10 week u/s versus 20 week. Disappointed..

southerngirlgetsfit

We just did our 20 week anatomy ultrasound and I'm kind of confused. I was told this one would be longer than our ten week, so all the measurements could be taken and everything could be checked out. The problem is, I find this ultrasound took significantly less time than my first one. 

For our ten week ultrasound, we saw every body part visible at the time, the tech measured everything, let us watch baby move for a while, etc. He just took his time to be sure everything looked "right".

This recent u/s was done at a different place, so I'm wondering if it's just the change in staff/the way they do things? We did get to see baby's brain, heart, liver, kidneys, limbs, etc.  But I feel like it was so rushed and I don't know how they could tell if anything was truly wrong. Is this normal or did I just have a bad experience?

hellogoodbye2

Different practices have different protocols. Sorry you felt rushed. Why did you have to go somewhere else for your 20w u/s?

yogahh

As long as tech and doctor say that baby is healthy, I am not sure why you would be disappointed?

Bluejay3030

It sounds like you got to see all the normal stuff... Maybe your baby was very cooperative and they were able to get all the measurements they needed more quickly this time around?

I don't think it makes sense to be disappointed about not having a long scan unless you truly feel that the practice was negligent in some way, in which case you should take that up with your OB.

vinerie

IT's very hard to compare two completely different practices in which you did your U/S. If they checked all the organs, incl. the brain and heart, the spine, etc. then you got your standard 20-week anatomy scan. I'm sorry you felt rushed, though. As much as we all love u/s, I think it's important to remember that the techs have a job to do and others patients to see. It's fun for us, but for them they have responsibilities. They are not supposed to sit there and let you ooh and ahh. They are supposed to make sure the spine is not exposed and that the head circumference is at the appropriate size and such. 

KidShrink

I'd agree with PP on baby collaborating well. You definitely seem to have seen everything that needs to be there now (we weren't given that much detail on internal organs). I was told this ultrasound would take 45-60 min, and we were out in 30 min because baby was placed well and the tech got all the measurements he needed.

tripledaggerWed95976

I agree with what others have said about the baby cooperating.. Also Some techs are a lot faster than others. My A/S took about 15 mins at the most. She definitely looked at everything, she also explained everything she was looking at as she went.

dsmith211

My ultrasound at 20 weeks was the only one I get and judging based on what some people have said it was quick to me (maybe a little over 30 minutes). But when we got to review the report later it was very detailed so I'm just assuming LO was cooperative that day.

TXmamatobe

Imagine my surprise when I showed up for my 20 week appointment and was told I wouldn't have another ultrasound until 28 weeks! In all honesty, I did have an ultrasound at 16 weeks where all major measurements were taken but I guess it never crossed my mind that it would count as the A/S. I'm only having one at 28 weeks to monitor fluid levels since I had excess amniotic fluid in my first pregnancy that warranted being induced.

Although you felt rushed, I think if all measurements are accounted for, then it was a success.

LemmyRN

The weeks prior to and after the holidays are usually slammed for OB offices. Perhaps that was also the case where you received your US; straight to business with less time for the warm and fuzzies.

jumpy57

I was told by the nurse, scheduler, and doctor that the scan would take about an hour. We were done in 15 minutes. When we met with the doctor after the scan she said "you have a very photogenic baby" so I assume the extra time is usually for if the baby is in a weird position of they are having trouble getting a certain view.

southerngirlgetsfit

Thanks everyone. I guess it was just normal, and our first ultrasound was a little longer than usual.

sosweet487

Yeah, my first ultrasound took a lot longer because the baby was not cooperating. The tech pretty much got all the measurements she needed in about 15 minutes. All that was left was to measure the neck, but the baby did NOT want to move. I was there an additional half hour waiting. I drank more water, did exercises, switched positions... the tech even started jabbing my uterus with the ultrasound wand (? I am not sure what the heck that thing is called). Every time she jabbed me the baby would just flail their hands... my hubby and I joke now saying that the baby was giving her the middle finger. She eventually was able to get an okay picture after giving up. She also said she had another appointment and she couldn't be there all day.

Hopefully we'll have better luck at our 20 week ultrasound on Thursday 

allisonmunson94

I'm actually surprised at the amount of people saying that they could see individual body parts at the 10 week scan, I'm sitting over here thinking about mine; I couldn't distinguish any body parts, didn't see any movement at all. I had another scan at 13.5 weeks that was much more detailed. I also thought it was weird that it wasn't even a sonographer that performed my ten week scan, it was my regular OB. Kind of off topic but felt like I had to comment.

proudparent2b

I had a few u/s prior to the 20 week sonogram because the doctor chose not to use the doppler until the 18 week appointment. The u/s' were 3-5 minutes long- just enough to check for heart beat and get overall view.

