20 week scan!!

[Liltomo]

I have my 20 week scan in 2 days and I'm bricking it hahahah....

I had a private scan 2 weeks ago as I went with my mum just so she could experience one with me, they said everything was great and as it should be but of course in small print they say it cannot replace the 20 week scan etc

I'm nervous as hell as I know they check for lots of things, but I'm wondering what the chances are of finding an anomaly after a positive 18 week scan which was via a private clinic?

It's natural to be nervous! I've had quite a few private scans and they're very different to an NHS scan, so something could definitely be picked up at the NHS scan that wasn't at the private scan. They check the heart and arteries, every vertebrae of the spine, they check their nose/mouth for signs of cleft lip, they check blood flow from/to the placenta, they measure the baby etc, I was there for well over an hour. From my experience, private scans don't/can't give that much detail, just a quick wellbeing check.

Good luck, I'm sure all will be fine!! X

Yes, it is possible, as private scans are pretty basic (essentially just showing the baby is there and OK), whereas the NHS 20 week scan will check each organ etc. But vast majority of people will have no issues, and if they do find something, there's lots of options for treatment.

Yes I've had so many private scans already I feel like a mad woman but it's my first pregnancy so naturally it's the fear of the unknown for me.

I know google is the WORST place for this stuff as I just keep reading horror stories but I guess I just need to keep a positive mindset as everything so far has been fine (touchwood) including the 12 week scan so fingers are crossed xx

Yes of course I know it's possible, I've had both NHS and Private scans and I do feel as though the private can be less informative and much quicker 10/15 minutes!

I'm quite an anxious person in general and with this being my first pregnancy it's all just very new, but your right majority of people have no issues so I hope that baby plays ball on sunday and all goes well.

My first pregnancy I experienced severe anxiety on the run up to every single scan.
I'd have the scan and all would be fine. Within 24 hours the anxiety was building again before the next one.
This lasted my entire pregnancy.

This time I'm high risk and having fortnightly scans up to at least 12 weeks. My 2nd (8wk) scan is next week and I'm exactly the same. I feel physically sick with worry, can't sleep, obsessing over every symptom or lack of.

I totally understand where you are coming from but don't have any answers on what are the chances of picking up an anomoly on the 20 week scan. Hopefully all will be absolutely fine though as it was with my first.

I'm very similar! I've had a very low symptom pregnancy so although some say I'm lucky I sometimes think I'd prefer the opposite haha.

How did you scans in the first pregnancy go? I'm really nervous but need to keep positive!

I'm sure you will all be fine with your current pregnancy too <3

It's awful, it really sucks the joy out of it all - if anything I have more symptoms this time round which should help but it hasn't made a difference so far.

My first pregnancy everything was absolutely fine. Every scan was perfect and that was a mixture of NHS and private. She's now 4

It does I keep saying I'll be fine after this etc and never am so it's definitely a me problem!

I'm wishing you all the best with your pregnancy though and I will come back to report my scan on sunday! :)

Thank you and good luck with your scan. Sending lots of positivity!

I've never understood why women pay for private scans when the NHS do them for nothing.

Because some people have symptoms such as bleeding and cramping and need that reassurance and need to make sure baby is still there or you have the people that have had previous miscarriages. If people can afford it, why not

I'm pleased you don't have the anxiety that some of us have @TheShellBeach as it's awful.

For me, 2 scans at 12 and 20 weeks was never going to be enough so I had private scans at 8 weeks , 15 weeks and a 3D scan at 30 weeks.
As it happened I got pre eclampsia so then had some extra NHS scans in the last 6 weeks but it was crazy to me that there is nothing for the first 3 months when the risk of MC is highest, or for the entire second half of your pregnancy (a hell of a lot can happen in 20 weeks!).

I'm actually living in a different country now and its completely different where I am now. I will get fortnightly scans until at least 12 weeks then monthly until further notice depending on how everything goes. All with my obstetrician so that's not booking any extras.

It's a good thing that the private clinics who offer these scans don't do it for you to understand, and actually are there for the many people who seek reassurance and suffer with anxiety then isn't it! :)

@TheShellBeach I had a couple of scans due to bleeding and unfortunately triage wouldn't see me on one occasion and on another occasion the scan they booked was days and days away and the thought of waiting would have been unpleasant, so both times i booked same day scans. £50 for peace of mind, to me, is priceless. We're very lucky it's an option as it can save so much time and worry!

If you've been through an anxious pregnancy, for any reason, you'd understand. Obviously you havnt, which is great!

Yes, as others have said the 20 eek scan is important as it's very thorough. You should be reassured that things looked OK at 18 weeks though. My private sonographer did say its not in depth and diagnostic ect but that he would note down if he saw anything concerning. I guess that's going to vary clinic to clinic.

Yeah I’ve had a few and they definitely differ from clinic to clinic but we did have our 20 week scan today and so pleased it went well and all was as it should be. I’m hoping I can allow myself to relax slightly now but who knows!