And how wrong could they be? This image shows a baby's face and hands at 20 weeks, and gives you an idea of what you'll be able to see at this scan. That was an extremely difficult day. And so we talked about it euphemistically, never saying the word "research". Our week-by-week PREGNANCY emails are a must for parents-to-be. Instead, we were shown to a room slightly away from the rest of the ward and the midwife stayed with us to talk through what was going to happen. I can't remember the exact words but she said, 'There might be some fatal problems with your baby'. There, I would give birth. It wasn't measuring at all the right measurements for the age - there was a heart defect, the limbs were sort of distorted, the arms were, you know - you could see that the arms were very sort of contracted, the hands were contracted. And they took us out of the scanning room, into a more quiet room while they typed up the report. Eventually, the doctor finished the scan and said that some of the baby's measurements were very small. 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. The doctor didn't come. 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. I want to be nice again. I tried to show him the notes and the photos. I hadn't thought about the mechanics of such a late termination, but had assumed it would mean some kind of operation. We must have had one before that as well, we must have had one before that, but it came back quite normal. 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. In some cases concerns in utero fix themselves sometimes needs treatment. I was told this was common as my body and hormones still thought I was pregnant. And I, my husband and I both ran our own business at the time so we were desperate to get back and do some work, and things were going really well, so.. My partner was away working and was waiting to hear whether he was having a son or daughter. By this time, we were tired. You can change your cookie settings at any time. She advised I be referred to the EPU to be assessed. I took my vitamins, stuck to the healthy diet and put on a brave face. I noticed the box of tissues on the table. It's quite common, perhaps 1 in 10 they find these, and within a few weeks they disappear. The 18-20 week antenatal scan and further tests. Tommys is a registered charity in England and Wales (1060508) and Scotland (SC039280). Tears started to roll down my face. Wishing to be anywhere, but here being told the same agonising truth over and . I felt empty, scared, guilty and incredibly heartbroken. The scan looks for 11 different conditions in your baby and cannot find everything that might be wrong. Everywhere you look, there are happy, fat, smug pregnant women. And I knew there was no way out. And my husband, we never got to sit next to each other in the consulting room, my husband was across the room from me, and I was sat next to the consultant, and we were laughing and joking with him about, you know, the home delivery, and everything was going to be, 'Are you still on for the home delivery?' 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. Our baby was beautiful. It doesn't remove the guilt, but I don't know what else to do. So on the Monday we went in to see the senior sonographer, I think she was a consultant at the hospital. 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. We were denying him his life. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) have produced a report on Termination of Pregnancy for Fetal Abnormality in England, Scotland and Wales (May 2010). He looked fine. This one cannot show you anything, that's what's inside your mind. And I know I can't hurry up the process of grieving. As you felt that, you know, it was probably going to show lots of problems and it just wasn't what we wanted, but at the same time we needed to sort of see it and, we needed to prove it I suppose. Some people want to find out if their baby has one of the 11 conditions and some do not. We left for home feeling completely numb. As I lay down, and the sonographer started, I could see there was something wrong. However, a few hours later there was another shift change. If necessary, you will be referred to a specialist, possibly in another hospital. My partner spent the weekend trying to convince me that things were OK. I would be put to sleep, and when I woke up I wouldn't be pregnant any more. So I trusted him. So he went out for a walk. Any delay in receiving more information about the abnormality and its implications will be distressing for women and this should be acknowledged. She didn't want to see the baby. We didn't feel we could tell anyone what was happening. And they actually asked my husband to come in before they spoke to me. I faced another internal scan where I began to feel helpless and alone. We spent the next few weeks in a happy bubble. By my own hand, I had to end the pregnancy. My mum arrived early to look after our son, and my partner and I got a cab to the hospital. To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account. So obviously quite relaxed. Three midwives came and went. These were said to be soft markers fo a range of trisomies, 2 of which were incompatible with life. Enough for two weeks after he had been cremated. I was young, I didn't need one. I agreed to an internal scan as the sonographer said we could get a better picture of what was happening. So even if anomolies are found, they don't always mean a problem.. x. I had issues at the 20 weeks scan with both of mine. 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'. Somehow, I walked from the sofa up to the bathroom and told my partner. Or, at the very least, heart problems. I was becoming numb to the whole process. I didn't want to be convincing him to agree with me. So we went back the day after Boxing Day, the 27th, and the consultant greeted us, which made my alarm bells go, and she started scanning us and I think her lines were, 'What concerns me about this baby is that they've got a diaphragmatic hernia, which has meant that part of the stomach of the baby was in its chest cavity.'. There is always a chance that a baby may be born with a health issue that scans could not have identified. I give obsessively to charity, especially those linked to sick children. It was interesting - well it was fantastic to see this fetus and to see this child that was yours that was horribly ill - but you didn't really get much opportunity to see that because the consultant was more about measurements and all sorts of blood flow and various other screens coming up. So I took the test and jumped in the shower. He felt doing more blood tests would only cause me more discomfort and false hope. We would terminate the pregnancy. Dont worry we wont send you spam or share your email address with anyone. Has anyone been told the wrong sex at 20 week scan? Some say this estimate is really below the reality, and the out-of-pocket average costs are higher. 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. And I felt like a murderer. 