I was told the 20 week sonogram would take 20-30 min. but took around an hour and a half because the baby was in a really difficult position to get the required measurements from. I was sent to the bathroom, rolled over, received vaginal scans, and had the tech give me multiple 'deep tissue' like massages, all in an effort to get the kid to move (stretch out and get his head out of my pelvis). In the end, the tech got everything except a good frontal view of the face and head/full body measurements. I'll have to have another sonogram early in the third trimester for those items.

Even though the appointment was longer, I don't feel like we got any more out of it because we weren't able to see much for most of the time.

Missingchampagne

I feel you. I have had experiences on both ends of the spectrum. When I went to a learning hospital, everything was very technical. The teacher showed her students what to look for, took her measurements, and I really got nothing emotionally out of the experience. It felt very cold.
On the other hand, I went to a women's center for my last one, that experience was INCREDIBLE. The technician spent so long with us, she got every angle, and had me get up and walk around to get him into a better position so I could see his face. All technicians are not created equal. Yes, from a purely medical perspective, you should be grateful (and I'm sure you are) simply to have seen that you have everything measuring as it should be; but from an emotional perspective, I completely get where you're coming from. The additional few minutes that those technicians give us are a precious gift, when we know won't be holding our babies in our arms for a while still.

Bltbear82

I've noticed a huge difference in the overall appointments based on which sonographer it is, even at the same location. I think some of them get in and get out, they have a job to do and they do it efficiently and professionally with minimal small talk which is totally fine. Whereas I've had others that identify body parts as they go along, flip to 3D so we can see the face better etc. but none of my scans have ever been more than 20-30 minutes. If baby doesn't cooperate after a few tries they just make me come back. I went 3 times for both pregnancies just to get clear shots of the heart, in and out last time in 10 minutes including the doctor follow up. It is exciting for us, but try to remember it's their job and we are just one pregnant lady out of hundreds they see a week.

Delitachan

Different locales. My regular doc never did much with my ultrasounds, but then , the 20-week one took over 30 minutes. This was due to the baby being a bit stubborn. 

I also had to go to another location because my local facilities did not have the high-level one.

Pascal86

allisonmunson94 said:

I'm actually surprised at the amount of people saying that they could see individual body parts at the 10 week scan, I'm sitting over here thinking about mine; I couldn't distinguish any body parts, didn't see any movement at all. I had another scan at 13.5 weeks that was much more detailed. I also thought it was weird that it wasn't even a sonographer that performed my ten week scan, it was my regular OB. Kind of off topic but felt like I had to comment.

Same here - my 10 week scan looks like a little gummy bear. The OB did it and said that our baby was dancing around and waving at us, but what she saw as a hand waving at us looked like a little vibrating blob next to the bigger blob that was the rest of the body. This scan was about two minutes, versus the hour that we spent on the most recent one. These are also the only two scans we'll have, unless something unexpected comes up.

gemini2005

For my previous pregnancies, we went to a medical center that was recommended by lots of people. The staff was incredibly knowledgable and friendly.  We got 3-D pictures and videos and had wonderful appointments.  Unfortunately, the place shut down and we decided to go to our local hospital instead since it was convenient and our new OB suggested it.   It turned out to be a terrible experience.  The tech was so tight-lipped she barely greeted us when we arrived and barely nodded when I asked a question.  I wasn't allowed to see the screen until she was finished measuring and only then did she let DH in the room. 
When she said she was done in 20 minutes I was relieved (even though they said I had an hour long appointment).  We got five awful pictures that I was actually creeped out by (the baby was lying face down)!  When I called about the report two days later, I found out that she didn't get the heart pictures due to position of the baby.  I was pretty upset since she never once asked me to move or even jiggled my stomach.  I am going for a rescan on Friday but I found another imaging center.  I am even thinking about switching doctors/ hospitals over this since I have had a few other issues with the staff.  I think all of the "bells & whistles" make a huge difference and an impatient ultrasound tech can cause a lot of stress and unnecessary worry.

Pranks

My 12 week scan was pretty quick because the baby was in the perfect position and there wasn't much to measure. This time around though it took longer coz the baby was not staying still in a position for long enough to allow taking measurements. The radiologist said so too... Plus she measured each and every organ and also was pointing them out to us in a little detail so I guess it had to take time... In your case, you were just lucky that the baby was being all sweet and cooperative don't worry, your tech checked everything that was to be checked...