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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

12 week scan...do I create hell?

29 replies

weehector · 19/01/2010 18:20

I'm 12 weeks this week and I've just phoned up the midwife to chase a date for my 12 week scan scan ( I was told I'd get one at 12wks & 20wks). I was told to phone the maternity hospital and they told me that my scan was booked for 26 Feb and the letter was being processed. That would put me at 17+1 for my first scan....which, although I'm low risk, feels like too long to wait considering I'm 37 in 6 weeks time and this is my first child. I've also not had my bloods or blood pressure taken...do I kick up a fuss?....feeling a bit let down by sloppy antenatal care.

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alarkaspree · 19/01/2010 18:24

When you spoke to them did you point out that you would be 17 weeks pregnant then? If so, what did they say?

I would ring back, if necessary ask to speak to the director of maternity services or similar. Or ask your midwife if she can put pressure on them. Your concerns are very reasonable, 17 weeks is too late for a 12 week scan.

Italiangreyhound · 19/01/2010 18:27

Hi weehector, personally I would phone up and ask to have the appointment brought forward because of the fact you are older etc. I think i fyou are concerned it is just best to get the earliest appointment and 17 weeks is not12! Could your GP or practice nurse do your blood pressure etc whil eyou wait to make sure all is OK?

MumNWLondon · 19/01/2010 19:01

this happened to me with DS... except they wouldn't offer one at all... and I chased at 10 weeks. My letter had got lost....

Definately worth making a fuss, and stress your age.... (but I tried that (and I was making a fuss at 10 weeks for a scan between 12-14) - in the end I gave up and had a private scan.))

IMO not really much point in bothering with scan at 17 weeks - they can't at that stage do the nuchal testing, nor can they do the anomoly scan either. By that stage GP can listen to baby's heartbeat with doppler, so a scan doesn't add much if you are having one at 20 weeks anyway.

re: the bloods or blood pressure - bloods should be fine at 17 weeks and if you are concerned by blood pressure just go and see GP.

teletubby7777 · 19/01/2010 19:03

This is unacceptable and I would absolutely kick up a huge fuss.

Considering your age, you should defintely have a scan at 12 weeks as well as all the requisitite blood tests. Does your hospital offer the nuchal scan?

If they continue to refuse, I would go private for the 12 weeks scan (just for the peace of mind).

Best of luck..

LunaticFringe · 19/01/2010 19:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

ASecretLemonadeDrinker · 19/01/2010 19:59

Definatly kick up a fuss - it was hell getting a 12 week scan around here - GP said get a MW appointment, no MW appointments that side of new year so told to ring hospital, hospital told me to get GP to refer etc. etc. Eventually I got one for 13 + 5, being told 14 weeks is the cut off but you have to allow for your dates to be out. Luckily I had miscalculated a private scan date by a week and was only 12 +5, which was put back to 12 + 2 I think. Be careful going private, I went to be dated and it was not a medical scan - some places only offer "have a look" type scans. You shouldn't have to, but if it drags on just book private as once you're past 14 weeks I don't think they check the same things. Good luck!

SparklyGothKat · 19/01/2010 20:04

create hell. My scan letter with Ds2 went to the wrong house, basically we live on a new build estate and because our number didn't come up for this street, they just sent it to the house that did come up (no 2) I created hell on the phone and got another appointment

ASecretLemonadeDrinker · 19/01/2010 20:04

Bloods should be done same time as scan nowadays but I think I had extra taken as I didn't see a MW beforehand (I think they take their own set for all your iron etc. and the scan people take it for the screening, but I got a little letter asking for both + more to be done at the same time). The MW who did my bloods checked my BP, but previously I have just been to the bog standard blood place to give the blood so obviously wouldn't have been given a mini ante natal. Kick up a fuss and if needs be go to nurse/GP for bloods/urine/BP and private for scan and scan bloods (if that makes sense)

butadream · 19/01/2010 20:07

If you phone the hospital each day they might have a cancellation and be able to fit you in earlier. Sad but true.

hazeyjane · 19/01/2010 20:16

Do they definately do a nuchal scan, some places only offer a dating scan, which can be done anytime ( at our hospital it is done at 16 weeks ).

I have ended up having a private nuchal scan for each of my 3 pregnancies (in 3 different hospitals)

amidaiwish · 19/01/2010 20:21

i had this with DD2. west mid hospital often only do a 16-18 week scan. no nuchal.

i kicked up a fuss, i had wanted kingston but hadn't got in. i didn't manage to get a private scan as all booked up (i was 10 weeks by the time i started shouting about it). in the end they sent me to Kings in London, had to wait 4 hours, but had a full scan at 12 weeks-ish.

it does seem to vary by hospital.

bexaa · 19/01/2010 20:37

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Undercovamutha · 19/01/2010 20:38

Kick up a fuss - this is not fair or right.

thislittlesisterlola · 19/01/2010 20:56

Definitely kick up a fuss. I hope you some get answers.

