Poor experience at 12 week nhs scan

[Nurse10]

I have just come from my 12 week nhs scan with my first baby feeling dissapointed and more worried. I went with a full bladder but was told my bladder was too full by the trainee sonographer and to empty it which then resulted in the images being even worse and her then going to seek assistance from her qualified colleague. The baby was in an awkward position however with a full bladder images were much clearer. I was told no measurements could be done and I would be scanned again in 3 weeks by which point only 1 out of 3 chromosome tests could be carried out. I was quick however to be told I could pay for this privately and get an NIPT test. I have now booked this as I am extremely worried and feel I could not risk getting all tests especially being a first time mum. This test is costing me and my partner £400. I understand nothing can be done about the baby being in an awkward position however I feel that I should of been offered a scan again in days not weeks instead of being encouraged to seek private healthcare. I also feel that I should have not been told to empty my bladder by the trainee which resulted in very poor quality images hence why you are told to attend with a full bladder. I have actually submitted a complaint. Has anyone had similar experiences?

I'm not exactly small and my 12 week scan was abdominal and clear as day. My sonographer was clearly very experienced and knew what she was doing.

I don’t agree with this. She’s not after an ‘experience’, she’s after a service that should be provided properly. She shouldn’t then need to pay for this service elsewhere.

"Be nice"? Seriously? This type of ridiculous mentality is why we have shit NHS services.

The NHS is a service provider and on this occasion the service it provided was crap. Patient communication matters and they got it wrong in multiple ways.

It will never improve if people like you insist on trying to bully people into silence when they are let down. The NHS should be held to a high standard and held accountable.

Perhaps slightly but not massively. Im not obese but not slim either! Think my BMI is 27, midwife had no concern.

I don't really think women should be shrugging shoulders and collectively accepting that there's just "no capacity" when it comes to pretty significant medical concerns. There could be capacity if we (as a society) deemed it important enough. But once again it's just women's issues isn't it.

Here here! We all need to advocate for what we need, especially in maternity care as there's two of us to think about.

I don’t understand why people are defending this it’s not good enough. Complain, politely but firmly.

If you're disappointed with the scan experience just wait til you get to the delivery room. NHS treats pregnant women like cattle. You might as well lower your expectations now.

I wasn’t bullying, just saying that the OP’s trainee sonographer followed all the right steps and didn’t deserve having a complaint against them. That’s an opinion, not bullying.

There isn’t an endless pot of money so they do make it clear to patients that they can’t keep pulling people back time and again to try for a test that doesn’t have a high success rate. It’s not a given that you’ll have it.

I completely agree with taking positive action to change that decision and prioritise spending budget there - god knows I would have loved to have gone back more than once to try and get the test done. But do it the right way - contact NHS England as the commissioning body, lobby your local MP, get the media involved. Take affirmative action.

Don’t complain about your poor trainee sonographer that just did their job - no, that isn’t a nice way to channel your disappointment.

Why will they not have you back until three weeks time?
Where I work people get two cracks at the nuchal scan because some days babies don’t want to cooperate!
Have you made it clear you’d like to come back for a rescan within the timeframe the tests would be available?

Yes I think this is bad. You should have access to a full screening just like everyone else.

I don't know what their options are to provide you with this though. Fund the private appointment? see if there's another appointment at another clinic? keep an eye out for cancellations? I don't know but it doesn't seem right that you don't have access to a full screening.

Oh OP such a shame I absolutely feel for you are your feelings are completely understandable. How disappointing. Can you not call up and (sorry to say) be a bit arsey and ask for a closer date? Not your fault at all.

On my last pregnancy I was told at the 20 week one to half empty my bladder as it was so full they also couldn't get the correct measurements, but I was seen by a senior sonographer. My daughter was still in a really awkward position but she was so experienced she got all the stuff she needed, including the sex, but she did have to check twice! So for your next scan and 20 week scan just be mindful this might happen again depending on how much u drink.

I don't know anyone who was sent away with no measurements or bloods at all. I'm not saying that it never happens but I cannot believe that it's common.

No bloods, measurements not even a photo. They did briefly try to measure baby saying 12 weeks 5 days then 13 weeks and asked me if that sounded right...

They just basically said they would get me back at approx 16 weeks and by that point they couldnt do screening just for downs only and I could go private if I wanted. There wasnt really any explanation to be honest.

