Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

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

Flip

Original poster

Fetal medicine appointment, what happens

16 replies

Donimo · 14/02/2022 17:09

I am almost 17 weeks pregnant with Monochorionic twins. I have my first appointment with fetal medicine on Thursday and getting a little nervous about what to expect. Has anyone been seen by fetal medicine and can explain what I might expect to occur. Also trying to think about any questions to ask. If anyone has got any experience I would be extremely grateful

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

firstimemamma · 14/02/2022 17:14

Mine was just a normal scan but took longer and there was 2 doctors as well as the sonographer. It really was ok. Good luck.

EllieJai44 · 14/02/2022 17:41

My fetal medicine appointments were very detailed scans but they are busy! Usually have a consultant, sonographer and someone noting things on a computer!

Don't get worried if they have times where they don't explain things to you, they will at the end, mine did the whole scan talking to each other with the odd pointing out of things and then at end they described everything! It was fascinating though

Sexnotgender · 14/02/2022 17:43

Mine wasn’t for twins but history of birth deformities.

Was a detailed scan with a consultant. She was lovely, saw her in both my subsequent pregnancies.

There was nothing weird or unexpected.

princesspopppy · 14/02/2022 17:43

Mine were always a scan followed by a sit down appointment with the fetal medicine consultant. As pp said the scans are really in depth and I found the staff in fetal medicine to be amazing - so calm and reassuring.

Nikki037297 · 14/02/2022 21:17

I have been loads of times! Like 50-60 times. Each time it’s just a scan be a specialist who is specifically there and has trained for the reason your there. Sometimes there is more than 1 scanning you. After your scan they take you into a room and discuss their findings, if they want to do any tests they offer them usually there and then, I was offered my amnio and I said yes and I was getting it done 15 mins later. This was not for twins tho my baby was very poorly and it’s a complete different reason to why you are there so more than likely you will just have scans there from now on. Don’t be put off by the name as I was lol it is a freaky name lol

Somerandomgirl · 15/02/2022 09:36

Mine was scan, checked all is ok from everywhere

gluenotsoup · 15/02/2022 09:40

The same as above really. They are usually done by a fetal medicine specialist/consultant, and I think the scan machines are better, can pick up more details. The scan itself might last longer, or then be referred to a specific consult- eg- cardiologist. Often there is extra time to talk about any findings. Good luck x

elliejjtiny · 15/02/2022 09:44

I went to the fetal medicine clinic and it was lovely. Saw the same consultant each time and all the staff really seemed to care. One time they asked if a group of medical students could come and see my scan which I agreed to although it got a bit crowded so one of them sat with 2 year old ds3 on his lap as there was no room for the buggy. I was there because my little one had a cleft lip. Hope your appointment goes well.

Original poster

Donimo · 15/02/2022 14:58

Thank you all for your reassurance. I do have another question I will be 17+2 weeks at this appointment. If I ask will they tell me the twins sex?

OP posts:

Rrrob · 15/02/2022 15:05

I had twins in 2020 and was scanned weekly from 16 weeks by my consultant (due to concerns about T1). At 17 weeks you will have a detailed anatomy scan. I was told the sex at 16 weeks so they should be able to tell you.

They will also tell you the risks of mo/mo pregnancy and when you are likely to have your twins, and the plans for future scans. Without complications I would have been scanned once a month. Good luck, twins are awesome!

rickyzoooooom · 15/02/2022 15:05

@Donimo

They will be able to tell you the sex at 17 weeks definitely. We found out at 16.

Are you just under fetal medicine for standard maternity care?
Mine had TTTS and that was the on out time we went to fetal medicine, but possibly because our nearest was over N hour away by train.

Original poster

Donimo · 15/02/2022 15:19

@rickyzoooooom I am not quite sure what service I am under. As have had appointments and scans booked in with my local hospital obstetrics as well as this appointment. At my local hospital appointment last week the consultant wasnt even aware I had been referred by a midwife to fetal medicine and couldn't really answer any of my questions.

Not sure if it's due to being high risk without the issue of twins as I had preeclampsia and obstetric cholestasis leading to a crash c section with my DD.

Hopefully I'll find out more on Thursday!

OP posts:

rickyzoooooom · 15/02/2022 17:07

Gosh I just noticed all the typos in my previous post, sorry! That'll be because my now 4 year old twins are on half term and so I was distracted!

Maybe things have changed since mine. Totally makes sense to be seen under fetal medicine in my opinion.

Original poster

Donimo · 18/02/2022 06:43

Thank you all for your reassurance. The appointment was fine and very informative and they answered all my queries thoroughly (although a very chaotic and busy clinic). Our twins girls are doing well and growing well. So just going to be monitored with fetal medicine with fortnightly scans now.

OP posts:

Lexi02 · 10/05/2024 14:07

i had a scan yesterday and was told everything looks fine even tho the baby was growing at 24 weeks when I am 28 but they said everything looks normal but today got a call for a fetal medicine scan what does this mean ?

Original poster

Donimo · 10/05/2024 18:23

I was under fetal medicine as I had an identical twin pregnancy. This was standard practice due to the higher risks associated with this type of twin pregnancy. Fetal medicine scans are carried out by an experienced obstetrican rather than a radiographer. They are more indepth than a normal scan. Did they tell you why they were requesting this scan? Possibly due to slower growth?

OP posts:

Flip