https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 26 Apr 2026 14:18:51 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-offered-to-hear-heartbeat-have-a-dating-scan-or-an-nt-scan/page/2#post-560963 Mon, 11 Feb 2013 19:20:41 +0000 tinyperson 560963@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had one at 14 weeks (NT) and 2 at 20 weeks (she was moving too much to get a couple of pics they wanted. Then I was diagnosed with GD, so had an u/s every two weeks when I saw the perinatologist to check on size - and she was breech, so we kept an eye on that. But I guess my situation isn't the norm... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-offered-to-hear-heartbeat-have-a-dating-scan-or-an-nt-scan/page/2#post-560935 Mon, 11 Feb 2013 18:53:24 +0000 autumn865 560935@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We technically only had three. The first one was at 8 weeks because I was having heavy spotting to check viability. The second was our NT scan and the third was an anatomy scan around 20ish weeks. But we didn't have any more after that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-offered-to-hear-heartbeat-have-a-dating-scan-or-an-nt-scan/page/2#post-560727 Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:54:28 +0000 Mrs Hedgehog 560727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That doesn't sound too crazy. We had one at 8 weeks just to make sure there weren't two babies in there and since they were there they did the dating and heartbeat as well. Our next one isn't until 20 weeks and it is KILLING me. I want to know the gender and see our baby again before then! Especially now that it looks more like a baby and less like a deformed lima bean! </p> <p>I see your concern though. I was going to go to an OB who didn't offer any scans until the third tri and even then we weren't allowed to see the monitor incase there was something wrong, so the tech wouldn't have to stress about us wanting to talk... Uhm, yeah, no thanks. </p> <p>Maybe see about finding another OB if that really bothers you? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-offered-to-hear-heartbeat-have-a-dating-scan-or-an-nt-scan/page/2#post-560709 Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:41:39 +0000 jetsa 560709@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LazyLightning: lol yea I agree. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-offered-to-hear-heartbeat-have-a-dating-scan-or-an-nt-scan/page/2#post-560687 Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:35:14 +0000 LazyLightning 560687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jetsa: At least you get 3 ultrasounds! I got 1 - 21 weeks. haha. Luckily have had an uncomplicated pregnancy thus far! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-offered-to-hear-heartbeat-have-a-dating-scan-or-an-nt-scan/page/2#post-560684 Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:34:11 +0000 jetsa 560684@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LazyLightning: I just wanted to add that I wasn't offered the NT scan it must be a rural thing. I had an ultrasound at 6 weeks, and I'll get 2 more at 20 &amp; 32 weeks but thats it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-offered-to-hear-heartbeat-have-a-dating-scan-or-an-nt-scan/page/2#post-345015 Wed, 17 Oct 2012 15:11:28 +0000 jetsa 345015@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LazyLightning: I live in a small rural area too so I wonder if I'll have the same type of response when I get pregnant. This is just crazy to me and makes me ask where are the other informed women, surely you cannot be the first to ask. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-offered-to-hear-heartbeat-have-a-dating-scan-or-an-nt-scan/page/2#post-341842 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 18:27:35 +0000 sarac 341842@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know that I was not offered an NT scan by my very medical OB. Then I switched to a midwife at 15 weeks when we moved, and she talked me into the quad screen. I think for women under 30, the NT scan is not standard. If you want it, though, do it. You might get stuck paying out of pocket though.</p> <p>Also, I rented a doppler for at home use when I was about where you were. Maybe that's overkill, but I loved it. You can buy them on ebay for what I paid for a few month's rental. I loved using that thing, it was so worth it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-offered-to-hear-heartbeat-have-a-dating-scan-or-an-nt-scan/page/2#post-341655 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 15:23:39 +0000 Smurfette 341655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LazyLightning: That seems really odd that no one else does them. 80 miles is a drive. Sorry! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-offered-to-hear-heartbeat-have-a-dating-scan-or-an-nt-scan/page/2#post-341642 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 15:17:46 +0000 erwoo 341642@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow, that seems odd they don't offer the NT test. Sorry you have to go through this with your OB's office. Hopefully you can get one done. Maybe there's not a place to have that done near you so they don't offer it? Good luck with it and I hope you can get it done, even if you have to drive a little bit to get it done. For me, it was definitely worth it to get peace of mind. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-offered-to-hear-heartbeat-have-a-dating-scan-or-an-nt-scan/page/2#post-341641 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 15:17:40 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 341641@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow...that is just so weird! Sorry I don't have any advice...I would definitely be concerned with the answers the nurse gave you, but not sure what to do if you don't have an alternative. