northlondonmum86]

Heya, I’m a first time mum to be and was told some terrible news at my 21 week anomaly scan.

My baby is showing below or on the 1 percentile for nearly all its measurements.

I have “jelly like placenta” and the consultant said it could be the reason the baby is SGA.

We were also told that we would have a premature baby. Then shoved out the door as they were running 2 hours behind.

Firstly - my period date was 12th august with intercourse date being the 17th at the earliest. The date they are taking for 21 weeks is 6th august (6 days before my period and 11 days before intercourse.

We are adamant that we are 19 weeks and not 21. This could be the reason there is a massive issue with being in the one percentile. The 21 weeks makes no sense. Please help understand this and share your experiences.

This has to be an error. And if so could this be the reason things are showing in the one percentile?

They have told us the Next Scan is in 24 weeks.

We were also told that if we have jelly like placenta and measurements are all 1% we would have a still born.

Please please help me 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 Worst experience every. Thank you so much mums 😘

Didn't want to read and run, sounds like an awful experience and I am so sorry this is happening to you. I'm only 16wks so don't have guidance on what could be going on but hope this comment bumps it up so people who do can help. My only thought is if you can ring the maternity unit at your hospital tomorrow to try and get another scan sooner or to speak to a consultant

Didn't want to read and run either. So sorry you're going through this. My little girl was meeting all the targets until 20 week scan when she started measuring below the 7th percentile. It was an incredibly hard and stressful time so I can only imagine what you're going through. She's now had a growth spurt at 30 weeks and I've been signed off from the fetal prediagnosis unit and back to weekly scans. Definitely suggest what pp said and push for another appointment before 24 weeks or maybe a private scan if you can afford it?
Sending you love

Hi OP, pregnancy is dated from 2 weeks before your first day of your last period, not conception. Its because everyone has different length cycles, and ovulates at different times. So when you get a positive pregnancy test you are technically 4 weeks pregnant.

Soubds scary, hope next scan gives more answers

That's not true actually @Lazypuppy. Pregnancies are dated from the first day of your last period, NOT two weeks before that!

So sorry I can't offer you any advice OP. I really feel for you - it's hell not knowing. I just wanted to get the date thing sorted for you. You're in my thoughts.

OP you can check how many weeks pregnant you are by the date of your last period with the NHS calculator www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/finding-out/due-date-calculator/#due-date-calculator

As @Squiff70 says pregnancies are dated from the date of your last missed period not from conception or ovulation.

@GrowBabyGrow not fr m the date of your last missed period; as @Squiff70 said, it's the last day of the period you actually had.

@Northlondonmum86 it doesn't sound acceptable that they bundled you out with news like this, even if running late! This is so difficult, I'm sorry I don't have experience to offer, but if they didn't arrange a follow up scan or appointment with a consultant to discuss, you should phone ante-natal to get the one, and maybe call your midwife to discuss as well. Your midwife will be able to explain how your dating was calculated (though it may then have been adjusted slightly at the 12-wk dating scan?). Keeping fingers crossed for you.

Sorry, you've both misunderstood. It's dated from the FIRST day of your last ACTUAL period. Not the last day of it and not the first day of a missed period! Please don't confuse the OP!

Sorry typo my end! I did mean last period not last missed. Blame baby brain 😅

Sorry I don’t have any advice for your specific situation OP, I just wanted to offer a hand hold, I have been in the position of receiving bad news at the 20 week scan too and I can empathise with how worried and scared you are feeling. I really hope you can get an earlier appointment with the consultant to talk things through, it’s unacceptable you were left without the full information and the opportunity to ask questions. Thinking of you

I'd get a private scan if you can. Best money I ever spent. Good luck

Sorry you are going through so much worry it's not good how you were treated either.

What happened at your 12 week scan? I definitely agree it is worth going private.

That sounds a terrible experience- those comments made you you at the scan are scary and stark and I think someone should have taken time to explain really clearly and allow you to ask questions.

I don't know anything about the condition but is it worth talking to your midwife? Or asking for an interim appointment with a consultant?

As others have said, the dating looks accurate. If you conceived around the 17th of August, you would be between 21-22 weeks pregnant due to how initial dating works.

Last period dates for 20-week scans are pretty useless anyway. The dating should come from your 12-week scan, which is generally very accurate due to the big differences in development at that stage. That's how your due date will be calculated - once you have a scan, they use that, not period dates, because period dates can be v inaccurate anyway (I conceived this pregnancy on a random 43-day cycle, which would have put the LMP dates totally out v what I am!). Was your 12-week scan normal?

