improper scan?

[dolly]

Hi everyone,

I had my 12 week scan last week, and also met the midwife for the first time. Did anyone else feel incredibly rushed by the whole thing? My 'Midwife' whizzed through loads of questions, then asked if I felt ok and sent me on my way. My scan lasted about 3 minutes and she just said 'there's the baby and thats its heatbeat, its moving about quite a bit'
I asked if I could be tested for Downs at this point and she said no. I have read other topics where people have said they did the neck measurement during this scan? Very confused, and left feeling that they didn't do a proper job. I was there for a total of 1.5 hrs that included waiting for scans and blood tests - I was expecting 3 hrs?

I am still left wondering if all is ok with the baby, and I thought I would feel reassured after this appointment? : ( So I have to wait until 20 weeks now to get the Downs test?? Any help appreciated xx

 

[Vicky_Gazerimmer]

Hi
The 12 week scan is very fast you dont really find out anything unless its bad.
The fact you where in and out is a good thing hun. They do measure the baby at the scan but they dont tell you they are doing it. did she draw a line on the screen (using a mouse) across the baby? thats what they did at mine to measure.
As for the downs test you usually have your bloods done at the 12 week scan for downs so thats unusual. Perhaps you should call and speak to another person at your maternity unit for advice.

Congrats on a good scan though!

 

[xNataliex]

Hi, such a shame you feel it was so rushed beacuse it's the first time you get to meet your little one!

Like the previous post though at least you had a healthy scan and were in and out.

My midwife told me I will have my bloods taken at 15 weeks for downs etc and I'm assuming the Nuchal scan will be at 20 weeks? Does this seem too late maybe?

Everywhere in the country seems to be different. According to my Emma's Diary book not everywhere offers this I would call them just to put your mind at rest, stress is bad for bubba as I'm sure people keep telling you! They sure keep telling me that!

 

[claire81]

You have bloods taken for downs at your 16 week appontment. I have never had bloods for the downs test at the 12 week scan, just bloods to test for hiv, and other diseases.

I have also never been told anything other than theres baby and theres the heartbeat, it has legs and arms!!!! And this is my 3rd one. They would have said if there was anything bad.

And lucky u for only being there an hour and a half!! No i'm only joking i would be pi**ed off too if i was rushed around but they would have said if anything was wrong.

If you definatly want the downs test, you need that between 16-18 weeks, so if you dont already have an appointment, i would phone your midwife and book one.

Hope this helps, and you can start relaxing xx

 

[Vicky_Gazerimmer]

Perhaps it is different in different areas, when I had my 12 weeks scan I was asked if I was having my downs test done, cause after that I wouldn't be able too.
And my 16 week appt is a check up and chat with midwife? I think it depends on what part of the country your in. Gets confusign doesn't it!

 

[kirlykird]

In Oxford down tests are done at 16 weeks with m/w

 

[claire81]

Yeh it must be!!!! Wreckon my midwifes a liar cuz she couldn't be bothered!!!!

 

[Emma22]

ah thats a shame that you felt rushed. my mw appointment was all questions, quick bloods and that was all but wasnt expecting anything else, i was in there for about an hour.

down in south east we get offered the 'nuchal' scan which has to be done between 11-13 weeks. this measures the risks of downs and any other abnormalities but i have to go to a totally different hospital for this. ive got mine tomorrow and according to friends its quite in depth, but as i said it has to be done at certain dates. havent had anything mentioned about downs tests at 16 weeks but i assume that i wont have this as that what the nuchal is for. its different everywhere unfortunately, which i find quite strange.

 

[Emmylou]

Well, I had dating scan at hosp after my booking in app. with mw (mw @ 7 wks took bloods for blood type/ hiv etc & dating scan at 10w which became 9w5d from measurements), we don't get a nuchal scan in this area, so I didn't have the neck measurement done either.

I had bloods for Downs taken at 16w and have my anomoly scan on Friday so at 20wks.

Really does differ for different areas hun....don't feel too down about it, think some mw's rush around and don;t think about the info you may wish to have - I haven't had my test reseults from 3 weeks ago, some girls have had them through the post, some had to ring up - I wasn't told anything so I'm not sure when I'll get my results.....if they were bad I imagine I would have got a call?!

 

[Heatherb]

I haven't had my test reseults from 3 weeks ago, some girls have had them through the post, some had to ring up - I wasn't told anything so I'm not sure when I'll get my results.....if they were bad I imagine I would have got a call?!

Here, you don't get your results unless they are bad. Each of my previous 3 pregnancies they have taken bloods and then I have not heard anything else about them. They will let you know if there is something wrong.

HTH

Heather x

 

[Red_Fairy]

im going for my D.S. test on Thursday - its not a one 2 one thing - but an hospital 'open' morning you just turn up to if you want it done. (ill be almost 16 wks)

 

[x-kirsty-x]

im going for my D.S. test on Thursday - its not a one 2 one thing - but an hospital 'open' morning you just turn up to if you want it done. (ill be almost 16 wks)

Thats a good idea! Wish they did something like that up here. Im meant to have my DS blood test at 16 weeks but Im not seeing the midwife til Im 18 weeks so dunno how they're gonna do it

 

[angiemum2b]

sorry to just jump in, but I didn't have my downs screening until I was 16wks I had a leaflet to say that you can't be tested until this point either

 

[Lyn_no3]

hi i haven't ever had my downs tested for before 16wks, and my first scan was pretty quick too as was the consultation, altho it pretty much depends where you live.

if you feel you needed more from the appointment could you maybe contact your midwife again and discuss this with her? because no matter what the policies in your area you should feel a part of the process and not shut out hun

 

[littlebump]

Hi Ladies

All hospitals are so different aren't they?? It drives me mad.

I can tell you for certain that the Nuchal Translucency Scan can only be done between 11-14 weeks. At my hospital they also take the bloods at the same time in order to complete the risk assessment. THe hospital I was at with my first pregnancy just did a scan and no bloods for Downs at all!

Hospitals not offering Nuchal Transucency Scanning may do blood tests at 16 weeks - maybe they become a bit more accurate later on but I don't really know for sure!

Hope that helps clear the muddy waters a little!

Dolly - glad you had a good scan (even if it was a bit rushed)

LBxx