12 week scan this morning

[prefuse]

Had the 12 week scan this morning. A slightly odd affair. We were on time and were told it may take up to an hour. A woman arrived after us but was late for an earlier appointment, she was throwing the toys out the pram as she insisted she had dr. blah blah do the scan, after much shouting they agreed (I think just to move things on).

As a result we got delayed a bit and ended up with another sonographer. There was a language barrier from the start. It was all a bit slap dash with no explanation of what was going to happen of what did happen. When we did ask a question, he just replied I am doing the scan, are you ok?

Anyhooo we saw junior wriggle about and it was magic. After much 'tuning in' he was able to take measurements and a couple of stills. We said is everything ok? He said as far as I can see, it's a bit fuzzy but looks ok. I will do you a report. Ok I thought that will give us the details. Wrong.

He then said to wait outside for bloods to be taken and handed us the print out and the stills.

The report said bugger all, it dated the baby at 3 days later than predicted and said the scan was fuzzy and the NT was 1.3mm at 12+2.

As far as I can work out that is 'normal'.

We sat waiting for ages for the blood test, we then went to reception, asked what was going on and was told to pop your head around the door over there. We did and the lady then took weight, blood etc. I think we would have been there all day if we hadn't asked.

In the end the result seems ok but really the scan was a bit flaccid.

I was hoping for at least an explanation as we went along as to the image on display but nothing.

Will now have to wait for the blood results and then the 20 week scan.

Bah.

I wouldn't worry to much the 12 week if it is a dating scan,is just to check there is a viable pregnancy tbh. I just got told the baby has a heartbeat this is the baby here.

What were you expecting? You got the standard 12 wk scan, albeit with a slightly uncommunicative sonographer. They don't and can't tell you anything, other than, yes, there is a baby with 4 limbs and
a heartbeat. The anomaly scan is for details. They can't give you nuchal results without the blood tests being done.
Parents now seem to forget that scans are a medical test not a jolly outing. If you were receiving a CT scan you'd not expect the radiographer to talk you through all the pictures he got and start interpretting them.

?They don't and can't tell you anything, other than, yes, there is a baby with 4 limbs and
a heartbeat.?

Would have been nice to have gotten that much.

"Parents now seem to forget that scans are a medical test not a jolly outing."

I was not expecting lots of details about the baby a half bottle of bolly along with a dot to dot of what was happening on screen.

I knew it was just primarily a make sure there was something in there but the lack of information as to what was going to happen (as in the procedure) or what was on screen was quite poor.

It came down to lay there, looks ok, off you go.

And yes at least the scan happened and appears to be ok but it all seemed a bit rushed and slightly odd.

"If you were receiving a CT scan you'd not expect the radiographer to talk you through all the pictures he got and start interpretting them."

No I wouldn't but similarly if you were going for say an Endoscopy would you just lay there with a camera up your coco valve with no information about what was about to happen or was going on?

I know it's helpful when there's a bit more explanation when you go for scans, particularly if it's the first one you've ever had and you don't know what to expect (which I'm guessing is the case?).

I didn't get much explanation with my scans (which were for pregnancies that didn't work out unfortunately) so I was a bit confused too when I had them, I didn't understand what they were showing me on the screen.

It's hard to know what to expect when you haven't had one before, but it sounds like your scan was good news and everything is looking good, congratulations!! You will get more details & checks at the 20 week one.

I'm sure you can show your midwife the report if you need any reassurance that it's all ok?

xxx

'The report said bugger all' - no it didn't! What did you expect it to say?

Exactly, I had no idea what it would say - if anything. The scan was also a nuchal scan.

It just sounds like you had a sonographer who didn't have great people skills. They really vary a lot, I've had fantastic ones and others who are glum and silent. With my 12 wk scan we were talked through the images on the screen (there's the skull and brain, there's the stomach, it measures this big, etc.) and I think it is helpful and reassuring - and not difficult for the sonographer - to do that. We never got any explanation of the report though and it really doesn't say much other than record the measurements and confirm a viable fetus and heartbeat was seen. If the baby was wriggling and NT is only 1.3mm that's really the best news you can hope for at this stage, so forget the not-very-chatty sonographer (maybe he was having a bad day) and savour the memory of that magic moment when you saw your wriggly baby

im sorry to hear that the scan was not what you expected it to be, at the end of the day it sounds like it went well. They did not tell you that there were any problems and you have been given two pictures to keep.

