how crucial is an anatomy scan?

Kathjnr22 · January 2015

Hi ladies - I did search but cant find the answer to my question plus didn't want to side track the anatomy results thread.

To the point - I live in Ireland and at my hospital anatomy scans are not done for everyone (only if they think there's a problem) but I do have the "option" of getting an anatomy scan done privately - at a cost of approx €200 its money we just can't afford right now - we only got married 6 months ago and are now saving for babas arrival. Question is - what is the value of the scan (we are "team green" so thats not an issue) how many of you ladies have actually had issues identified during an anatomy scan on this Or other pregnancies (obviously no need for details) my thinking is what could be picked up that wouldnt/won't be picked up in other scans? My hospital obviously don't see the need for it. We will find the money if needed but in general do you ladies find it to be more for sex reveal and piece of mind? Thanks for you time (mods - merge to anatomy scan thread if you feel it's better suited there) :-)

sjw91988 · January 2015

Anatomy scans are crucial. They will be able too give so many answers that weren't able too be seen before ie deformations, spina bifida, the list goes on. If something is happening with the child you will have time too adjust and figure out what you will be doing and what your game plan is. Honestly I would find the money. I am actually surprised Ireland doesn't find them necessary.

sassypants2010 · January 2015

Besides checking for physical anomalies that indicate defects and the lot, I think if you haven't had reason to suspect something is wrong it isn't vital but I also don't know if there is anything else they look for. My Dr only mentioned checking the brain, organs (generalizing to save space), and checking to make sure baby is measuring on track. We are also looking for indicators of club feet due to history on my husband's side plus our son was born with it and we had no heads up until delivery, I was angry at the tech for not listening to me when I asked about why my son's toes were touching his knees and she just said baby was cramped to not fret. Edit because autocorrect makes me sound special.

mamahawk12 · January 2015

What other scans are you having done, and how often? It sounds like you've had some other ultrasounds? That information could likely change my answer, but in general I'd say it's crucial. In the US, it's the only scan some women have. They take a detailed look at every aspect of baby, finding out the sex is sometimes an added bonus.

Redlipz · January 2015

For me, they were able to tell me that I had placenta previa and we were able to do what had to be done so that it wouldn't rupture. Thankfully it moved up before birth but it could've been really bad if they wouldn't have caught that at the scan.

Kathjnr22 · January 2015

Thanks all. I've already had two scans in hospital - one at 12 wks and one at 16 weeks (the second was just to confirm dates as baby was measuring behind by 9 days at 12 wks scan - which matches my dates) the have checked measurements in both scans - no issues found.

Just to clarify - some Irish maternity hospitals do do them but some do not - am I right in thinking every woman in the US gets one as standard? obviously we will find the money without a shadow of a doubt if required/deemed required...

mamahawk12 · January 2015

Yes, generally speaking, and assuming you're being seen by a doctor practicing western medicine, you will get an a/s in the US. I wouldn't be *super* concerned if you had a scan at 16 weeks and everything looked good - I had a scan at 16 weeks and they said they basically already saw everything and they would bring me back at 20 as a formality. They do tend to look a lot more closely at things like the heart and blood flow during the a/s. As the baby gets bigger, it's easier to detect things that may have been too small to pick up previously.

tiffbot1985 · January 2015

I'm in Canada, and every dr issued scan is free, but the only one that's a for sure between my friends/other doctors is the 20 week anatomy scan. My dr just happens to also like a first tri dating scan done so I get that as well.
So yes, it's standard procedure here too.

Kathjnr22 · January 2015

I will be getting another scan - I think it's around 28 weeks.

carolyngrace · January 2015

Kathjnr22 said:

Thanks all. I've already had two scans in hospital - one at 12 wks and one at 16 weeks (the second was just to confirm dates as baby was measuring behind by 9 days at 12 wks scan - which matches my dates) the have checked measurements in both scans - no issues found. Just to clarify - some Irish maternity hospitals do do them but some do not - am I right in thinking every woman in the US gets one as standard? obviously we will find the money without a shadow of a doubt if required/deemed required...

Personally, if I couldn't afford it and already had a healthy scan at 16 weeks I would probably pass. Many of us have our anatomy scan at 18 weeks and not a LOT changes in 2 weeks. It's weird that they cover a "dating" scan earlier on, rather than the 18-20 week scan. In the US if only 1 is covered it's the 18-20 week scan.

blu-eyedwife · January 2015

What did they do at your 16 week scan? If it's just a peek at the baby then you wouldn't get the same information regarding the baby.

On my last BMB one of the women discovered her child had spina bifida at the scan and they actually did some surgery while the child was still in utero. Another found out about a heart defect and her son was able to get on the transplant list as soon as he was born.

Both of my anatomy scans have shown healthy kids, but my first discovered fibroids which could have impacted my ability to have a vaginal delivery. And the last one they did a double check on my placenta which appeared to be close to my cervix.

gingerbabe · January 2015

There's a good chance nothing is wrong with your baby and an anatomy scan would not be necessary. Considering you've already had scans and no problems were found I would probably not get it done unless there is medical family history to be concerned about. That's just me though.

sharice111 · January 2015

Placenta previa caught on my anatomy scan with no signs for it. I ended up with a csection and baby and I could have died had I delivered... Worth the $200 to check... I personally think one ultrasound at 20 weeks has saved so many babies and mothers lives. 100% worth the money. I'd be dead without mine... However I just read your comment you should be getting a scan at 28 weeks. If that is true then they can check placental issues... That's "if" your ultrasounds aren't just checking size and dates... Edited for stupidity

mommacandi · January 2015

I agree that an A/S is very important. I had a very close friend discover that her son's heart had not fully developed (only 2 ventricles) so she was able to plan for him to have surgery immediately upon delivery. I personally wouldn't risk not having one.

mv+3 · January 2015

De-lurking to say the anatomy scan for my first found issues with the blood pressure in her umbilical cord that required monitoring for the rest of the pregnancy.

The MFM doctor we worked with said that years ago a problem like my daughter's wouldn't have been found and some babies simply didn't make it.

She's happy, healthy kindergartener now I would pay whatever necessary for the information we got from that scan.

OMGTree · January 2015

My first baby they detected her heart problem at the a/s. I got sent for a more detailed fetal heart exam and it was discovered she had a pulmonary valve stenosis. They had a transport team on standby when she was born to transport if need be to the children's hospital. Thankfully that wasn't needed but she did end up having heart surgery 2 months after her birth.

blu-eyedwife · January 2015

Budders12 said:
I was going to mention this too. Some issues can be determined and resolved (or at least heavily planned for) while baby is still in utero. My doctor said that 19-20 weeks is when they schedule at my office because baby is the "perfect size" to see everything they need, so your 16 week scan may not have shown them everything. If it were me, I would pay out of pocket for the A/S.

Jumping off of this - I started talking to the tech during my scan about how it's kind of crazy that we can see into the skull during the ultrasound to check the brain. She mentioned that one of the reasons they do this scan at 19-20 weeks is because you can still see everything. It gets harder when babies get larger because their bones solidify more, they have more fat on them, and you can't visualize everything. Even at 22 weeks they sometimes can't see everything they need to see.

laurendutch · January 2015

Well, they discovered a second baby at my a/s scan!!!

Schnurette · January 2015

As pps said it gives the ability to find possible issues that would require urgent or specialized care immedately after birth. In my area it also helps determine where you are going to deliver - if there is any sort of issue you aren't going to want to...or be allowed to....deliver at one of the small rural hospitals. They just aren't equipped to deal with it on an emergency basis.

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