Nope. I would not accept this. I would call and ask to speak to the lead midwife for the dept and ask her how she intends to fix it.
sorry this happened, I can imagine how you excitedly or anxiously anticipated this appt and it’s rubbish it’s went like this x

@Squishymallows Just because that happened, it doesn't means that is okay. That's exactly why Streetingg has commissioned a report into maternity services. You can and should complain. Not giving you pain relief (that you may have wanted and doing it in triage) is unacceptable. Without certain mointors, doctors checks etc, if you had pre-eclampsia, cord prolapse or shoulder dystocia, postpartum haemorrhage, a bad fetal heart rate and it wasn't spotted because you were in triage and not being overseen by OBGYNs and midwives for some time. You may have had a very different experience and things could have gone wrong. Whilst I'm very happy it didn't, it doesn't mean it's okay. We know how bad women's healthcare is; waiting longer for pain relief, being dismissed as hysterical, the House of Commons committe found that medical misogyny is rife in the NHS, inadequate infrastructure in maternity services (what happened in your case), dangerous staffing levels, traumatic births as a result etc.

That's why the majority of maternity units have inadequate or required improvement CQC ratings (48% of maternity uunits got a requires improvement or inadequate rating. 65% are below the good requirement on safety standards). Also even if your happy with that, it is not a competition on bad treatment; the NHS is overwhelmed but it doesn't mean the OP doesn't have every right to complain. She should still be offered another scan even if they don't do NIPT testing, they can do the basics.

Welcome to UK NHS maternity care in 2025! Trust me, this wil be nothing compared to some of the incompetence and lack of care you will face. Best you can hope for is that you both survive the birth relatively unscathed and only a bit traumatised!

So at my hospital, if they can’t get the NT measurement for your screening test then that’s that. They don’t and won’t call you back. I had the most senior sonographer in the dept do mine and it just wasn’t possible due to position. I think it’s incredibly common as it’s happened to a few people I know. They just invite you back at 16 weeks ish for a quad test. OR you can pay for the NIPT, which is what I did off my own back. I don’t and wouldn’t see an issue with it, sometimes that’s the way it is and that’s why they still offer both tests.
Also, is this not all explained in the info given to you when you book with your midwife? It was all explained in my book about pregnancy. This was only 2 years ago.

I’ve had to do half a wee every time I’ve been for a scan, I have a tilted uterus which apparently makes it harder to scan a full bladder. The sonographer at my latest scan did tell me not to empty it all in case she then couldn’t see so it sounds like a case of inexperience.

They absolutely should book you for a rescan. I can’t believe they’re full for 3 weeks; what about people being referred for growth scans etc, those are often done within 48 hours of referral. You are right to complain and should not have to pay for an NIPT privately. FWIW the NHS have access to NIPT tests too although they’re usually only offered free of charge to women with a higher chance of the chromosomal issues.

Hello, I had the same at 12 weeks and called and spoke to them the next day. Due to family history of chromosomal issues they booked me a second scan a few days later that was successful. It might be worth getting in touch with the relevant department or your midwife if it’s causing you stress/anxiety. For what it’s worth, I do completely understand, you look forward to being able to breathe after the 12 week scan but you’ve not had that reassurance. Hoping you get it soon

Its not unusual to be asked to go back if they were unable to do relvent measurements for dates. As for the screening, my daughter was a twin and I miscarried the twin so was unable to have screening done as results would he inaccurate due to the second fetus in the womb. Don't worry about the screening too much! It isnt 100% accurate anyway!

I had a poor experience at my 12 week scan mainly due to a lack of communication from the sonographer.
I didnt feel confident that the scan had been completed properly and we weren't told much during the appointment. Compared to my first pregnancy the scan didnt even compare. The 12 week scan in my first pregnancy lasted about 30mins, in my 2nd pregnancy we were shown the door after 5mins!

I called my community midwife office and explained my situation to them and how I wanted to have my scans carried out at a different hospital (where I had been in my 1st pregnancy) and they gave me the contact details and I could easily book in with them instead.

If I were in your position, I would call my community midwife office, explain the situation and they should provide you with details of the antenatal care line who deal with bookings.
They should be able to book you a rescan elsewhere within your trust, poss at a different hospital.
You shouldnt have to pay for a private NIPT because they couldnt visualise the baby.
Normally if the baby is in a poor position youre asked to go for a walk and drink something sugary to get the baby to move.
Also, Ive never had a full bladder for my 12 week scans and not had an issue.
The trainee sonographer should have asked for assistance first rather than dismissing you.

Fair points you’ve made. I can see what you’re saying is right