Anyway all that is to say that I don't think the dating is probably the issue here, but I would be pushing to speak to someone ASAP. Can you ring your midwife first thing tomorrow?

So sorry OP. That sounds like an awful experience. They should not leave you like that for that long. I would ring them tomorrow and ask for an apt for next week. I work in a maternity hospital and there is no way a patient would be left that long after such unreassuring news.

And sorry OP, but going by last period on the 12th of august, that brings you to 21weeks.

Hi @Northlondonmum86 the anxiety must be through the roof right now with muddled dates & being told about the chance of still born.

But just to reassure you, I was below the average percentile such that they had to rescan after two weeks.. and suddenly there was substantial growth that I was on the line.

Now I'm 35 weeks & guess what...

Baby is over average now — meaning a large baby & so I have to be induced artificially if I can't get baby out by next two weeks.

I never thought an "under weight" baby will now be diagnosed LGA large gestational age, but hey — we're still going! Still hopeful!

Believe in miracles 💚

I'm really sorry to hear what you're going through, and it's totally unacceptable for them to have rushed you out without explaining what was going on.

My understanding is that a jelly-like placenta can increase the risk of complications, often because it's harder for a baby to get a good supply of nutrients (which could be why your baby is measuring small), so pregnancies where this has been identified need to have close monitoring. Early delivery (pre-term) is often recommended or necessary because the placenta is less efficient than it would ideally be, so there comes a point where a baby is more able to get nutrients by being born and receiving medical treatment and milk than by staying in the womb. If/when this becomes an issue varies widely, but parents should receive support and advice from their own team, based on their individual circumstances. It might be helpful to contact your midwife or consultant in the morning and ask about getting an urgent appointment to discuss the scan findings and whether you need any additional referrals (eg to a foetal medicine team or a consultant specialising in this). If early delivery is needed, you should get time to ask questions about this so that you're as prepared as you can be - some special care and intensive care units even do virtual tours to help parents familiarise themselves with the units.

In terms of dates, you can use the NHS due date calculator (linked earlier in the thread), and you should have been given an estimated delivery date at your 12 week scan. 21 weeks would fit with the dates you've given, though. Once you've got your estimated date from the 12 week scan (which is based on your baby's measurements at that time), that's the date that's used as the starting point for tracking growth, so it does sound like your baby hasn't been growing as quickly as expected, which would fit with there being an issue with the placenta.

I really hope you can get some clarity on your situation in the morning - don't be afraid to push for assertive follow-up and answers to all your questions.

Beeing small does not allways indicate that anything is wrong with the baby, my first was born at 37 weeks due to measuring small and came out at 2039g / 4lbs 5oz just under the 0.4th peecentile line but was all healthy, only thing was he struggled to maintain his temprature but that was easily helped to be maintained by an extra blanket and beeing on a heat mat, he didnt go into the nicu and stayed by my side the whole time on a ward, he was born on tuesday and we were home on the sunday. Hes a happy healthy 14 month old now, still weighs under the 0.4th percentile line and has just moved into 9-12 month clothing!

Sorry @Squiff70 that was also a typo from me! Why is it that always happens when one is trying to clarify something. So sorry.

Thank you for ammo the feedback and comments. I really appreciate it. @Scirocco - I agree with your points and we have to monitor it. I mean you make it more easier to understand than the consultant. We have a private scan on Wednesday.

My issue is at our 12 week scan; there was a trainee Sonographer who moved the due date from 19th may (with is from the first day of my last period- 12 august) to 13th may which would take it to 6th august. A week before my first day of the last period - that’s not possible?!!?!

By the way this trainee Sonographer who changed the date because the CRL measurement was too big. The baby was moving lots and he couldn’t decide if it was 5mm or 6mm…

On top of all of that @Hugasauras @Squiff70 @GrowBabyGrow @Laureatus @SantiagoSister @Maighread - you are all right they factor in a 2 week window as they can’t be sure when conception occurred. I have a feeling that in this case with the 1 week before my period and maybe another 1 week error they are looking at a 19 week baby at 21 weeks.

And that might also be a reason that it’s in the 1 percentile. That’s all!

Thank you for even coming back to me. I appreciate the love. And need it right now.

🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 Look forward to hearing from you. I accept the placenta might be a reason for premature birth etc and I’m okay with that. But the dates are defo 1 week out or maybe even 2/3.

Sending you so much love, and hope they give you some more information as soon as possible.x