12 Week Scan Worries

[JustBlueDeer]

Hello everyone,

Sorry if this sounds bonkers but my health anxiety is getting the better of me. I’m currently 14 weeks pregnant and had my 12 week scan 2 weeks ago. I was told everything was fine and no issues and was told congratulations at the end and to book my 20 week scan at reception. However, due to my anxiety, I’m worried that they noticed something was wrong and just didn’t tell me. Would they do that or would they have to say if they spotted a problem? Also, my colleague is pregnant and her scan photos looked ‘better’ than mine. The features were more clear on hers. I’ve been looking at mine constantly and questioning the features and worrying if every white mark on it is a problem. I’ve been googling healthy ultrasounds on google and comparing them to mine and worrying more. Please tell me I’m not alone in these intrusive thoughts. Thank you!

In the kindest way, I think it might be best to talk to your midwife about your anxiety. You can call up the local midwife service if your next appt is still a few weeks away. She will also probably be able to reassure you about the scan, but it sounds like the anxiety is the real issue here. All the best!

Thank you, I think that’s definitely the case. I know they myself but just let my mind spiral. I’ve got my next appointment next Thursday so will definitely speak to her then ☺️ x

Thank you, I think that’s definitely the case. I know they myself but just let my mind spiral. I’ve got my next appointment next Thursday so will definitely speak to her then ☺️ x

P.S. I think I’ve replied to this twice. It’s my first time and I don’t know how to work it 😂

If course it’s anxiety taking over. Try to think with your rational mind why would any health care processional not tell you something is wrong xx

I had the exact same thoughts with my 12 and 16 week scan. Something was wrong and i couldnt put my finger on what it was. At the 20 week scan i ended up asking the sonographer whether baby had a nose!!! She looked at me weirdly but confirmed he did. I had a 3D/4D scan at 28 weeks i believe it was and he did indeed have a nose and he looks absolutely perfect.

They will tell you if anything is wrong with baby! So dont worry too much!!

Did you have anxiety before pregnancy? Because pregnancy can bring anxiety and make existing anxiety worse. It's normal. It's not nice or ideal, but it's normal. Whatever will be, will be. Your midwife will help you and your little one is in the safest place they can be right now; snuggled up in your womb with not a care in the world. Get into the habit of rubbing your belly and talk to them. It might sound nutty, but it's not. A happy mummy makes for a happy bubba. All the best xx

Thank you for replying! Exactly, I tell myself this as well. I tend to think the worst, even with my own health and I’ve never had any problems with that. I feel calmer this morning, which is good. I tend to panic and my thoughts go out of control but I can rationalise it later on.

Thank you for your reply. Yes, I had health anxiety before my pregnancy and always worried about my own health (even though I have never had anything major wrong). I have spoke to the doctor before about it and she was really nice but I didn’t want to take it further. You’re absolutely right and I will take your advice and speak to my midwife and relax a bit ☺️ I haven’t really been talking to my bump but will defo start!

That is one of my thoughts too! I can’t see a nose on my ultrasound but can see one on other people’s 😂 I know I’m being irrational and I do tend to calm down after a while and think about things clearly (which is the case this morning). I had the same thoughts with my 12 week scan and it was absolutely fine so I just need to calm down. I’ve booked a 3D scan for next Sunday (16 weeks) so looking forward to that ☺️

After a while or sleeping on it, I can begin to rationalise things and think clearly about it. I tend to spiral over something quite quickly and get myself in a state. I will speak to my midwife about it. You’re right though, a health professional wouldn’t lie to me. I’ve had the same thoughts about my own health and nothing has ever been wrong with me.

That’s really good and so good to self reflect and think okay I was being irrational. Also as a children’s nurse I can tell you lying it’s an option it’s a health care professionals whole livelihood career etc it wouldn’t make sense

I haven't read all the replies yet but just wanted to say don't panic OP. After several losses I was unbelievably anxious before my 12 week scan and having it didn't make it any better! DD honestly looked like she had a cauliflower for a head and I couldn't understand why nobody had told me her skull wasn't forming correctly, I spent hours and hours looking at the picture and convincing myself of allsorts. I was too anxious to even ask my midwife as I thought that once I knew for sure it would be so much worse!

HOWEVER, at my 20 week scan she looked perfectly fine and she's not a healthy 8yr old who definitely doesn't have a cauliflower for a head!!

100% talk to your midwife, take the scan pic at your next appointment but I'm pretty confident that if anything was amiss, they'd have raised it with you! Don't work yourself into knots like I did!

Yes, I had health anxiety before my pregnancy and always worried about my own health (even though I have never had anything major wrong)

What mental health support are you receiving OP? Have you mentioned your degree of concern/anxiety to your GP/Midwife/mental health team? Kindly, I'd be very concerned by your state of mind and anxiety level at this stage of pregnancy. Do you have other children you care for?

Thank you for replying and sorry for your losses. I will definitely speak to my midwife. I have managed to rationalise my thoughts after speaking to my friends and people on here. I’ve realised that scans aren’t always clear and sometimes features look distorted or missing (to me) but to a qualified sonographer, they look completely normal. She didn’t give me any cause for concern at all and I know she wouldn’t be hiding anything from me. I will have to take advice from everyone and enjoy my pregnancy and stop panicking! ☺️