Sorry if that seems a bit harsh but today I had to go for an emergency scan for bleeding at 14 weeks. Because of the layout of the room i could only see the screen out of the corner of my eye so could not see much of what was going on. The words "i can see the heartbeat" were more than enough for me.

"I'm sure you can show your midwife the report if you need any reassurance that it's all ok?"

Yes. It was the first scan. It's not that I am that worried about the results on the report, more bemused about the almost self-service approach. And I was only posting as I thought it may be unusual; not because I thought I missed out on some unrealistic red carpet treatment or something.

Mind you I haven't been to a hospital for quite some years so maybe it was just a reality check.

I think it's probably unusual, I think the sonographers I had all tried to explain to me what was what (I just didn't take it in!!), so sounds like yours was a bit uncommunicative.

(I think I misread your original post, I thought you might have been a bit worried that the report didn't say much which is why I thought you might want some reassurance!!)

xxx

I think it was unusual Prefuse - my sonographer was lovely and did the whole "here are the kidneys, here is the spine" commentary with us. We didn't get an explanation of the report but didn't feel that we needed one after the scan had been so informative. I'm sorry that your experience wasn't like that.

Thread hijack - Hello Fudge! I'm so glad they saw a heartbeat today. How are you feeling?

hiya pixie im ok thanks - i have posted an update over with the grads

lmao @"coco valve" absolutely love that,
must make conversation tomorrow to include cocco valve

I had a private Nuchal scan and didnt get much more than you, also language barrier which to be honest I didnt care coz once I saw the heartbeat and he said "thats fine" I was happy!
Do agree though that if you dont know what to expect or what they are going to do its all a bit strange. I think quite often in medicine staff can forget that even though this is all quite run of the mill for them, that day is one of the most important in your life.
The 20 week scan is a different story, although there is still that element of silence which seems to go on forever, they should (as they did for me) explain what kinds of things theyre looking for and then when they've done the scan they will go over bits and show you all the amazing parts of your baby, heart, brain and also the pink or blue bits if you like!
Sorry you feel a bit disappointed, it does get better though!

That does sound massively disappointing, and I think Trafficcone is being unnecessarily harsh, as no one is expecting a "jolly" just information to reassure parents after waiting 2 months or more.

I had a private scan first which was amazing and informative and spent lots of time gazing at the screen etc. However, also had the NHS dating scan yesterday and the sonographer was absolutely lovely. Efficient but informative and showed us all the main bits and answered our questions.

I don't think it's much to expect for the medical profession to have a human side, and on the most part in my experience they do - you were just unlucky. If you can spare £120 I would go and pay to have a private one and spend all the time asking the questions you want. Good luck.

You should be grateful you got to see the screen tbh, my 12 week scan was done by a student on her own and i didnt get to see my baby baring 30 secs when she showed me the brain
I do feel for you, i left crying after mine

I know it wasn't all bad and thanks for your replies.

One thing; it really bloody hurt as he was shoving the wand so hard on my abdomen, is that usual? In fact that?s what seemed to wake the baby to start with, nice in a way as the baby moved hands and feet around in the first seconds of the scan but then moved around and it became fuzzy.

Another slightly odd thing, about halfway through this lady just came through the door "I'm looking for a lost patient, don't mind me" she then proceeded to ask the sonographer questions about notes that he didn't understand and they then had a mish-mash conversation to no satisfactory end, she sighed and left the room. In the mean time he was jabbing that wand like a randy jack russell at a vicar?s leg - ouch!

Did anyone else have to pay for the ?keep sake? pictures? We needed to pay £2 per pic.

Yes we had to pay for pics last time (London hosp); can't remember how much. This time round (different hosp - have moved to Herts) there was a machine for voluntary donations outside the scan room.

Hi prefuse

sorry to hear your scan experience was disappointing.
People saying 'what did you expect' are a bit harsh.
Looking forward to your scan is normal.

It wouldn't have taken anything away from anyone else if the sonographer had managed to at least appear to take an interest in you.

