Is timing important for 12 week scan?

[Hyggebabe]

This is my 2nd pregnancy and I will be travelling for work at 12 weeks, so my scan will take place when I am around 12wks5days or so. Is this an issue in terms of accuracy of the scan and/or if further testing is required?

I seem to recall timing for this scan was important in my first pregnancy and there was a window when it had to be done but not sure if I am overtired and making stuff up!

My local trust has a policy of 11-14 weeks. Timing is important, but I believe there is a tiny bit of flexibility.

When I asked, the hospital said anywhere between 11w0 and 13w0 I think.

Are you thinking about having NIPT done?

I believe 12 weeks is a dating scan so needs to be done at 'around' 12 weeks (the measurements at this stage determine the date of conception / due date - later on the size is variable due to genetics/growth).

A week or so shouldn't make any difference.

Our Trust policy is 11w0d - 14w6d. 12w5d is nothing, as many women aren't able to date that accurately to begin with (irregular periods, unplanned pregnancy etc).

A few days is absolutely fine. It won't affect the accuracy of what they're looking for. NHS England says 10-14 weeks but this varies slightly between health boards. It just wouldn't be possible for them to see every woman bang on 12 weeks and they often wouldn't date at exactly 12 anyway.

www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/your-pregnancy-care/12-week-scan/#:~:text=If%20you're%20pregnant%20in,screening%20test%20for%20Down's%20syndrome.

The window is 11-14 weeks so you’re fine. I was 13 weeks at mine. Bear in mind most people will ‘date’ differently anyway

That’s great. Thank you all so much. Yes I am looking to have NIPT done xx

As everyone else said. It's a window. I was 12 weeks and 6 days this time and 13 weeks 2 days first time and where absolutely fine.

As far as I'm aware you can only choose to have NIPT done on the NHS if your trisomy screening at dating scan comes back high risk. You're not given the option of NIPT if it's low risk. You can get NIPT done privately from 10 weeks, which would give you the answers and hopefully reassurance earlier, in which case how far along you are at the dating scan becomes less of a worry for you. Good luck xx

As others have said, it's usually an 11-14 week window for the dating scan. My first one was at exactly 14 weeks, my second at 13+1 and third at exactly 12 weeks. It would be impossible to guess exactly when everyone is dead on 12 weeks 😄

@readyforroundthree that makes tot
sense. Thanks!