My appointment isn't for another month but on the phone, I was told by the nurse that the first ultrasound is 20 weeks unless you have some sort of risk factor for sooner. I asked about the other scans, and she just asked if I'd had a m/c before and if not, it's not necessary to do the doppler. And since I know my LMP date they don't need a dating scan. Ooookay? I'm guessing I"m going to have to assert myself to get the NT scan--which is important to me. Anyone else told "no scans"?
You might also enjoy...
-
@nodakiddo: I guess it depends on which country you live and the practice you go to. Some doctors are all for many scans, and some take a more laid back approach.
Although it was reassuring seeing the baby so early at 7 weeks, I worry that many scans arent really good for the baby -
Hmm, that does seem weird that they didn't offer a first trimester screening. It's totally elective, but why didn't they give you the option?
-
To me that sounds weird. If you want the NT Scan, you should be able to have it. I would call back and tell them that its important to you. I guess it does depend on where you live though. For me, they told me my NT scan should be done between 11-13 weeks and I could opt out if I wanted. But at least it as offered
-
@Mrsbells: I'm in the united states.
-
@tororojo: I know right? they specifically told me on the phone "we don't see women until they pass 12 weeks, unless special circumstances warrant."
-
Sounds more like a midwife's approach (hands off, only necessary interventions, avoid tests and ultrasounds unless actually needed because each carries a small risk) than a doctor's.
Personally, I would be happy with this. It will come be nice later on, when you deliver, to have a more hands-off approach.
Edit: That said, my midwife did offer NT scan (I declined) and she does use the doppler to check heartbeat, although I asked her to wait until the second tri and she agreed.
-
I was told at my practice they don't do an ultrasound until 20 weeks unless you elect to do first trimester screening. I suspect at your first appointment, they'll say the same, but if they don't, definitely bring it up!!!
-
@Arden: I'm pretty hands on. I want to know everything asap. Unfortunately this is the only hospital in my city so I get to deal with it. (I've probably already called them so many times they're sick of me, and I haven't even been in for an appointment yet!)
-
That is strange, even with a midwife practice we were offered the NT scan, and if we had declined that they actually would have done an earlier US just to check dates.
-
Weird. I had 3 scans..
One at 6 weeks, NT and anatomy.. :T -
@nodakiddo: are you sure they're sick of you or do you just think that?
I'll be honest with you. I think some places don't offer it because of the cost of things. MY OB has a general fee that they charge. On top of that, you pay for each ultrasound, blood work, fetal monitoring, etc. While I'm surprised they didn't give you an option, I'm wondering if maybe they are just conscientiousness about the costs to their patients? Also, they may feel that first ultrasound is not necessary, like a midwife's approach. I would probably push to hear the heartbeat at every appointment. That would be very important to me since it's easy and done without an ultrasound.
-
I've heard from other ladies that this is not uncommon but it was definitely not the way things went with my doctor.
My doctor gave me an ultrasound at 6ish weeks, 9 weeks, NT at 13 weeks. Doppler was used at every appointment.If the doctors policies make you uncomfortable, is there another doctor you could see?
-
@nodakiddo: This was exactly what my friend had.
When you go in for your first appointment, ask about the NT if you want it.
-
I had our first scan at 4 or 5 weeks but that's because I had some spotting. We had another one at 8 1/2 weeks to confirm pregnancy was all good.
Normally our practice doesn't see you until you are around 12 weeks and then they do your first ultrasound around 14 or so weeks to confirm due date. They then do another one at or around 20 weeks for anatomy scan.
I was given information on the NT scan which I'd have to go to a bigger city near by to get if I wanted it. We are declining the test as we wouldn't terminate the pregnancy regardless of what that test said and I didn't have it with my other two.I'd say if you aren't comfortable with their 'hands off' approach (which I wouldn't be either) I'd look for a new practice.
-
@nodakiddo: Oh then that is a bit odd. I know my favorites in other countries have later u/s but most people I know in the US have atleast one ultrasound in the 1st trimester
-
I'm in the US, my doctor won't see you until at least 8 weeks, but we did get an ultrasound at that time.
We weren't offered an NT scan. My doctor uses the doppler at every appointment.
I'm almost 35 weeks and have had 9 ultrasounds so far (2 elective) and will probably have at least a few more due to other risk factors (I had a cyst, borderline placenta previa, 2 instances of 3rd trimester bleeding and a mature placenta)
Normally, I think my doctor only does the first dating ultrasound and the anatomy scan around 20 weeks.
-
Odd. Though the only reason my doctor gave me an NT was because I'd be 32 when I delivered. I assumed they meant they wouldn't offer it to women under 30.
I don't know if it was my doctor's rule or my insurance's rule, but they told me that I wasn't considered a prenatal patient until they heard/saw a heartbeat, which was why I was scheduled for a 6-week ultrasound. Otherwise, 20 weeks is the only other one I would have gotten. (I ended up needing more because of bleeding, then cervical measurements due to a LEEP procedure I'd had done in years prior).
