chances of bad news at 20 week scan mumsnet

I came back probably about 17 weeks pregnant and had the anomaly scan at 20 weeks and like most people expected everything to be fine and to come away with a lovely picture but unfortunately that isn't what happened. And I wish that I'd been told at that point, that somebody had actually turned round to me and said, 'Look, I'm sorry, but I think there's something very wrong. I give obsessively to charity, especially those linked to sick children. (See 'Resources'). Last updated July 2017. DS had 2 soft markers: talipes (club foot) and 'echogenic locii' somewhere - heart I think. Being generous and kind generally happens only when you're happy. Intellectually, I knew this was not the case. It seemed a very arbitrary system, and so you quite often sat outside in the waiting room for a couple of hours before you actually got to see the consultant, which was, seemed you know, I kind of remember thinking before we went in to see him on the particular day when we found out there was a problem, 'Why are we sitting here? My partner tried to remain calm, and at my request rang my mum. Others, including those who had been given leaflets to read about the scan beforehand as well as some who were health professionals, said that they had been nave about the 20-week scan. So we decided that, to have the scan and we went along I think early in the week for that, and spent quite a lot of time with the consultant after that. Still, the consultant thought things would be OK. Being deeply unhappy and kind to others at the same time is nigh on impossible. Life expectancy of 30 or 40. Emma was 20 weeks' pregnant when a routine scan revealed that the baby she was expecting had Down's syndrome and heart problems. No discussion, no quiet contemplation. And that was scanning up from the above the head, then you were coming up through the child's head, so you were seeing the chambers in the brain, sort of it was evident in all four chambers of the brain, then suddenly one chamber was empty. I was experiencing some light bleeding for the past few days. It felt like a lifetime to reach our 12-week-scan. Though the 18-20 week scan can detect when certain parts of the baby's body have grown abnormally, it may not be possible for clinicians to identify why it has happened or make a firm diagnosis based on the scan alone. The baby was very, very small. He was tiny, perfect and a Down's syndrome baby. That he was small. And I am slowly coming to terms with what has happened. The ultimate betrayal. My partner was away working and was waiting to hear whether he was having a son or daughter. What are the chances of bad news at the 20 week scan | Mumsnet An appointment should be arranged as soon as possible and ideally within three working days. That was the first time I had heard him cry. We were bound to each other because of the blood that was on both our hands. You do not have to have the scan. Previous scans in this pregnancy and with my first child had been fun - a chance to see the baby wriggling around and perhaps find out its sex. It felt as if we'd gone underground, that we were part of the criminal fraternity. Some of the conditions that can be seen on the scan will mean the baby may need treatment or surgery after it is born, for example cleft lip. Why me and not you, you bastard? So he went out for a walk. Despite this new discovery, the sonographer was still concerned. And then all of a sudden, I was still laughing and we were all very upbeat, and then suddenly, he suddenly said, but I was still, still laughing, and he said to me, 'Oh, there might be a problem, there might be a problem with the, I think this baby has hydrocephalus'. It felt like a lifetime to reach our 12-week-scan. It's been a heartbreaking nightmare. We went, I went in to the scanning room and they're quite bland facially anyway, whether everything's fine or not they just look at the screen to start off with and do measurements but I very quickly realised that the woman's demeanour wasn't, even for a bland face, was concerning. And she sort of got up and walked out of the room and called someone in. Yeah - in, stomach, out. At which point they turned round and said, 'Well, there is something very seriously wrong with the baby, we don't know exactly what, but you do need to have a more in-depth scan at your regional hospital to find out the detail'. He felt strong and fit and healthy. See more information about the 20-week ultrasound scan. However, a few hours later there was another shift change. 13/12/2020 20:45. I agreed to an internal scan as the sonographer said we could get a better picture of what was happening. My partner spent the weekend trying to convince me that things were OK. Some stories I hear are amazing! You can change your cookie settings at any time. This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. We both thought we would like some good to come out of this horrible experience, so wanted to talk to somebody about the possibility of using the body for research purposes. For example, you may be offered further tests that have a risk of miscarriage. Fine, go on my own. Went off for the 20-week scan, which you didn't, you weren't there, were you, for the first scan? I was becoming numb to the whole process. I swallowed the tablet and we left the building. As soon as we arrived, we were shown to this little room. Could she