Anatomy Scan Question

katers1279

Okay, this may be me being impatient, but, I have a question.

I've been reading boards like 2nd tri and the Feb '11 board.  A lot of posts mention the ideal time for the anatomy scan is 18 - 22 weeks.  I know that from my reading as well.

My doctor's office doesn't do it until 25 weeks.  Is this going to hinder what they need to see for the anatomy scan?

I know I'm anxious to find out the sex, but more importantly, I missed having the NT scan because of the doctor's office not getting me in until it was too late to schedule me.  I don't want to miss another development U/S because of their timing. 

I'll question the doctor when I go on Tuesday, but, I wanted to know your thoughts. 

ash.flea

I don't *think* it will be a problem.  I know you can do it too soon, but I think later is fine as long as they don't wait until the baby is too big to see everything, which wouldn't be until much later (I had an U/S at 28w and they double checked a lot and could still see everything fine).

I would be too impatient to wait that long, though!

katers1279

Thanks Ashley.  Impatience, I can deal with (although, it's not easy).  If I was going to miss something really important due to scheduling though, I wouldn't be happy. 

taramartin2b

In the beginning when my doctor wanted us to have the ultrasound done locally and then go to Nashville for the echocardiogram for the baby, she wanted all of it done before 22 weeks. Apparently that was the ultrasound group's best time to look at the baby's heart - not too big, not too little, and developmentally it would be able to show them what they wanted to see. Since she then combined it all and we went to have the high-risk ultrasound before 22 weeks, I was worried that they wouldn't get everything in the ultrasound, but I was surprised. They were able to see Kari in so much detail and see things in her brain that the tech said was really hard to see most of the time. The heart showed up perfectly, which was my biggest concern because that's why we were there anyway. It all turned out fine, but I did worry about the timing - just on the early end of the spectrum. I'd just talk to the doctor about it and point it out, especially since they messed up your shot of getting the NT scan.

modom3278

Yeah, I would definitely double check with your OB, because it's definitely later than some offices do it, however, I actually had an U/S yesterday, at 34 weeks, and even though baby is a lot more squished, they were able to get a good look at his heart and other vital organs, so I would assume 25 weeks would be just fine.

natalee215

Since you want to find out the sex, I'm sure that wait is going to kill you!  In my case, if I had my anatomy scan at 25 weeks, as opposed to 19w3d, I could have saved myself a ton of unnecessary heartache.  I know that you remember my traumatic anatomy scan when I left convinced that my baby had DS.  The true issue was just that one of her kidneys measured a TINY bit small because it wasn't fully developed at the time of the scan.  When I had to go back for another scan at 26 weeks to check her kidneys, everything was perfect.  I don't know the reason behind your office waiting until 25 weeks, but it very well could be to avoid situations like this. 

In terms of the NT scan, that has to be done by a certain time.  I forget the cutoff, but they can only get the measurement that they need up until a certain point.  I had mine at 13 weeks and I think that was towards the end of the period that it needs to be done in.  You need to let your OB know at your first appointment if you want it done so that you don't miss the window.  Unless you are 35+ (which you aren't,) they don't assume that everyone wants it done.

DreamsBride411

Wait a second... they didn't do an NT scan because of a scheduling problem?!?!?!? 

And the reason why 25 weeks is often deemed "late" is because by that time baby is usually too big to see everything they need to see...  I've never heard of it being scheduled so late.

If you trust your doctor, then just go with the flow, but if you're questioning anything else, I'd look elsewhere for a new doc....  KWIM?

katers1279

DreamsBride411:

Wait a second... they didn't do an NT scan because of a scheduling problem?!?!?!? 

And the reason why 25 weeks is often deemed "late" is because by that time baby is usually too big to see everything they need to see...  I've never heard of it being scheduled so late.

If you trust your doctor, then just go with the flow, but if you're questioning anything else, I'd look elsewhere for a new doc....  KWIM?

Yep.  They couldn't get me in to even confirm pregnancy until I was more than 10 weeks along.  Then she said we wouldn't have time to get the NT scan done, because of how scheduling works.  Since it was elective, I wasn't all that concerned.  But....

...that's what I was wondering about the size and 25 weeks.  This is exactly why I'm going to question things on Tuesday.  Yes, we want to know the sex, but, more importantly, we don't want baby to be too big for the typical IMPORTANT tests to be done. 

BlondeBeachBride08

My OB wanted everything scanned and measured before 24 weeks because if something was catastrophically wrong, 24 weeks is the latest they could terminate a pregnancy. That's not something we would have done but I'm surprised that your anatomy scan is so late. Definitely ask.