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.

Prefuse I remember being really taken aback by the GP's (total lack of) response to my big news too, the first time round. This time I was expecting it.

I guess there are always going to be some good and some useless health care professionals. In their slight defence, I guess if they don't know you / your history they have to be a bit careful not to say "congrats" when someone comes in announcing a pg in case it is unwanted!?!

Oh and have also had the "why are you here?" "you asked me to see you to talk through my thyroid results" conversation with my GP.

The good news is that you should have been referred to a consultant if you have thyroid problems? So you should be able to see someone who at least knows what they are talking about (even if they are not particularly pleasant!).

At my 12 week scan (private because the NHS cocked up and missed getting me an appointment) the following was checked:

Nuchal Fold
Limbs, toes and fingers
Brain
Spine
Heartbeat and blood flow with sound checks
My blood flow into the uterus to check for potential future pre-eclampsia issues.
My ovaries and which one produced the egg- which also diagnosed a cyst which explained 2 years of pain that my GP had brushed to one side.
Placenta
Lots of chat and explanation.
Bloods were taken to measure risk along with Down's Syndrome also of Trisonomy 13 and 18 ( I think).
Crown to Rump length.

So on the 'what did you expect?' questions- I would have expected more than oh it was fuzzy. Even on an NHS scan I would expect a heartbeat and blood flow check on the foetus, nuchal fold check if available, brain check and limbs digits etc. Maybe I'm a fussy pants!

Wow sounds like you got the works on the private scan.

The language barrier was a bit of an issue I guess; when we asked a couple of questions he just kept saying answer (a)'I am scanning - I will write a report'. Hence us thinking oh ok, sounds like it will be in the report. Wrong.

He did say there is the heart beat, but that was it no mention of anything else e.g. blood flow, legs and so on, so when we asked it came back to answer (a).

It was bizarre also the lady coming in to look for this lost patient. Leaving the door open to the corridor / waiting room whilst she was in the room.

£4 a pic in Northampton General, although my pics were that bad i didnt get charged

I agree - I think you have a right to be a little dissapointed. You could have expected more from an NHS scan (I am NHS all the way!). I was warned by my midwife that some of the sonographers may not be that talkative: while some will very quickly put your mind at rest by saying "I can see a heartbeat and baby looks fine - now I just need to do measurements/some checks", she warned me that others just get on with the checks etc in silence before telling you all is ok, leaving you in an agonising worry/wait.

Thankfully, I had the former.

He checked and explained to me:

• heartbeat
• nuchal fold measurement
• nasal bone
• DV flow
• my blood flow to the uterus (didn't explain why, just said it looked fine)
• two arms, two legs (didn't check digits)
• spine
• brain
• baby's heart rate
• EDD
• (on notes ONLY - not explained and just had a "tick" on my notes) stomach, abdominal wall, bladder.

So not quite as thorough as Elsa's private scan, but that is what I got from the NHS. I was in there for about 30 minutes.

The room was very private, dark and quiet. I and DH cried a bit (I know, just releif and amazement!) and this promted a very human response from the sonographer: "Its exciting isn't it? There's nothing to worry about at this stage, your baby seems very well and a real wriggler! Calm down baby!"

I know its just a medical procedure, but it is also very emotional.

legally blond's experience sounds more like mine with each of my 3 pregnancies

I think you were just a bit unlucky with the sonographer tbh

re doctors visits early on - in my first pg i went to see dr and it went something like this:
me: i think i am pg
doc: have you done a test?
me: yes (about six actually)
doc: congratulations, i'll fix up for you to see a midwife in a few weeks

So didn't bother with pgs 2 & 3.

Everyone is a bit undewhelmed by your fabulous news until later on which is when, in a normal pregnancy, you need it most.

Prefuse what a palava! Although I had a lovely sonographer for my 12 week scan I didn't really see much either and the report as you mention is short although looking at the pictures between my 20 week scan and 12 week scan there wasn't really that much to see on the 12 week one - just pleased that I hadn't been imagining that I was pregnant and that there was a baby 'in there'with a heartbeat! I did go for a private nuchal scan which if you can afford it is worth it although depending where you live you can get it on the NHS (London area I think), I live out in the sticks so had to pay for mine but on these you do get to see arms, legs, lots of movements and the stomach back areas etc are checked as well and if you are a worrier like me it is quite reassuring!!

But I promise the 20 week scan is worth waiting for (hopefully you will have a better sonographer this time round) I found mine AMAZING and we were shown everything from eyes to the chambers of the heart, I still look at the picture now (27 weeks) as I just find it so amazing that you can actually see a baby (not that I thought I was having a chimp or anything.....) anyway Good Luck for the rest of the pregnancy and further visits/checks you have and enjoy it!!!

I didn't get a lot with my scan. I didn't know I was having one to start with so I was on my own and panicking in case something was wrong and upset because I wanted DP to see it. She showed me the baby but didn't go in to any detail, said there was a heartbeat, the placenta and the cord and that was it. I assumed all the arms and legs were in the right place or she would have said something?

My picture is fuzzy and I can't tell what anything is.