possibly have something that's not been detected? I had to wait yet another sleepless night. Very occasionally this second scan cannot be completed, for example because: In this case you will not be offered another screening scan but you will offered an all over physical examination for your baby after birth. She wanted to have a look at the skull, which was the main thing, but she couldn't see it from where the baby was. The same anticipation. That they could have spotted something, or not? But you know I knew we had, we had to make a decision that was right for the baby as well. We bought little outfits, teddies, and researched all the vitamins and foods that I could eat. We talked all night and thanked God for crap television. It would have been nice to see someone straight away because I was in such shock. I felt crushed, I wanted him to at least acknowledge what had been found already. And the first few things they said it didn't sound as thing, as though things were terribly wrong. It was the end of January, very end - about the 29th - I'd gone into, I'd gone into 5 months by then. 18-20 week scans provide clinicians with more information than earlier scans because by18 weeks a healthy baby should be larger and better developed. We were convinced everything would be OK. I then found that soft markers means 'vague unproven suggestion of a link', and that echogenic locii are small concentrations of calcium which are incredibly common and harmless. We didn't name him. But I was struggling mentally with the anguish, grief and endless hospital visits. The doctor wanted to do another blood test to confirm a significant drop in my hormone levels. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, midwife or hospital immediately. Bad news at 20 week scan | Mumsnet I was sent home with a leaflet, strong painkillers and two types of antibiotics. The hormone levels had dropped, but they wanted to scan me again. From losing my dad to his battle with cancer, to then having to face another battle with cancer and my mum; thankfully she pulled though. You've had, you've had your Down's Syndrome check and that's okay. These were said to be soft markers fo a range of trisomies, 2 of which were incompatible with life. For example, some babies have a condition called open spina bifida, which affects the spinal cord. The consultant at the time wasn't really that interested in that imagery. And how wrong could they be? Check benefits and financial support you can get, Find out about the Energy Bills Support Scheme, NHS fetal anomaly screening programme (FASP), Screening tests for you and your baby (STFYAYB), nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3, more information and details of support groups. If an abnormality is confirmed or suspected, referral is usually required, although some obvious major fetal abnormalities, such as anencephaly, may not require a second opinion (this should be decided by local guidelines). Sometimes specialist scans such as 3D scans, or MRI scans, are used to examine the baby in greater detail. The people who did know what was going on seemed far too sure that we were doing the right thing, that there was really no choice to be made. He started to scan me with a cold expression, then told me - Tommy's So I trusted him. So when that happened to us I really didn't worry, I thought, you know, it was literally the baby was in awkward position, they couldn't see the heart and that was why. It is a noise that will stay with me for ever. Next most likely is that baby doesn't co-operate and they can't see some parts of anatomy and call you back 2 weeks later just because they couldn't see (i had this but because twin pregnancy I was due to be scanned 2 weeks later anyway). It seemed inconceivable that we would not be having a baby in May. We use some essential cookies to make this website work. After that I got, I, it was about in, in 19-, hang on a minute, 2001 I got pregnant again, slightly unexpectedly. The scan will look in detail at your babys bones, heart, brain, spinal cord, face, kidneys and abdomen. Your mind has closed to the possibility that there could be anything wrong. And the local hospital wanted to send us off to the regional hospital to actually confirm that, and were not really prepared to say at that time that there was something very seriously wrong. It is as though our pain means we've earned the right to be taken more seriously. By 7pm, I still hadn't delivered the baby. By this time, we were tired. It feels very lonely and isolating. All my plans were beginning to fall down. It was horrible. I remember thinking, 'Gosh' I now know it was a girl, I didn't know that then, that, 'She looks just like her brother'. We decided that we wanted medication to help me. Thanks girls, it's amazing how protected our babies are in there isn't it?! Somehow, I walked from the sofa up to the bathroom and told my partner. Actually you could tell from the brain development as he scanned up through the chambers of the brain, that one quarter of the brain, one chamber was not evident. So and you could see the exomphalus, this little pouch, which was obviously just the intestines where they are. While some parents understood the clinician's restraint - even when they had to wait an hour or more for a definite diagnosis - others disliked being kept in suspense and wanted to be told what the clinician was thinking. I took my