Anatomy Scan's

ShePersisted

I thought since we are all having Anatomy Scans soon it would be good to have one place to share how and what you experienced. Let us know how yours went, what did the tech do, not do, questions you had that were answered, or not, were you able to tell the gender etc. and of course US pictures if you want to share!

ShePersisted

I saw my OB this week and told him I was having my AS next week when I'll be 19 weeks and some change he was surprised they scheduled me this early. He said typically I don't recommend until after 20 weeks and he just warned me that they may not be able to see everything and that I may need to come back. As long as I was okay with that I could have mine at 19 weeks. I thought AS could be done anywhere for 18 weeks onwards... Did anyone else's Dr's advice as such? Now I am wondering if I should postpone but then I think I rather just go twice than postpone. 

KLink15

@ShePersisted my doctor says she personally says after 20 weeks just to be sure, she told me I could do it sooner but she feels more comfortable with results after the 20 week mark I am scheduled for July 9th and that puts me at just past 21 weeks.

DuchessOfCambridge

@ShePersisted I've mentioned this on here before but my OB just said after 18 weeks and the receptionist scheduled me for 18+2 (Monday). They didn't mention me coming back at all or anything, just scheduled it and off I went. I don't mind going back again if necessary though, definitely too impatient to postpone!

I don't know if this matters but I go to a hospital to see my OB and MFM is the waiting room right next to OB and is where I get all my U/S done.

RiverSong15

@ShePersisted My OB said the same thing - schedule it after 20 weeks. The paperwork I was given said it could be done between 18-22, but the scheduler at the US place said they only schedule after 20 weeks. So I'm booked for 20+2.

ShePersisted

Thanks Ladies. I guess I'll go Monday and see what they can see and if not, I can always go again. 

mariposa_767s

With DS, they did 18-21 weeks and I went at 18.  This time it's 20-22 and I'm going at 20+2.  OMG I can't wait!!!

car1a

I'm going in tomorrow at 19+0 and my girl measured a few days behind at my 9w. So I'm hopeful but nervous she's going to be small. Also since I have no bump I'm wondering about her size. But I'll keep all of you posted about whether we're far enough along to measure everything!

bcashaw

Okay for the record (because as a FTM I didn't realize) the anatomy scan is LONG. Mine took just over an hour. Granted they let me pee after 45 mins so that killed some time. 
I also had a student doing mine, so I'm sure that added some time and baby was SUPER active so they were literally chasing him around my belly. 
The full bladder thing was not enjoyable. At all whatsoever. They had a really hard time getting a good look at my baby's heart because he was facing my back and so I do need to return again to get it redone. 
I am 20 weeks today and when they showed me between the legs it was so very very obvious that it was a boy. Like NO DOUBT, the kid is hung.  Even though I didn't know what I was looking at... I knew what I was looking at. Very very clearly.  
At the ultrasound place I had to go to today they don't let people in until they're done doing whatever needs to be done, and since that took such a long time I wish I had kept my phone with me instead of sticking it in my purse. I was bored (they didn't let me watch either). They did a ton of measurements, the femur, placenta wall, stuff like that.
Also a heads up, my other ultrasounds have been low but they pretty much covered my entire belly today, I've got that goo all over. 
I wore very low maternity pants and a loose top and I was happy with my decision. 

tsa208

I went at 18+3 last week. It went well but the baby wasn't her usual dancing self that morning (even after the tech gave me some candy), so it took about 1.5 hours to get all the shots they needed. Ultimately, they called me later in the day and scheduled another scan in 3 weeks because they didn't get a good look at the umbilical cord and they can't tell if it's a marginal insertion or velamentous insertion (hopefully just the former!) since it inserted right around where I have an SCH (which is annoyingly persistent, but stable). But otherwise, brain, heart chambers, other internal organs all good, no cleft palate. She's measuring a few days ahead, as she has the entire pregnancy.

They also had to do the transvaginal to get a look at my cervix.

We already knew it was a girl from a genetics test, thanks goodness, because the tech couldn't get a good look anyways.