Anyhow it seems all is well, so hopefully the second one will be a nice experience. You can only put it behind you.

Ps. I had to pay £5 for pics!

It is normal for the sonographer to be quite heavy handed when scanning, they need to get into the nooks and crannys also feels worse with a full bladder, but it is perfectly normal don't worry about that.

£2.50 here for pics gone up a £1 since I had dd but I suppose that was 2006/2007 (I haven't forgotten when I had my dd, I am bad but not that bad, just I had 12 week scan in 2006 and 20 week in 2007).

Yep - they really dig that scanner in! Pictures also c£3 I think.

Hi Prefuse,

I totally understand where you are coming from and would have been very disappointed with a scan like that. I am not in the UK, so I get more scans here and though I have not had the 12 week one yet, the last one was ten weeks and the doctor talked us through the whole thing, explaining the different angles and what they showed, moving around to show hands, legs, heart, brain, etc. I found it really helpful and would have been aghast if he had just said nothing the whole time. I also expect to be told and talked through the nuchal measurement etc. on the spot at the 12 week scan - I don't think it's too much to ask.

I also think it's not fair to pretend an US scan in pregnancy is the exact same as any other medical scan. It is a special and sometimes emotional occasion and I know that my doctor at least, is aware of that, and does actually try to make it a bit "special" for us. Because it is.

I really hope your next scan is better and glad the results of this one were so positive! Wishing you all the best with your pregnancy.

I think people are really tough on mums having scans.

Yes it is a medical procedure not a jolly day out! But it is also the first glimpse of you child! Its a very exciting day and the build up to it the days before can leave you disapointed if you get a sonographer who sees you as just another patient getting checked.

Its not like having your bladder scanned. You can't help but expect something special the first time you see the miracle of a baby wiggling inside you.

Thanks, I guess it was made worse by the first two doctors? appointments being very flaccid also. No congratulations, literally punch the numbers in and was given a due date. Oh and don't eat liver. Come back in 4 weeks, ok, 4 weeks later, who are you, what are you here for? I'm pregnant, this is the 4 weeks later appointment you said to book. "Oh, right ? hmmm, well come in anyway".

He then asked what I did for a living, gave me a stern look when I said the reason I was 5 mins late was because they had locked the door from the car park entry and I had to walk all the way around to the other entrance in the pissing rain only to find that door locked and the cleaner let me in after I banged on the door.

Sheesh.

I then asked about the results of the blood test I had ? he asked to book for thyroid and he couldn't remember anything about it but then looked on the computer and said, normal, yes normal.

Nothing else, I asked what the levels were, he sighed and said 1.8, that's fine.

Fortunately the midwife was much, much, much better.

But I had hoped the naff doctors? appointments were just water under the bridge but the 12 weeks scan seemed to run along the same vein.

I am not moaning for the sake of it or wanting some sort or extraordinary treatment; more venting spleen at the situation - but was thinking, is this just how it is and I am having some false expectation?

I think you're allowed to vent a bit. Of course its predominantly a medical procedure but a good sonographer should be aware of the emotional aspects for the patient too (as should any good doctor re any procedure). Our sonographer was good, professional and focussed on doing all the checks, but they did explain what they were looking at as they went along, e.g. the brain, the heart beating, etc and it was clear they knew it was a special time for me and DH too. I think it is actually so important they are able to acknowledge this and deal with compassionately, as sometimes they are sadly going to have to impart very upsetting news.

I've generally been impressed with my care so far, GP I saw at 4 weeks was excited for us (we'd been trying for a while and just had fertility tests) but also very sensible about the fact that it was very early days. The first midwife I saw was lovely and very excited for us too and very reassuring. Second midwife was ok, not fantastic but she did handle her 'hunt' for the heart beat (baby was hiding) very well so that I felt reassured even though it took a while to find it. Its all very well saying these are predominantly medical but any good medical professional should be able to recognise the interplay of the medical and the emotional/ personal

A few years ago, I had an endoscopy (camera down throat into stomach) and an ultrasound on my abdomen (to try and figure out what was giving me bad stomach pains). Both times they were very good at explain what was going on and what they could see, and the ultrasound guy was lovely and pointed out all the organs as he was looking at them (was interesting but weird at the same time!).