12 week scan abnormality

[jt130593]

Hi - first time baby.
I went for my 12 week scan a couple of days ago.

We were told that everything was fine, other than it looked like the baby’s right arm hadn’t developed past the elbow.

They didn’t really tell us anything else. They also didn’t actually show us anything on the scan, other than the photos they printed. I was expecting them to turn the screen so I could see the baby, the heart beat, and them point out little feet or whatever could be seen.

They booked us another appointment with a consultant for a few days time, but again didn’t tell us anything about this appointment.

Just wondered if anyone else has ever had anything like this? Are the scans normally very accurate at this stage - they dated me as 11 weeks and 5 days (I thought I was 12 weeks and 5 days)

Also does anyone know what to expect from this appointment? I just wish I knew more at this stage and am quite disappointed with the communication.

Thank you

I haven’t had experience of something like this, but I think the consultant will scan you again and have a proper look and then go from there. It’s a shame they didn’t give you more info at your scan, that must be quite stressful. I hope it goes well for you OP!

@jt130593 I've no experience of this but I'm sorry you've had such poor communication from them. I would imagine the next appointment is so that the consultant can have a good look for themself and hopefully give you a better idea about it all. I would maybe write down some questions or prompts for yourself so you can ask them things whilst you are with them.

In answer to your other question, I believe scans around 12wks are normally pretty accurate in terms of dating you etc. My baby is also a week behind what would have been predicted but I already knew they were on a different trajectory due to a few earlier scans after previous losses. Being a week behind your dates certainly shouldn't be cause for concern. I would imagine though they would be pretty certain on something like a limb not having developed along a typical trajectory.

I can imagine you've got all sorts of questions and worries but hopefully your next appointment will be able to clarify a few things and reassure you a bit.

❤️

I'm hoping for your sake that the sonographer was inexperienced and the baby had their arm tucked in an awkward way...

@Bramblecrumble22 i did wonder if this was a possibility.
I didn’t think about asking until after we left the appointment as was just in so much shock at what we had been told and then how we were treated afterwards.
But also don’t want to get my hopes up that this is the case

Just sharing the link to this charity, which I'm aware of as a friend has a little girl with a limb difference. I know it's a lot to get your head around but it doesn't seem to be holding her back at all. Wishing you all the best x

- Helping children with upper limb differences live life without limits (reach.org.uk)

Hi there

Firstly I am so sorry you are going through such a worrying time. I have been there myself, excited to tell family and friends our good news after the appt.

I think sonographers are generally very cautious with what they say and will defer to the consultant. Ours said there was a raised NT(fluid) and she went off to find the on call consultant and left us there for what felt like an age. Eventually she came back, the consultants were all in theatre and we'd have to come back in 48 hours. I am older and had read up on what a raised NT measurement could mean. I genuinely don't think she would have told me the measurement had I not asked - it was 8mm, when it should have been below 3.5mm We knew deep down that it was so over the threshold, it was unlikely to be ok.

I certainly felt like there was a very cautious approach from everyone, until we had further testing.

I am thinking of you and hope you navigate your way through all of this. Let us know how you get on. You might like to post over on the antenatal tests board.

Hi I'm sorry you had a rough day! I had a similar experience to pp in that we had a raised NT level - but only slightly... the sonographer then became very cagey and put us in a broom cupboard type room for nearly an hour waiting for someone to speak to us - it was excruciating. We were told there was likely a serious problem and to come back the next morning to fetal medicine to see a consultant. Well that was also doom and gloom the consultant said due to my age (40) it was likely Down's syndrome or similar and spoke of absent nasal bone on my scan etc and strongly encouraged me to have a CVS before I left which I did, this scary negative stuff continued until the 20 week scan when things seemed better/ consultant positive and I began to enjoy the extra checks, long story short my baby had a small hole in her heart and a few very minor issues since birth (moderately deaf in one ear for example) but otherwise she is a happy healthy thriving baby - one I never dreamed I would have in those painful weeks / months following my scan.. I truly hope you get a similar outcome and if not they provide you with answers and support xx

Meant to add she didn't have Down's syndrome or an absent nasal bone

Sorry you’re going through this uncertainty and having to wait.

i think it’s likely that the sonographer has a certain skillset, parameters and protocols: they can’t say whether or not the baby is OK, so they are arranging for you to see the consultant.

I don’t think the communication was bad, if as seems likely, a consultant’s input is needed.

I had a scan abnormality (very different) and the sonographer went quiet at fetched a dr, who spent what seemed an age scanning and rescanning. We were then booked in for what was than a brand new kind of scan (the kind you get offered now) and a fetal echocardiogram 3 weeks later (and this was private medicine in the USA, still delays!) all still inconclusive, given lots of scary stories, genetic counsellor appointment, offered late term abortion ... I declined and ... absolutely nothing wrong with her! Honestly the scans are amazing but not perfect

@Loopytiles whilst I appreciate that the sonographers are limited in what they can say.
I really don’t think them giving a basic explanation of what would happen at this next appointment, eg you will be scanned by the consultant, they will talk you through their findings, and then offer you your options, is really that much to ask.

What happened to me was I was placed in a small broom like cupboard with the door left wide open, whilst I was crying with other patients walking past/standing outside looking in at me upset. Before the sonographer returned threw a piece of paper at me with an appointment date on and told me I could leave now. I had to follow her through the department to ask if I was even going to be given any scan photos.

I was not expecting the sonographer to be able to give me a diagnosis, but a bit of human compassion and basic communication goes a long way in situations like this.

That's a horrible way to be treated when you are in that kind of situation, sometimes medical professionals forget they are dealing with human beings with feelings. I had a horrible experience when I'd had a missed miscarriage that I will never forget..a bit of compassion goes a long way.
In this pregnancy we had an anomaly identified at 20 week scan, they thought baby had a club foot I was referred to fetal medicine at another hospital where a consultant rescanned me twice (baby was in funny position the 1st time) and both times did all the top to toe checks and measurements again. Turned out her foot is fine. You will probably be rescanned by a specialist who will then identify if/what the problem is but don't be afraid to ask questions write them down if you need to..and raise your concerns with how you were treated aswell.

@JRTfan thank you.
We had our appointment with fetal medicine today. They rescanned us, was quite tricky because baby was basically doing the Mexican wave 😂 but it looks like it is just the hand on the right arm, which is better than what we were initially told.

We have another scan at 16 weeks to try and see the bones and take measurements so we can find out exactly where it’s stopped.

They also found an amniotic band which they think has caused it, and is positive that there’s nothing genetic etc.