One thing I noticed is that the tech is really concentrating - there's a lot of things they need to record. So it wasn't the usual chatty, touch-feely U/S I've been used to. More business like.

safinn21

@bcashaw @tsa208 did they tell you everything looked good at the end of the appointment or did they say your OB would have to give you the results? Just curious!

ShePersisted

@safinn21 BTW my OB told me that if everything looks normal they will just let me go home but if they see anything that needs a discussion they will call him and he will discuss the results with me. So I am hoping I dont have to see him at all on Monday!!
But however with my son when I did his AS at 20 weeks they told me to wait and then a random OB walked in and looked at the scans again and then told me everything was ok. Not sure if that was routine at that place and this is routine here so I think every hospital/OB place has different protocols.

DuchessOfCambridge

@safinn21 for my NT my OB told me they would have immediately paged her after the scan was over if anything was wrong. The tech didn't say much during the scan and when it was over she just said I could leave and at my next appointment my OB went over the results with me. I'm assuming the same for this, the scan will happen, the tech will show them to the Dr, and then they will either tell me I can leave or page my OB (hopefully the former).

Thinking of you and hoping all is well

2Dash

I asked my OB this question this week. He said between 18 -20 weeks is perfect and closer to 20 weeks is best. I'll be doing mine at 19 +3.

tsa208

safinn21 said:

@bcashaw @tsa208 did they tell you everything looked good at the end of the appointment or did they say your OB would have to give you the results? Just curious!

They didn't give me any formal feedback at the end, but along the way, the tech would say "can see all 4 chambers", "no cleft palate", "brain is measuring normally" - the tech took the images and a radiologist reviewed about an hour later (per my results report). I left the AS feeling like everything looked normal, but I still wanted the formal word. I had an appointment scheduled with my OB the next day, so he went over the results with me then - they were way more in depth than the comments the tech made. Also, my healthcare system automatically releases all reports electronically after 3 days, so I would have gotten the report that said all was fine.

JDW0325

at my OB I have a quick appt with her after every ultrasound to go over everything.

AmberG34

Had my anatomy scan today. I'm 20wks1day. It went great, we already knew we were having a girl but it was visually confirmed today lol. She was moving around all over the place, like always. She's a very active baby. Our ultrasound tech, although very nice, sucks at ultrasounds. She isn't very good, the pics we received literally look like there's nothing there. Worst pics I've ever received. We've decided we'll probably go get an elective 3d/4d in a few weeks. Baby girl is already 14oz and very long. She's in the 95th percentile for growth. I'm hoping that evens out as time passes. I prefer to birth average babies lol but of course will push out/deliver her any weight she becomes. Lmao. Oh yeah and she has big lips just like her brother! 

photogal1317

I'm having mine tomorrow at 19+5, and I can't wait! I also just called to see if I needed a full bladder and the nurse said no which I was very happy about - although confused because at 12 weeks the US tech didn't like the fact that I had just gone to the bathroom (same office).

car1a

Same as @JDW0325 I see my OB right after scans. Oddly though my appointment tomorrow is 10:30 for scan, 10:50 for OB. I have no idea how that'll be enough time to do the scan and have my OB review prior. Guess we'll see what happens?!

thj101

We have already found out that we are having a girl from a blood test...I am most excited about this appointment though!  I am scheduled to have mine at 21 wks.  (Which baby has been measuring about 4 days ahead since the 8 week u/s...) We were going to schedule for 20, but my OB will be on vacation during my 20th week, so we had to push it back a week.  My OB has done all of my ultrasounds so far.  I had my initial one at 8 weeks, and then he did a just because ultrasound last time (16 wks) because he wasn't able to see me at my 12 wk appt due to having to go deliver a baby.  I am assuming that he will be doing my anatomy scan as well.  He is also not the best photo taker.  LOL so I'm hoping that she cooperates so we can get a good picture this time.  At the last ultrasound she had her head cradled in her hands.... so sweet.... and he snapped the picture and was out of photo paper! By the time he had gotten more she had moved.... 

bcashaw

@safinn21  they showed me the heartbeat and said that baby was very active. They told me that they had concerns because they couldn't get a clear picture of the heart, so I have to go back, and my midwife already called me about it. I think that they wouldn't say "everything's fine" because then if everything isn't and I knew that last time they said everything is fine then I would have freaked. Looking back, if they hadn't phrased things the way they did I probably would have been more concerned about them not being able to find heart chambers, but since my midwife called I'm not worried. 

kissthesky32

safinn21 said:

@bcashaw @tsa208 did they tell you everything looked good at the end of the appointment or did they say your OB would have to give you the results? Just curious!