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-offered-to-hear-heartbeat-have-a-dating-scan-or-an-nt-scan/page/2#post-341636 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 15:13:10 +0000 LazyLightning 341636@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travelingbrit: nope. One opened a couple of years ago but this hospital bought it out and shut it down within a year. Just sad. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-offered-to-hear-heartbeat-have-a-dating-scan-or-an-nt-scan/page/2#post-341581 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 14:49:21 +0000 wheres_c 341581@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LazyLightning: How weird. There's absolutely no other OB office in a city that size? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-offered-to-hear-heartbeat-have-a-dating-scan-or-an-nt-scan/page/2#post-341538 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 14:27:56 +0000 LivsMama 341538@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LazyLightning: I would definitely take the referral as well. And I wish you had someplace else to give birth/have prenatal care as well. I mean Im sure they deliver hundreds/thousands of healthy babies per year, but its a huge red flag to me that the nurse hadnt even heard of an NT scan or even of first tri screening. How has she not even HEARD of it in 29 years?</p> <p>Also, you are correct in that the dating u/s is more accurate prior to 20 weeks. Thats just odd. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-offered-to-hear-heartbeat-have-a-dating-scan-or-an-nt-scan/page/2#post-341506 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 14:16:36 +0000 LazyLightning 341506@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>UPDATE<br /> I just wanted to update you all on what happened at my appointment with the nurse (7 weeks).</p> <p>She took my height and weight, gave me a bunch of literature, and told me my first ultrasound will be 20 weeks and called that the dating ultrasound. (WTH??) </p> <p>At 12 week appointment they just do a pap and blood work. I asked her about the NT scan and when she didn't know what that was, I asked about first tri screening. She told me in 29 years no one has ever asked her about that, and had to google what it was. Then she said she'd have to call me back as she isn't sure our U/S techs know how to do that stuff. She said if I really wanted it she could refer me to a perinatal specialist in another state. </p> <p>wtf. At least, when she googled it, she came upon the same pages I had seen that stated it's "offered to all women in their first tri in the USA"... lol.</p> <p>I live in a city of 50k with a 100k metro area. This is the only place in the city/region to have babies, and it's a large hospital where people are brought for all kinds of reasons from around the state and region. We have a decent sized, semi-selective medical school right in our city too. Most of our OBs and nurses, techs, etc went there. I just can't believe she didn't know what this was. And like I said, the dating ultrasound isn't till 20 weeks (and that's the only ultrasound). I've been told and read over and over that dating is most accurate several weeks before this. What gives. </p> <p>Anyway after the appointment she talked to the doc and he told her if a woman wants an NT scan, they can send her to a city 80 miles away to get it done, it'd be a referral. So freaking odd. I said yes, I want the referral... </p> <p>I wish I had another option of a hospital to have care and give birth in. Not interested in midwife/homebirth though - it's just not me. I mean, here I am trying to get MORE tests...tests I thought were standard... lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-offered-to-hear-heartbeat-have-a-dating-scan-or-an-nt-scan/page/2#post-324639 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 14:10:36 +0000 LazyLightning 324639@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jetsa: yep that's what I was told too. "she'll tell you what you can and can't do/eat/etc and what to expect, recommend some tips, things like that." not at all what I expected for a first tri appt. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-offered-to-hear-heartbeat-have-a-dating-scan-or-an-nt-scan/page/2#post-324420 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 12:52:09 +0000 jetsa 324420@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My good friend just got pregnant and this is essentially what she was told to. She has an appt in 2 weeks but the only reason its that quick is because she already had it scheduled for more fertility testing. Her sister who used the same doc said they just give you the no no list and different vitamins. Very odd, I just thought there would be something done in the first tri. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-offered-to-hear-heartbeat-have-a-dating-scan-or-an-nt-scan/page/2#post-324396 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 12:45:34 +0000 birdofafeather 324396@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nodakiddo: i'm sure she'll schedule tests if they don't do them there. hope you get your questions answered in two weeks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-offered-to-hear-heartbeat-have-a-dating-scan-or-an-nt-scan/page/2#post-324130 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 10:42:49 +0000 LazyLightning 324130@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rock n Roll: I hope so! I thought it was weird that the receptionist was all "nope she just talks to you". </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-offered-to-hear-heartbeat-have-a-dating-scan-or-an-nt-scan/page/2#post-323956 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 09:46:32 +0000 Rock n Roll 323956@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh, they will definitely do blood tests. They don't trust people to know their own blood type. I bet the nurse will give you the whole story at your first appointment. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-offered-to-hear-heartbeat-have-a-dating-scan-or-an-nt-scan/page/2#post-323947 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 09:40:54 +0000 LazyLightning 323947@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@NYCaliMama: Yeah, but that seems like overkill :) It certainly did cross my mind though! I guess I just really thought there'd be SOMETHING in the first trimester. Seems like most of my friends have a dating scan from 8 or 9 weeks, or similar. I'm disappointed by that. Guess that's my fault for having such a regular cycle?</p> <p>And then was concerned that a 20 week ultrasound was mentioned but no indication of an NT scan or anything like that. No bloodwork, just... nothing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-offered-to-hear-heartbeat-have-a-dating-scan-or-an-nt-scan#post-323931 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 09:32:01 +0000 SAHM0811 323931@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nodakiddo: that sounds pretty standard actually. Sometimes the heartbeat can't be heard by Doppler til 12 weeks. The usual is 9-12 weeks I believe. You can definitely ask them to try closer to 9 weeks if it makes you feel better, but know that if they don't hear it, it doesn't necessarily mean anything is wrong. If you want further peace if mind, have you thought about getting a fetal Doppler for home use? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-offered-to-hear-heartbeat-have-a-dating-scan-or-an-nt-scan#post-323921 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 09:26:58 +0000 LazyLightning 323921@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just called and asked. I was told by the receptionist that they don't check for heartbeat till 12 weeks because you can't hear it until then anyway, and they don't do a dating scan if you know your LMP (I do, dang, should have said I didn't right?!).</p> <p>I asked about first trimester screening, NT scan, bloodwork, etc, and was told i should just ask about it when i come in for my appt with the nurse (that's in 2 weeks). It's only an informative appointment (no tests), but I guess I will push the matter then. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-offered-to-hear-heartbeat-have-a-dating-scan-or-an-nt-scan#post-323920 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 09:26:52 +0000 cvbee 323920@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nodakiddo: also, I think maybe if the OB is anti-abortion, they might not openly offer the NT, as it might put some people in a position to think about ending a pregnancy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-offered-to-hear-heartbeat-have-a-dating-scan-or-an-nt-scan#post-323909 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 09:22:46 +0000 SAHM0811 323909@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sure they'll check for a heartbeat sometime in the 1st tri with a doppler even if you don't get a dating or NT scan. I think sometimes people use the term doppler and ultrasound interchangeably... that's what it sounds like in your post. Maybe she wasn't thinking of the handheld ones. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-offered-to-hear-heartbeat-have-a-dating-scan-or-an-nt-scan#post-323895 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 09:17:06 +0000 cvbee 323895@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nodakiddo: where I am in Canada, the 14 week scan is optional, so you must request it, and there are no scans before that. And my OB likes to 'try' for finding heartbeats right away (just with a doplar listening through the belly), but that is just his thing and he doesn't expect to find it until some time that I can't remember. So, for me first US was the 20 week one. My doc said that many docs in 'the big city' give the early ultrasound to everyone, but mine sees it as unnecessary. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-offered-to-hear-heartbeat-have-a-dating-scan-or-an-nt-scan#post-323885 Thu, 04 Oct 2012 09:10:41 +0000 LazyLightning 323885@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So they probably aren't doing the dating scan because I knew my LMP. that makes sense. But I still want to hear the heartbeat!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-offered-to-hear-heartbeat-have-a-dating-scan-or-an-nt-scan#post-323252 Wed, 03 Oct 2012 19:30:12 +0000 mrsjyw 323252@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we only had a dating u/s (transvag) because i have unusually long cycles and our anatomy scan with my ob.</p> <p>we got an elective 4d that we paid for separately. elsewise, we won't have any scans either... instead of the nt scan we did genetic screening through blood draws. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-offered-to-hear-heartbeat-have-a-dating-scan-or-an-nt-scan#post-323188 Wed, 03 Oct 2012 18:55:56 +0000 Sammyfab 323188@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm in Canada and my situation was the same as @Kemma's. I wasn't offered a dating scan because I knew my LMP and I was only offered a 20-week scan. I first saw my midwife at 8.5 weeks but she wasn't able to find the heartbeat using the Doppler. Se did listen to the heartbeat at every appointment though.</p> <p>In the end I just had my 20 week scan, declined the NT scan (it was offered) and had an u/s at 34 weeks because baby was breech. I do think having multiple scans is overkill if your pregnancy is relatively normal. I would ask about the NT scan if you are interested and it isn't offered! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/not-offered-to-hear-heartbeat-have-a-dating-scan-or-an-nt-scan#post-323159 Wed, 03 Oct 2012 18:33:38 +0000 MamaMoose 323159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would be shocked if a doctor didn't even check for a heartbeat with a doppler before 20 weeks. I would insist on checking earlier. I have known enough people who have had missed miscarriages that I would never be comfortable to wait until 20 weeks to confirm viability. </p>