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. I think what everyone is saying is that most likely outcome is that there are no problems at all. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, midwife or hospital immediately. Sometimes a post mortem was needed to confirm the 20-week diagnosis to see if the baby had inherited a genetic problem (such as Fowler syndrome - see 'Resources'). By 7pm, I still hadn't delivered the baby. factor is very strong. I tried not to sit still for too long, because then I became too aware of the little thing inside me. And that was extraordinary to see the detail that that could offer. Nice people shouldn't hear about what we'd done. Sam followed and I broke down. We understand the real meaning of "shit happens". 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. Your mind has closed to the possibility that there could be anything wrong. Slightly marked from our peers. I have a terrible hatred of pregnant women and a new respect for infertile couples. It can be such a shock so do whatever you need to feel better. So he was about two weeks smaller than what he should have been. . So I was a bit ignorant of the kind of things, you know, what the scans were really doing - maybe it was, a bit na've I think. I felt crushed, I wanted him to at least acknowledge what had been found already. I used to think the feeling of your baby kicking inside you and the sight of a foot poking against your skin were the most fantastic things in the world. Well send you a link to a feedback form. Like many things, the theory is very different from the reality. You do not have to have the scan. And in this instance the scan was very evident that there was something very seriously wrong. I didn't really know what that was. The weeks since that day have been very weird. My wife had been very, very healthy, more healthy than the first pregnancy, and of course was shattered by the fact that the news, the news was appalling, very serious faces. It is essential that all practitioners performing fetal anomaly ultrasound screening should be trained to communicate abnormal findings to women, as such information is likely to have significant emotional impact. Except for the persistent, nagging doubts. But even if I was there, I still think I would have wanted to see the detail on the scan. I remember thinking, 'that doesn't look quite right'. 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'. 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'. But other than that everything was fine. 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. (See. Desperately trying to hold onto the glimmer of hope we'd been given. But before he could speak, he, too, had broken down. What happens at the second midwife appointment? The scan can provide information that may mean you have to make further, important decisions. The screen may be directly facing them or at an angle. But at the 20 week scan, which was on a Wednesday, we saw the nurse at the local hospital, the sonographer, and she did a scan and she found that the femur length was quite short in the, in the fetus. On the third day, we got a phone call. I couldn't bear to see the baby and asked the midwife to take him away immediately. It is as though our pain means we've earned the right to be taken more seriously. Most scans show that babies seem to be developing as expected, and none of the 11 conditions are found. Emma was 20 weeks' pregnant when a routine scan revealed that the baby she was expecting had Down's syndrome and heart problems. We had so much power, we could decide that this little thing should die. He looked excited. 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. This short video explains screening for 11 physical conditions in pregnancy. Not a good sign in a hospital consulting room. I was another one who did get bad news at the 20 week scan. It's been a heartbreaking nightmare. Looked exactly like our two year old as a baby. Went back a week later for the scan and, you were with me for this one, weren't you? Read full disclaimer. 1. I believed at this point I had miscarried, they wanted me to come back I'm for a follow up scan. It would be a personal tragedy for my partner and me, but that is all. 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), tbh, they never give you good news at scans. They said the brain was okay -, We were in there for a matter of minutes, literally -, In and out. And it turned out the baby's heart wasn't forming properly, the chambers weren't forming properly. I want to be happy again. Please ask your hospital about this before your appointment. Scans cannot find all conditions. Some of the other conditions, such as heart defects, are more difficult to see. I had no issues at my 20wk scan with DD - and neither did any of my antenatal group (9 mums). And they took me into another room. The following is a quote from their report: If the scan reveals either a suspected or confirmed abnormality, the woman should be informed by the sonographer at the time of the scan. Wed like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services. And with each one we had to have the same conversations. We went in, had a scan, I can't remember the exact sequence of events because the baby was still in the wrong position. Health professionals use the 18-20 week scan to examine the baby's size and position, and also to check if his/her brain, heart, lungs and other internal organs are developing as expected. . So we decided to book an early 10 week private scan. She describes having to make a momentous decision very quickly, and the ferment of relief, guilt and grief that followed, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. This scan takes place between 18 weeks and 20 weeks 6 days of pregnancy and is commonly called the 20-week scan. Sometimes it is difficult to get good views of a baby. They sort of drew some diagrams, and they said, 'But we need to refer you to a specialist to confirm the diagnosis'. Registered office: Nicholas House, 3 Laurence Pountney Hill, London, EC4R 0BB. And you know, we were laughing and joking. We had to discuss what we wanted to do with the little body after delivery. He started to scan me with a cold expression, then told me, "it didn't look good" and that "my womb looked raggedy". The midwife was on the verge of tears and I felt responsible. How common is it for 2nd baby to come early..? That they could have spotted something, or not? Within two days I was waiting in my local EPU unit for further tests. 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. All pregnant women should be given the booklet by their midwife or GP Screening tests for you and your baby by Public Health England, which gives detailed information about the types of scan offered and what they are looking for. