Worried about 12 week scan pictures

[efamcg112]

Hi all. We had our 12 week scan on Friday and I wasn’t happy with it. The lady doing it didn’t do the heartbeat and when I asked was everything ok she replied “ this is your dating scan and not your anomaly scan “ and that was all. We came away and I never thought much of it but over the weekend we’ve studied the photos and me and DH have became worried about what the mass is just above the baby’s head? I’ve googled 12 week scan pics and none look like this? I’ve booked a private scan for tomorrow to reassure myself but just wanted to see if anyone had any ideas tonight so i can settle myself until tomorrow. I wasn’t content with the treatment we were given at the 12 week scan as the lady scanning seemed very careless and and I’m worried that she wouldn’t even of told us if there was something to worry about as it wasn’t our 20 week scan and we’d be told then. I’m a very anxious person and ive lost both parents this year to cancer under the age of 70 so I’m worried incase it’s a tumour or growth on myself also. If anyone can advise that will be great. I’ll finally find out tomorrow what it is when I go for private scan but hope someone can help me to settle before then and have an idea of what it is

I’m sorry you’re feeling so anxious. Scan pictures are difficult to get a full picture. I hope the private scan is helpful xx

I have no idea what that is, but it's pretty obvious, so if it could be anything sinister the sonographer would have seen it and referred you appropriately.

They don’t do the heartbeat at the dating scan, so that’s normal. I’m not sure what’s around the head, but it is quite obvious so I’m sure if they had anything to be concerned about it would have been picked up.
best of luck for the private scan.

Here is my baby at 12 weeks. There is also something massive touching the head. She is fine by the way. I am sure you would be told if something was that obviously wrong. Ultrasound pics are weird and it is easy to imagine all kinds of things.

I think if it was anything to be concerned with there would be a duty of care regardless of the gestation. I hope you get the answers and reassurance you need x

It looks like the placenta

That looks to be the placenta.

If there had been any obvious areas of concern, you would have been told. You cannot find something on scan pictures that the trained person conducting the scan didn't find.

There are a lot of things still too small to assess at 12 weeks, which is why the anomaly scan is at 20. But if there was some kind of giant tumour - which there isn't - that isn't something they'd fail to put in the paperwork!

That is your placenta

They don't check heartbeat at 12 week scan, obviously though they can check of everything is still OK? I've heard of people having a MMC at 12 week scan, how can this be confirmed of they don't do heartbeat ?

They absolutely do check if there is a heartbeat. It is pretty obvious.

What they don't do is do e.g. a structural check on the heart, because it is still too small, or any assessment on what the speed of the heart "means" or whatever. A slow heart rate in the early weeks is a pretty strong predictor of miscarriage, but by 12w generally the pregnancy is either viable and continuing or it isn't.

The first picture - I wonder if that is baby’s hand up against its head

The second looks like your placenta

I hope they can reassure you today. Pregnancy is such an anxious time x

When I had my 12 week scan (and to be fair I'm putting a complaint in with the hospital and since have got moved to the larger hospital in the district) the midwife told me there was something wrong with the baby's brain development based on scan (there wasn't) but yes they do have a duty of care to tell you that early on. No disrespect to the midwives but the ones in that particular hospital were woeful and had the fear of god in us and had me in tears for no reason but if there's anything to take from it it's if they think there's something wrong they will refer it on, or did in my experience anyway. I done the same, went and got a private scan and it reassured me completely. Currently 30.5 weeks pregnant.

@TheNachtzehrer that makes way more sense, I was kind of worried there!

@efamcg112 how are things?

Hi everyone. Went for our private scan and all is well. The lady scanning was so lovely and said it was likely my placenta or just a strange angle the photo was taken at. But we got some great photos and videos even of the baby moving so my mind is definitely at ease now that everything is ok. Thank you to everyone for your comment and reassurance

Glad all went well at private scan - I was going to comment and say it is just the placenta that you can see in your scan photos but glad private scan reassured you x