vitamins, stuck to the healthy diet and put on a brave face. Although the anomaly scan is often called a 20-week scan, you may have it any time between 18 and 22 weeks, although it's usually done between 18 and 20 weeks. Mumsnet carries some affiliate marketing links, so if you buy something through our posts, we may get a small share of the sale (more details here). On January 18, my baby was born, at 23 weeks - a little boy. Anyway we went in for the meeting with the consultant on this particular time, and we'd got to, I was 30 weeks pregnant by then. Sometimes doctors will wait to give the baby more time to develop and carry out repeat scans - this had confused several parents we talked to who had gone for repeat scans not knowing that the baby might have a problem. Possibly with hindsight we could have been more worried about it, but was probably a good thing we weren't, because we weren't worried about anything basically. On the third day, we got a phone call. Seated in the antenatal clinic with lots of expectant mothers with baby bumps. chances of bad news at 20 week scan mumsnet. Living in this world must be unbearable for them. I have a terrible hatred of pregnant women and a new respect for infertile couples. But it's bloody hard being miserable the whole time. How common is it to find anomolies at the 20 week scan? - Netmums I wanted to be a passive patient while the doctor did what he had to do. 2022. Most scans show that babies seem to be developing as expected, and none of the 11 conditions are found. For instance a couple who knew their baby was 'on the small size' were told he was fine at the 18-20 week scan, but discovered at 32 weeks that he had microcephaly. We're going to go and see them. The midwife was on the verge of tears and I felt responsible. If you are not sure, you can contact them and ask. In the case of a suspected abnormality, women should be seen for a second opinion by an expert in fetal ultrasound, such as a fetal medicine specialist. During the examination, sonographers need to keep the screen in a position that gives them a good view of your baby. You may need to have a full bladder when you come for the appointment. And it was then because we were at 20 weeks by this point, there was only fairly short window to actually, to get some more tests done, find out what the problems were, and then make any decisions that might have to be made. So that just left the talipes. We, I was with my mum, and they scanned and found choroid plexus cysts on the brain, which is just a mark, it's a marker on the brain, it's a, what they call a 'soft marker'. We had the baby cremated. And that was extraordinary to see the detail that that could offer. And at the end of the day however much we talked about it - that it was going to be the two of us to make the decision and me to actually you know, go through it and decide that that was what was going to happen for him - and I just, I didn't want to do it. And I can, the words that the scanning member of staff used, "Everything's fine", will stay with me forever. 'Yes, if that's okay with you,' kind of thing, like you do. Others said they were shocked because all the early diagnostic tests (e.g. I was saving my child from pain and suffering. Wishing to be anywhere, but here being told the same agonising truth over and over again. And they took us out of the scanning room, into a more quiet room while they typed up the report. . Read full disclaimer. And so we had to go out a couple of times, [wife] had to walk around, and she had a drink of water, which is supposed to sort of change things inside, or help the baby turn around or something because the sonographer couldn't get the measurements she wanted. The "why me?" We'd sort of put those discussions to the back of our mind, and then all of a sudden there are other abnormalities so yeah it was a bit a bit of a shocker [laughs]. The scan was inconclusive, but the size of my little bump was measuring a lot smaller than it should have for 10 weeks. We left for home feeling completely numb. Severe chromosomal conditions such as Edwards' syndrome are now often picked up in the first trimester antenatal screening but itwill usually be more obviousat the 18- 20 week scan, though usually a firm diagnosis will not be made until one or two specialists have weighed up all available evidence about the baby - which usually means that another expert needs to scan the baby again, or until the woman has had an amniocentesis. Seeing your baby on a screen can be really exciting. Hugely upset that to think that the baby was so poorly. We were denying him his life. My son's congenital heart defect was detected at the 20 week scan and he had 2 other markers, no . He bluntly told me, he wasn't interested in whatever was seen before, he was only going to go by what he saw that day. So at least then we went to that next stage prepared for the worst really. We need to have your opinion'. Specialist scans are performed in specialist fetal units and if clinicians feel that there might be problems scanning will be done up to 32 weeks. To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account. We strongly advise readers not to take drugs that are not prescribed by your qualified healthcare provider. Thankfully I was met by an amazing sonographer, she was compassionate and understanding. . No one else felt him kick. We needed closure, to allow us to