I guess my hospital is different than most. I got to watch the whole thing with both kids and the techs explained as they went. Then I immediately met with MFM and that doctor gave me a report (everything was fine with both).

RiverSong15

I haven't had my AS yet, but it's at the same place where I've had the NT scan and other ultrasounds. At this practice, the tech does the US and will tell us what we're looking at, but won't comment on things being normal/abnormal. The US place has OBs on staff that review the photos at the end, and if everything looks good, the tech will just come and tell us it's good and we can leave. If something looks off, then the on-staff OB will go over results with us and we'll be sent to my OB for a follow up.

 I think every practice has their own set up that they use.

Karrotelle

My AS is on Tuesday. I'll be 18 on Monday. The techs don't tell you a damn thing. They'll show you the heartbeat but I'll be lucky if they'll tell us the sexes of the babies. I only use this clinic because I had a few bad experiences with the other one in town with previous pregnancies. At least this one, although tight lipped, has better imaging and is more thorough. I have to wait until the 26th to meet my OB again to go over everything, unless there's a serious issue, in which case the tech makes you wait and they call your OB for further instruction.

Tourmalily

I'm having mine on Monday, at 19+6. I'm very concerned that the baby's sex will be revealed because I am incredibly hardcore Do Not Want To Know. Like I'm not just "Oh we want to be surprised." No. I don't want to know at all until Smalls is born. 

Tourmalily

@kissthesky32 that's how my NT scan went. The tech explained everything and pretty much told me what she was seeing and what it meant. Then the doctor came in and checked everything out and confirmed the tech's measurements etc. 

I hope the AS will be the same. It's at the same facility, so that's good. 

08-16-08jms

I have an u/s tech that works several days at the ob office I go to. She is very nice & personable. When she does the scans, she points out what she is doing and seeing. When I have had AS in the past, I would say it usually is a half hour, then I see my regular ob afterwards. The tech has always told me what the sex is too, although this time it's going in an envelope for our party that night. Of course the tech is going on vacation the week I turn 20 & 21 weeks, so the ob had no problem ok-ing my AS for 18w6d. FX the sex will be definitely determinable since I'll have 50 ppl at my house wanting to know that night lol  

c+mpeachey

 everything looked great on ours this morning. Confirmed girl. I'm in shock. DH is ecstatic. 

cottingham3

I have delivered at 2 different hospitals and this will be my third. At ALL of my OB's they did "in house" U/S so there was always a drs appt that followed. This time, I am having the A/S at my MFM/HighRisk doc and it will be him and the tech in the room for the entire scan. I friend who had her's complete there said that the Doctor walks you through everything while the tech is scanning. So, you pretty much get instant results. I want to see if I can tell the sex before they tell me! I am scheduled next Wed at 19 weeks 5 days.

DuchessOfCambridge

@RiverSong15 yours sounds like mine

safinn21

Thanks everyone! My AS is scheduled for June 29th and I was supposed to see my OB a few days later but they had to reschedule till the week after- kinda annoying! They want to do the scan early due to my genetic test result so I'm assuming if they see anything they'll call earlier. Thanks for all the insight, it's nice to know what to expect! SO glad everyone's scans are going well so far!!

ineedsixeggs

Are A/S's always long? I'm scheduled for the 19th. I swear with my first it was like 15 minutes tops. I didn't have the best experience with that clinic overall, but did they do this part wrong too?? 

RiverSong15

@ooodalollly They told me mine would be 45 minutes to an hour. This is my first AS, but that's what I was told to expect.