NotAnOtter · 19/01/2010 20:59

totally unasseptable ...goes against the point of a 12 week scan really...

are you planning a private nuchal ? - in our area you only get one if you pay

del1 · 19/01/2010 21:28

Your not from Chester are you by any chance?
Apparently there is a baby boom, and not many midwives!!
Me and my friend both had our 12 wk scan when we were 16 wks. well pissed off and was worried like mad.
But - at the scan you can see more and get a better image of the baby.
Also, tell the hospital that you need your bloods straight after the scan. They can do them for you. very tight schedule, but midwife said you could have your bloods before 18 wks, so hopefully your dates are right!?
My 20 wk scan was a bit more on the ball, I will be 21 +3. so . . . only have a couple of weeks untill the next one!! ( 18 wks now)
And as my mun said 'they never even had scans when i had you) lol.
Pain in the arse, at a very anxious time, but I tried to kick off, and it was a case of ' the computer says noooo'

NotAnOtter · 19/01/2010 21:34

if that is the case
can you afford to go private?

MintChocAddict · 20/01/2010 00:02

Wee Hector.
Are you in Glasgow?
Closure of one of the Queen Mums maternity hospital seems to be causing delays at the other two.
After much phoning and constant engaged tones, I've been told my booking appt will be at approx 16 weeks.
No mention of scan at all!

Luckily I've already had an early scan at EPU at 9 weeks due to bleeding and all was well at that stage.

Heck of a long time for you to wait particularly with first baby though.

Definitely worth kicking off. Good luck.

Original poster

weehector · 20/01/2010 01:20

Thanks guys...have become zen-like (our wee baby isn't going to come any faster & I do feel everything's ok) but I'm going to pursue calmly but firmly with the midwife tomorrow if she ever answers her phone or returns her calls. Hospital in question is Ayrshire Central, Crosshouse Kilmarnock and yes - I did play the I'll go elsewhere/age/first child card on the phone earlier.

Will be going private if I have to - but its a stress I can do without as I've just been let go from my job...ironically a role with an online maternity wear retailer...one week after I told them I was pregnant..(Do let me know if you want to know who they are so you can vote with your feet...)

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MrsKitty · 20/01/2010 05:23

Hope you get things sorted weehector. Think calm but firm is the way to go . Try not to get too wound up by it all.

Do name & shame please!

blueberry69 · 20/01/2010 06:59

Hello - I had similar problem. (Aged 40 and pregnant with first). Referred to hospital at 8 weeks by GP but was still waiting for initial booking in appointment with midwife at 14. After endless phone calls by me (usually getting through to full answer machine) I eventually got one at 16+5 weeks.

In the meantime I went for a private nuchal scan at 12 weeks - decided not to let NHS incompetence upset me and although it cost a pricey £200 it put my mind (and body!) at rest and so I considered it money well spent.

I am really sorry to hear about your job - that is dreadful. Do tell....

nulgirl · 20/01/2010 07:11

MintChocAddict I had my one and only NHS scan at 18 weeks for ds in Glasgow in 2008. They told me that the siuation for scans in glasgow would improve when they closed the Queen Mothers and we might start being offered the 2 scans that NICE advise. Not quite sure how closing a hospital would improve things but that was what I was told.

I did end up having a private scan at 11 weeks as I had a big family weekend coming up and wanted to be able to tell everyone I was pregnant.

girlsyearapart · 20/01/2010 07:28

same here. I had bleeding so went for early scan which put me a month more pregnant than I had thought.

But because the GP referral goes on the dates I gave my 12 wk scan would've been at 15-16 weeks.

It took me a week of phoning but I eventually got some sense out of someone and have my scan on Friday when I'll be 12 weeks.

Have you got an early pregnancy place you could self refer to?

tartyhighheels · 20/01/2010 07:39

osh that sounds as slack as hell - nuchal needs to be done before then and bloods for a combined result.

I am pregnant not sure how much but between 6 -9 weeks i guess, having a dating scan next wed and then 11 weeks nuchal scan and anomoly scan at 20 weeks. I am being booked at 10 weeks when i will have weight bp and all that done - this really is a postcode lottery isn't it.

But, on the upside your baby is very very much more likely to we absolutely fine than not but I don't blame you for being worried.

I am 40 but actually this is my fourth and

]his is standard care issue here.

Original poster

weehector · 20/01/2010 12:43

All sorted!

A lovely, lovely midwife phoned at 9.30 this am and without me saying a thing, launched into how my situation was unacceptable and she'd sort it. By 9.45, I had a scan arranged for next Thursday which will be 13 weeks exactly. She spend a good 20mins on the phone chatting through the diagnostic options - now getting blood tests & AFP test at 16 weeks too so my faith in the NHS has been restored.

fyi, Ayrshire Maternity are currently in transition towards providing nuchal scans next month - ie they've had their training but its not offered as standard yet, so although I'm booked for a dating scan only, it is apparently worth asking on the day because they can do it.

Re naming and shaming my ex-employer - it wasn't much FUN for a MUM-to-be to be working there (ooh, I feel churlish now..

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