grieve properly. At the time the same thing had, exactly the same thing had happened to my friend a month before, and her scan was absolutely fine. Specialist scans are performed in specialist fetal units and if clinicians feel that there might be problems scanning will be done up to 32 weeks. Never being able to look after himself. Later, I did see and hold our baby. That he - I think I was 21 weeks and 3 days, and he was coming up at 19 weeks and 4 days, or something like that. Some people had underestimated how serious any abnormality found at this stage could be for the baby. For many other women, the 18-20 week scan was the point at which they discovered the baby had serious problems. Let a mum know you're thinking of them send one of our personalised Mother's Day cards today, Home I don't know how we got through the next couple of days. I had no issues at my 20wk scan with DD - and neither did any of my antenatal group (9 mums). And, sometimes, I wish I had invited my whole family into the hospital room to see him. I went home feeling crushed; Sam and I both felt helpless. Saturday came. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Sometimes women were told that the sonographer had found a 'marker' or sign of a chromosomal condition and had to wait for an amniocentesis to confirm the findings. And I felt like a murderer. Our position in our families has shifted. This time, they discovered the baby has a two vessel cord (only one vessel from placenta to baby instead of two) and I've been monitored to make sure the baby grows properly and kidneys aren't damaged. Eventually she got the measurements she wanted. So at 20 weeks I went for my scan with my husband, with my daughter, to get our photographs. Good luck has not come easily over the past few years. It felt as if we had gone power crazy. Our week-by-week PREGNANCY emails are a must for parents-to-be. We walked all the way home. But even if I was there, I still think I would have wanted to see the detail on the scan. Any delay in receiving more information about the abnormality and its implications will be distressing for women and this should be acknowledged. Eventually, the midwife said to us very sweetly, "I think we should deliver the baby now." Rather sharply, my partner tried to explain. Unfortunately I was not met with a compassionate sonographer. Went back a week later for the scan and, you were with me for this one, weren't you? The pain was bearable but uncomfortable, the hospital rang me a few days later and asked me how I was. See you in -. Some people want to find out if their baby has one of the 11 conditions and some do not. This short video explains screening for 11 physical conditions in pregnancy. I know it is still early days. I didn't want to be convincing him to agree with me. I endured 12 hours of medication and in the early hours February 7, 56 days after my first scan (at nearly 18 weeks), I miscarried our babies. Wishing to be anywhere, but here being told the same agonising truth over and . Likely to have serious medical problems all his life. This one cannot show you anything, that's what's inside your mind. As I lay down, and the sonographer started, I could see there was something wrong. I want to enjoy my son again, without any reservations. And I'm glad I did and she's glad she didn't. You have accepted additional cookies. She brought up a picture of the heart on the screen. He started to scan me with a cold expression, then told me, 'it didn't look good' and that 'my womb looked raggedy'. And so this one can't tell you anything, it's pictures, you're going, you're going to see your baby, you're going to get pictures. Emma was 20 weeks' pregnant when a routine scan revealed that the baby she was expecting had Down's syndrome and heart problems. Again, we weren't understood. And I went for, I went for a normal 12-week scan, at my local hospital and everything, they said everything was fine, there was no problem. Which she reassured us that she'd be absolutely fine, this was a one-off. We'll make an appointment with the senior sonographer, the consultant at the local hospital, and she'll do your scan and she'll be able to tell you more things'. Baby loss support Please note that the opinions expressed by users in Tommys Book of #misCOURAGE are solely those of the user, who is unlikely to have had medical training. I wrote a few things down last night when we were trying to go over things, just to remind myself. Specialist scans Originally I hadn't wanted to go down that road. You get extra care and monitoring as appropriate and baby is proactively treated. Not marginalised into being a victim. So I sort of went home quite, fairly kind of happy and I, at, at this point I hadn't any idea things could go wrong anyway. This was on the Friday. The pain was excruciating, but nothing compared to how I felt inside. And so began the most bizarre day of my life. My heart goes out to you OP. This was a ray of hope for us. If you choose not to have the scan you can still have all other parts of your routine antenatal care. I've realised that being a nice person is a luxury some can't afford. So we decided to book an early 10 week private scan. The 18 -20 week fetal anomaly scan is a watershed in most pregnancies because for the majority of women it will be the last time they are scanned before giving birth.

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