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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

a few quastions about my scan today...

22 replies

babyonboard · 14/07/2005 15:44

sorry, but my midwife didn't really say anything, and i totally forgot to ask at the time.
I have a scan this evening, at 21w 4days
just wondering if it is neccesary to have a full bladder? or is that just for earlier scans?
also..what will they be checking, and how long will it take?
are they likely to tell me there and then if there are any concerns, or will i be referred to my docor to discuss it?
and how likely is it that we will see, and be told the sex of the baby?
advice much appreciated..can't wait!

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marne · 14/07/2005 15:50

I think you are suposed to have a full blader but i didnt, you should be able to find out the sex as long as the baby is facing the right way. they should tell you f there are any major concerns, they will probobly give you a different due date from the size of the babys head and body, they also check the babies heart is ok.

SPARKLER1 · 14/07/2005 15:52

I was never told to have a full bladder for my scas with dds. There was only one time when they couldn't see as much detail as they liked so they sent me back out to the waiting room to drink loads and loads of water. The only thing was they left me waiting so long that I couldn't hold on any longer and had to go to the loo. Had to start drinking water all over again. Nightmare!

SPARKLER1 · 14/07/2005 15:53

Each hospital has it's own policy about telling you the sex of the baby. My hospital didn't.

Original poster

babyonboard · 14/07/2005 15:56

which hospital was it sparkler? - i will be quite dissapointed if it is their policy not to tell..
i was worried about having a full bladder as i'm dashing to the loo so frequently anyway it could be torture...
i am interested to know they may change my due date..i really had no idea as i was on the pill at tht time i got pregnant, and at my first scan (7 weeks) they determined it, but i'm not sure if that one, or this will be the most accurate.

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AnotherHelen · 14/07/2005 15:59

Hello! you dont need a full bladder for the 20 week scan! you do with the first as your uterus isnt yet high enough up into your abdomen for the sonographer to get a good picture so they advise a full bladder so it pushes your uterus up, - you dont have this problem with your 20 week scan as your uterus should already be now high enough! the whole scan should take about 20-30 minutes as they check the baby for all its measurements and so on, and if there is anything to discuss they will arrange for you to talk to your Dr or consultant, and if you want to know the sex of your baby they should be able to tell you! hope this helps abit! best of luck!!!
Helen xxxx

AnotherHelen · 14/07/2005 16:01

Oh yeah i forget some hospitals dont tell you the sex!!! its abit unfair i think!

jessicaandbumpsmummy · 14/07/2005 16:02

my 20wk scan was a joke! 5 mins start to finish. Dont sex the babies here (Colchester) but didnt need a full bladder either.... had to wee just as i arrived at hospital and knew i wouldnt be able to hold!

ixel · 14/07/2005 16:04

No full bladder needed for this scan, although I'm so thirsty all the time I have a permanently full one anyway!!
We couldn't know the sex first time round, and I'm really hoping we can this time, now we've moved house. We were at Whittington in Archway, and they have that policy because of the ethnic make up of the area. So its a bit pot luck.
This second scan is an anomaly one, to make sure everything is as it should be. Mine took ages with ds because they couldn't see his spine clearly, so had to sit around and wait to see if he's shift position! Sat, wee'd, walked, ate, and eventually got a better view!

Original poster

babyonboard · 14/07/2005 16:10

ooh..one more thing..will they give me pictures of the scan and will i have to pay for them?

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RedZuleika · 14/07/2005 16:14

I was told to have a full bladder for the 21 week scan, but I'm sure it's not really necessary. I had a scan at 11 weeks (done by the consultant) and didn't have a full bladder (I'd been expecting him to do a transvaginal ultrasound, which is how the previous two - 6 and 9 weeks - had been performed) and was surprised by how clear the image was. Perhaps, though, it makes it easier for them to see things like the chambers of the heart etc.

My PCT has a policy of not revealing the gender though.

jessicaandbumpsmummy · 14/07/2005 16:16

ours were £3 per photo..... hence only got the one

Azure · 14/07/2005 16:16

It isn't necessary to have a full bladder at this stage. The sonographer will have a list of things to check for, e.g. the four chambers of the heart, kidneys, bone formation, and it is not uncommon to have to go back for another scan if the baby is lying in the wrong position and not everything can be checked. I think my scan took about 20-30 minutes, but a lot depends on the baby's position. Some hospitals will tell you the sex if you want to know, others have a policy not to. If you don't want to know I would say upfront. They would normally say there and then if there are concerns - at my scan I was told there was slightly increased fluid on one kidney, which means I have to go back for a scan at 36 weeks (the worst that can happen in this case is that the baby will need antibiotics when born). It's amazing thing to see how much the baby has grown since the 12 week scan - best wishes for this evening.

RedZuleika · 14/07/2005 16:17

Incidentally, I have a theory that everyone is led to believe that if a PCT has a policy of not revealing the gender, it's because of the ethnic make-up of the area (with the associated assumption that certain ethnic groups are more likely to abort female foetuses) but I think it's just about money. The anomaly scan takes 20 minutes, in which they look at all the main structures - if they have to try and find the genitals too, it will take longer, particularly if the baby is being coy. Therefore - fewer scans per day. And a virtue is made of a necessity.

Azure · 14/07/2005 16:18

I wasn't offered photos at the 20 week scan but was at the first (also £3). Someone I know took in a video camera and their DP filmed the scan - filming wasn't allowed at my hospital, though.

ixel · 14/07/2005 16:19

Our pics were 2.00 each, and you could have up to 5. But you could just copy it when you get home! Take the right money in coins though, as we had to pay by a slot machine to get a ticket, which took coins only and no change given! And because they're on thermal paper, be careful where you keep them else they'll go black in heat!

ChaCha · 14/07/2005 16:20

Hi BOB,
I just had my 20 week scan (am 20+6). Did not need to have a full bladder. The sonographer spent about 15 minutes showing us each part of the baby's body and pointed out what was what. The m/w made a note of all the measurements (i'm about to post to ask for help with these) and gave us a few pics. We left a donation at reception for the pictures and that was that!
Hope that helps.

Original poster

babyonboard · 14/07/2005 16:26

i have just called them, and the pics are £2 each...hopefully will get a few if they are nice and clear.only prob is we arer living on a credit card at the moment, as dp doesn't get paid til tomorrow, so will probably have to take some cash out on that at a ridiculous interest rate..thats assuming the hospital doesn't accept visa..he he They also gave the advice that a full bladder isn't neccesary, but she did tell me to grab a big icy coke from the mcdonalds next door on my way in as it apparantly makes the baby active! he he

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ChaCha · 14/07/2005 16:32

BoB - are you serious about the coke? Wow...I had been drinking my fair share of it, pure craving! I had a glass before my scan too, the baby at each scan has been moving so much the sonographer had to keep waiting.....

Is that because of the caffeine do you think? Crikey

Original poster

babyonboard · 14/07/2005 16:41

i guess its the caffeine, the sugar and maybe the fact that its so cold..i was surprised too

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ChaCha · 14/07/2005 16:47

Bob - Have a look at this, it helped me with question on measurements and has some interesting info \link{http://www.babycentre.co.uk/refcap/557441.html\20 week scan

ChaCha · 14/07/2005 16:48

20 week scan

Original poster

babyonboard · 14/07/2005 17:01

thanks for that!

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