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected]. I think there might be a problem'. For many other women, the 18-20 week scan was the point at which they discovered the baby had serious problems. The gel makes sure there is good contact between the probe and your skin. And I assumed my partner would feel the same. I am a darker, harder version of myself. And for that whole time, my partner and I were both crying uncontrollably. Again, we weren't understood. We had the same conversation, but obviously were not making any sense to her at all. The scan will look in detail at your babys bones, heart, brain, spinal cord, face, kidneys and abdomen. I wasn't ready to make a decision straight away, and I was told I could call them in the morning. When I see a child with Down's syndrome, I have a tremendous need to explain myself and apologise a million times over. And they, sort of two of them were looking at the scan machine and then they sort of switched everything off and said, 'Oh, I think we have, might have a problem'. But he was wrong. At first, I still had to deal with the physical implications of having given birth. She describes having to make a . Some people had underestimated how serious any abnormality found at this stage could be for the baby. 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. We need to have your opinion'. We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. 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. I should stop being dramatic and pessimistic. The scan will find about half (50%) of those babies who have heart defects. Several parents said they would have preferred being told something, even it was vague. And nothing prepares you at all. Yeah - in, stomach, out. I felt the dread run through me. As two youngest siblings, we were both permanently stuck in the irresponsible, childish role. This was on the Friday. I feel empty and incomplete. We couldn't say we'd lost the baby, because he was still kicking away, but we couldn't pretend everything was fine, either. I have horrible thoughts. DS had 2 soft markers: talipes (club foot) and 'echogenic locii' somewhere - heart I think. I know it is still early days. For women who have been given distressing news about their baby during the scan, there should be a health professional available to provide immediate support. I was booked back in to discuss management options, if nothing had happened. 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. She brought up a picture of the heart on the screen. Limitations of the 18-20 week scan The same unique expression he had when he saw our two year old born. Many parents were shocked by findings from the 20-week and later scans. 20 week scans look for 11 different anomalies as a rule, however, indicators (markers) are not terribly reliable and in all the literature I found, the targets set for stonographers look like they only pick up around 50% or less of these variants. . 'Yes, if that's okay with you,' kind of thing, like you do. For example, some babies have a condition called open spina bifida, which affects the spinal cord. I could hardly breathe. I couldn't really believe what they were saying. I sat and waited to be called for my scan. For example, the babys brain, kidneys, internal organs or bones may not have developed properly. But the closeness has remained after the drama has died down. And, sometimes, I wish I had invited my whole family into the hospital room to see him. The 18-20 week antenatal scan and further tests, Ending the pregnancy for family & personal reasons, Deciding whether to see, hold and name the baby, Photographs and other mementoes of the baby, Saying goodbye to the baby - services & funerals, Coping with bereavement - women's experiences, Coping with bereavement - men's experiences, Men's ideas about their role in ending a pregnancy. All the hopes, dreams, and plans we made with our little bumps has been taken away from us. I went away and came back, and she couldn't get a good picture. The same anxious wait for a little, pathetic cry. You know there's always that bit on the bottom of the thing, 'These are diagnostics, do not bring other children,' - blah, blah, blah.. it's not, you know, it's not a family outing kind of thing, but it feels like it. 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. And still we asked to see a, Impact of the 20-week and later specialist scans. My wife turned the screen away from her. The sonographer will be able to tell you the results of the scan at the time. 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. They would then re-test me in two days time. So at 20 weeks I went for my scan with my husband, with my daughter, to get our photographs. All women are offered a dating scan, and an 18- 20 week fetal anomaly ultrasound scan, in line with NICE and UK National Screening Committee recommendations. Hugely upset that to think that the baby was so poorly. I went home feeling crushed; Sam and I both felt helpless. In a small number of cases some very serious conditions are found. Then, three days later, I would go to the labour ward - the ward I had been expecting to visit in two and a half months. It went from bad, to worse, to worse, to dire, then to better. Never being able to look after himself. Emma was 20 weeks' pregnant when a routine scan revealed that the baby she was expecting had Down's syndrome and heart problems. Apologise for somehow doubting their right to be in this world. But he was not sure. 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's, I mean you can't tell from these scans what you're looking at really, but I remember thinking, 'it just doesn't look quite right' or something, but I didn't give it much thought. It felt as if we had gone power crazy. My partner's face was lit up, seeing the baby for the first time. Another sick joke. Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned. You may need to have a full bladder when you come for the appointment. the amniocentesis) and the pregnancy had already ended, or because the scan was not routinely offered in their region 5 or more years ago. Mm-hm. So she said, 'Come back on Monday. No one else felt him kick. During the examination, sonographers need to keep the screen in a position that gives them a good view of your baby. Perhaps because we are alone in this, it has brought my partner and me very close. I pray it's just her heart but I can't see anything else is wrong as I have been scanned by a consultant since I was 14 weeks and every time he has said everything looks okay and she is growing consistently. Reading individual, real-life experiences can be a helpful resource, but it is never a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment from a qualified health care provider. To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account. Those two weeks were agonising for us both. So we left it there, and we didn't actually think that there was anything really to worry about after that scan. And I, and, I felt the weight of deciding what to do about it. Finally, Monday came and we went back to the hospital. 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).
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