-
I was told the same, no scans til 12 weeks.
-
I think it's fairly normal to not have a scan until 12 weeks, but I"ve never heard of not being offered the NT scan. I personally would have a problem with that. I would ask some more questions/advocate for yourself with the doctor's office, or look for care elsewhere.
-
My practice seems to have an opposite philosophy, which I really like. I know a lot of people prefer the hands-off approach of your practice, but I need to at least hear the heartbeat at each appointment. We had a transvaginal scan at 8 weeks for dating, the NT scan at 11 weeks, and the anatomy scan at 19. I'll have another at 23 weeks since we didn't get a good look at the heart at 19. At every other appointment where a scan isn't done, we listen to the heart beat with the Doppler. Because my practice is OBs and midwives, I've actually seen 2 midwives so far... they both used the Doppler.
-
hm, i have had the doppler at every appt starting at 11 weeks and they did a dating scan and offered the NT scan (we declined). i think it's weird that they aren't offering the NT scan as it's optional anyway.
-
A friend of mine wasn't offered an NT scan, but if you want it, and they won't give it to you, that is poor practice on their part. I would possibly seek another OB.
I also prefer a hands-on approach to my pregnancy, though. I've already had, oh, 6-7 ultrasounds, lol. But even without my history, almost everyone i know gets one early on to check for a heartbeat. I can't handle not knowing
-
@mediagirl: I just bet they are because it seems like I call every day! Haha
@travelingbrit: I have a feeling it's a hospital thing; def going to call and ask.
@Pumpkinspice: @hilsy85: unfortunately this is the only option in our area... Definitely going to be asking about this though because its so different from what I expected.
@blackbird: exactly! I want to know ASAP!!
-
@nodakiddo: That's a shame if you dont have any other options!
I don't know if you have a private ultrasound facility in a nearby town. That might offer some piece of mind if you're worried.
I'm sure everything is fine though!
-
@travelingbrit: I hope so too! I gave no reason to believe there are issues but would just like to know!!
-
Hmm, that sounds odd to me... I had ultrasounds at 7 wks (to get a due date), at 13 wks (Nt scan) and 20 wks (anatomy).
-
I think it's really weird that they wouldn't offer you an NT screen. They are pretty standard.
I also got a doppler reading on the heart beat at every doctor's appointment starting at 12 weeks for both kids, too. (The midwife said it can be tough to get one before then, so she just didn't bother at my first check up with my second daughter. With my first, I got an 8 week ultrasound to confirm dating, so I didn't really need a doppler since they saw the heartbeat on the ultrasound.)
-
It might be because you were going over the phone, and she didn't think of the NT scan as being the same as other ultrasounds and anatomy scans. My doctor didn't mention it to me until I was actually in my first appointment, when she suggested I think about it and gave me information about other screenings as well. I had an ultrasound at 11 weeks for spotting, but other than that I would have only had the anatomy scan around 20 weeks. Mine does the doppler at every appointment now, but I can't remember when they started (close to the end of the first trimester, I think). If you ask about the NT scan specifically in your first appointment, they'll probably give you information about it. Neither the NT scan nor the doppler were mentioned to me over the phone before scheduling but my doctor was happy to talk about both when I got in.
-
I was never offered an NT scan until this pregnancy (my third). It is based off risk factors and if you don't meet those, then they usually do the quad screen that is as accurate, just done later.
Unless you are unsure of dates, have had MCs, or have complications a lot of doctors only do the 20 week ultrasound.
Are you sure that she knew you meant using a doppler to check for heart beat. That should be done at every appointment after the 10 weeks appointment (usually the earliest you can hear).
I wouldn't worry too much until you get in for your first appointment. You can go over all of these things with your doctor at your appointment, but it doesn't sound like they are doing anything too out there. Most people I know IRL don't have all of the scans that a lot of people on WB have.
-
I'm not surprised that they haven't offered you an early dating scan, particularly if all your dates line up but I would've thought they'd have given you some info on the NT scan?
FWIW, I'm in New Zealand and if you opt out of the NT scan then the only one you'll have as standard is the 20 week anatomy scan.
ETA - My midwife listens to the heartbeat with the Doppler at every appointment.
-
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.
-
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.
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!
-
we only had a dating u/s (transvag) because i have unusually long cycles and our anatomy scan with my ob.
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.
-
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!!
-
@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.
-
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.
-
@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.
-
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?!).
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.
-
@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?
I'll be honest with you. I think some places don't offer it because of the cost of things. MY OB has a general fee that they charge. On top of that, you pay for each ultrasound, blood work, fetal monitoring, etc. While I'm surprised they didn't give you an option, I'm wondering if maybe they are just conscientiousness about the costs to their patients? Also, they may feel that first ultrasound is not necessary, like a midwife's approach. Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
60 comments