TeacherMama7

My a/s with my son was about 30-40 min. They didn't have me come with a full bladder. The tech did the scan and was chatting with is in a friendly way, stopping to get measurements of things at different parts. We told her we didn't want to know the gender so when she did that part, she had us turn our heads. Afterwards, the doctor on staff came and talked to us about the results (all normal.)

JLStandfill

Totally dying with anticipation.  My AS is scheduled for next Wednesday.  According to the Doctors numbers, that puts me at 20 weeks exactly.  The period/ovulation app I use put Wednesday at 19+5, either way...I can't freakin' wait.  This is the first time in 5 pregnancies that I have made it to this point.  I can feel my little bean wiggling and I can't wait to see him/or her next week...whether or not he/she cooperates to reveal gender, I just can't wait to see this little bean.  I'm also excited to get to finally announce to everyone.  I've been waiting for this scan before telling too many, just in case...I can't wait to get to share the announcement I made...  

foxaírt

I had a midwife app on Friday  the 9th (18w+2) and scan for Tuesday 13th (18w+6)either side the long weekend
Measured spot on for 18weeks at the appointment with strong heart beat and she said the AS timing was perfect 

At the scan we measured 19w+1 2 days ahead and spot on for another scan . (Had 2 dates given between lmp and dating scan , 6/11 and 8/111 they picked the later as gives +2days before they start counting 2 weeks after 40w  if we go over before they induce so was just extra time ) 
So really couldn't be more perfect. OB at the imaging clinic was over the moon happy with everything . Baby behaved nicely altho I did need to walk around and try again to get them to open their hands which they did eventually . And everything is beautiful . Bladder kidneys spine brain 4 chambered heart and lungs  the cord all in beautiful condition 
We have an anterior placenta but confirmed it's in the upper anterior quadrant and not low so no worries there . 
My bladder was super full and she made me empty cause was distorting and the placenta looked low . 
When we left she said we made her day. And they didn't struggle to see anything at all . So I think anything 18w+ should be fine   . 
We did not find out the sex and even tho I didn't want to know it was super hard to look away while she did the thighs (incase we saw) I just didn't want to miss any of it it's so amazing watching them wiggle about in there 

@bcashaw
The imaging clinic I go to specialised in only women's obstetrics  and gynecological US . The room is set up with a lounge for partners next to the bed and a mounted TV screen that live feeds the scan as they do it  . As they scan and measure they tell you what parts are . And chat like "all four changers of the heart" as they take the stills off it . Or "that's the right hand " stuff like that
You can also opt to get a USB  recording of the whole scan for $25 we didn't just the stills but they still show you the whole scan . The TV means they don't have to turn the screen or anything like that and you have something to do while they measure and check everything 

The actual OB did our scan so we didn't have to wait and go in and talk to her after either she just went through it all and was very pleased everything looks perfect and was just a few min wait for them to print out the pics and the report for our midwife . 

It did take like an hour but we didn't have anything else to do
 

kissthesky32

ooodalollly said:

Are A/S's always long? I'm scheduled for the 19th. I swear with my first it was like 15 minutes tops. I didn't have the best experience with that clinic overall, but did they do this part wrong too?? 

Mine have always been 45+. My sister had her's a few weeks ago and she said it was 20 minutes max.

lancomechica2

ooodalollly said:

Are A/S's always long? I'm scheduled for the 19th. I swear with my first it was like 15 minutes tops. I didn't have the best experience with that clinic overall, but did they do this part wrong too?? 

My first one was super long like over an hour. For this one they said to plan on being there 45 min to an hour. 

jess0211

Mine is a week from today which per my doc puts me at 20 +2, according to me 19+6. Super nervous and excited. I didn't get any instructions. Do you always need a full bladder?

ShePersisted

I think it depends on how much the baby cooperates. If they can see everything right away it can be as quick as 20 mins but otherwise they have to keep moving around until they feel confident they can see the body part. 

DuchessOfCambridge

@jess0211 my u/s tech told me to come in with a full bladder until I hit 27 Weeks so that's what I'll be doing. She scolded me during my NT scan oooops. In my defense I'd had diarrhea right before we left so what's a girl to do?