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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Scans and midwives.

27 replies

cori · 07/02/2005 14:38

I am 6 weeks pregnant. My Gp has just informed me that I will only have one scan and that will be at 20 weeks and that I wont see a midwife until I am between 10- 12 weeks.
Last time I had a scan at 12 weeks and then again at 20 weeks. I also had regular midwife appointments, at least monthly until the last trimester.
Has everything changed in 3 short years. ? What is norm now,?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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jbadgirl · 07/02/2005 14:44

In my area (west sussex) i was only offered one scan at 20 weeks but i asked for a dating scan which was about 12 weeks. I first saw my m/w at 11 weeks and then about every 6 weeks after that until i was 26 weeks. I did actually get another 2 scans as ds was not growing properly but that was later on anyway.
Hope this helps x

lilsmum · 07/02/2005 14:45

cori i didnt know they had changed it?! my dd has just turned 12mth and i had 2 scans/saw mw every 4 wks till later on, wonder why its changed?

Pidge · 07/02/2005 14:49

Amazingly there is no national rule for this - it does vary area by area. It certainly does seem to be more common to get a scan around the 12 week mark, as well as at 20ish weeks. Having said that I have a friend who only got a scan at 20 weeks and it was then that she found out she was expecting twins!

In terms of midwife appointments - if the pregnancy is progressing smoothly and there are no other reasons to worry, appointments may well be less than every month until the final stages. I've gone a month between appointments even in the last trimester, before that I probably saw the midwife three times in 6 months. Now I'm on fortnightly appointments (I'm almost at 37 weeks).

Congrats on the pregnancy!

Sallie · 07/02/2005 14:55

I am in SW London. Get a routine nuchal fold scan at 11-13 weeks and a 20 week scan. Midwives appointments - have booking appt at around 14 weeks and then start monthly appointments at around 24 weeks. Had even less when expecting no 2 and now am expecting no 3 will probably have fewer. Its a good sign not to have lots of appointments!!!

Original poster

cori · 07/02/2005 14:57

Thanks.
I am pretty sure of my dates, but I want my 12 week scan. I might pretend not to be sure of the dates.

OP posts:

moondog · 07/02/2005 15:01

Cori, lots of people I know did that precisely because they were pissed off to learn that with their second pregnancy, a 12 week scan was not routine.
(The lovely community m/ws in my area even suggest it themselves!)

Expectantmum · 07/02/2005 15:02

I live in Dartford, Kent and am 20 weeks. So far I have had my 12 week scan and seen the midwife twice. I am due my next scan next week and a further midwife the following week and then I think there won't be anymore until week 28, providing everything is OK. My friend is two furthers further on than me and lives 2 miles down the road, she has had one scan and one midwife appointment, so I guess it just depends on your location and midwife.

Congrats Cori!

Expectantmum · 07/02/2005 15:04

I also find that I have a complete inability to speak properly and I meant to say in my last message that my friend is 2 weeks further on that me, not my friend is 2 furthers further!!!!

Is it normal to speak such rubbish???!!!

Expectantmum · 07/02/2005 15:04

I also find that I have a complete inability to speak properly and I meant to say in my last message that my friend is 2 weeks further on that me, not my friend is 2 furthers further!!!!

Is it normal to speak such rubbish???!!!

Expectantmum · 07/02/2005 15:04

I also find that I have a complete inability to speak properly and I meant to say in my last message that my friend is 2 weeks further on that me, not my friend is 2 furthers further!!!!

Is it normal to speak such rubbish???!!!

colditzmum · 07/02/2005 15:09

Yes it is normal to talk rubbish. My friends were very good about this and never mentioned it when I hadf repeated the same thing 3 times in 20 minutes!

aloha · 07/02/2005 15:14

Not routine down my way. At Kings you get offered a scan with nuchal fold test at 12 weeks.

vict17 · 07/02/2005 15:17

I'm in Kent and got a 12 week and 20 week scan. My booking in appointment with the midwife was about 10 weeks I think. It's important with a first baby to have that 1st appointment early on because you might not know you shouldn't eat pate, blue cheese etc.

mears · 07/02/2005 15:22

Pidge - there is national guidance for this but as you say there is no absolute rule. However, heath authorities should be held to account when they are not following this guidance I think.

The national guidance is that you should have 2 scans. One at 12-13 weeks and then the 20 week anomaly scan.

Lokk on page 20 of the guidance here

Pidge · 07/02/2005 15:57

mears - thanks for that. I've often wondered how things can vary so widely from area to area. That is really interesting about the scan guidelines.

It's good to be armed with the info - if I was you cori I'd kick up a fuss about missing out on the 12 week scan.

lwb · 07/02/2005 16:58

Where we live, Bedfordshier,some hospitals give you both 12 week and 20 week scans and some just 20 week scans. A friend of my who was unhappy with just teh 20 week scan, said to her doctor that she was unhappy wiht that, and he arranged for her to have both, but I think she did have to push it. We paid to have some private scans as we were going on holiday at the time of my 12 week scan so that is something that you could consider if you have the money.

Original poster

cori · 07/02/2005 17:22

Yes, I would consider having a private scan. How much do they cost?

OP posts:

YOKEFLEET · 07/02/2005 18:36

I am nearly 7w pg and I also think we are only going to be offered the 20w scan, so thanks for posting this thread as I can now go armed with the info Mears (thank you Mears ) linked us to when I go to my booking appointment on the 17th.

pupuce · 07/02/2005 18:38

Why do you want that scan though?

Eva3 · 07/02/2005 19:26

I think most people would want the 12/13wk scan as that is when you emerge out of the "danger zone" for miscarriage and when most of the vital organs have been formed. The nuchal scan gives you a risk factor for various chromosomal and heart problems which some people, but not all, want to know about, and depending on that risk factor, you can go on to have necessary invasive testing if that is what you need. Speaking as an older mother (37) who was given a scary 1:4 for Down's with DD2 - it turned out to be wrong - I think the nuchal is very important and it should be everyone's RIGHT to have one.

Original poster

cori · 07/02/2005 19:47

I want to see my baby. I feel after the scan it will be an appropriate time to tell DS.

OP posts:

Original poster

cori · 07/02/2005 19:48

I want to see my baby. I feel after the scan it will be an appropriate time to tell DS.

OP posts:

Original poster

cori · 07/02/2005 19:48

I want to see my baby. I feel after the scan it will be an appropriate time to tell DS.

OP posts:

bubbaloo · 07/02/2005 20:36

im 22 wks pg and live in essex.
i had one scan at 11wks and have another tomorrow.had booking in appointment at same time as first scan BUT havent even seen a midwife yet!
ive had appointments at my doc's and have my first midwife app there at 26wks and thats to discuss the birth plan!
obviously it seems to very around the country but im not too worried as ive seen my doc fairly regularly and everything all seems ok

greenbug · 08/02/2005 18:43

So does anybody know how much an early scan costs?

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