Anyone who's had 'medical' (not routine) scans...

[Mrs Eleflump]

Is it worth buying a token for pictures?

Or is the scan going to be one where they won't give you a picture?

I'm in the UK, so will be a NHS hospital, and I'm going on Thursday to have a detailed scan of baby's heart to check for potential problems caused by my autoimmune health condition.

The problem they're looking for is relatively rare and unlikely, as I was on treatment before getting pregnant, so I'm not freaking out (much) about it and my consultant's not at all worried, but they still have to do the monitoring, of course.

I'll be having these scans every few weeks now until baby arrives, but I think this will probably be my last chance for a picture, as they don't give you pictures after 27-28 weeks, due to picture quality not being good. So is there any chance of me getting a picture, or do they generally not do them at this type of scan?

I will of course ask at the desk when I get there, and have change with me in case it's ok, but wanted to see what others have experienced.

Thanks ladies

 

[Yo_Yo]

The obstetrician just have me pictures at one of my scans to check on my sch which is a clot on the womb. No charge. You may get a nice one like that who does that. But if not, it's worth getting one at this stage as it'll be quite a good picture hopefully

 

[Mrs Eleflump]

Hey yo_yo Now you've said that, I recall my ob did give us a nice strip of 5 pictures free of charge when we saw him at 12 weeks, but I wasn't sure if he'd taken pity on us because they'd compleeeeeeetely messed up our NT scan appointment and I was really upset, or if he's just a nice fella (which he is) and would have done that anyway I don't want to assume he will give us free pictures again, lol.

I'm glad yours was nice and gave you some photos Your sch is gone now, isn't it?

 

[NotNic]

I had a heart scan with this one last week at St Thomas' (family history of heart issues) and there was no chance of a scan photo. She located it's heart really quickly and zoomed straight in, so basically the view of the heart filled the screen. It was fascinating how closely they looked, but hard to work much out. We did get to hear the heartbeat though and she answered our questions well. Good luck, though I'm sure all is well.

 

[the why bird]

I've had them both times, at different hospitals. First time I wasn't given the option of a photo at all, second time she offered but couldn't get a decent angle at all because baby is too big and was head down and facing my spine.

That said, private 4d scans are considered ideal at 28 weeks ish so it must be possible to get good pics sometimes.

 

[RileysMummy]

I have regular growth scans and every 2nd/3rd scan have got a pic, £5 each tho! X

 

[LoveCakes]

I had one a few weeks after my booking appointment due to a lot of bleeding and got a free pic. At that stage it had changed even in such a short amount of time. It didn't come out too well though!

It might be nice to see progression from your last scan, good luck!

 

[Spiffynoodles]

I had a growth scan at 32 weeks, and the tech was so nice that she even tried to get me a couple of 3D pictures of his face! (The placenta covered half his face, but I still thought that was really nice of her).

 

[MrsBroodyPant]

We have our extra scans with a fetal medicine doctor who is obviously more bothered about checking the baby rather than getting a good picture. He is very kind though and always gives us a free picture but its never the best position lol.
good luck for your scan xxx

 

[CastawayBride]

We get photos at all our scans as well, I go like every other week! We have quite a few pics already, going back the end of the month hoping for a strip of photos then from the MFM, but my doctor also gives us some when we go, like 1 maybe 2!

 

[Yo_Yo]

Yes it's gone now thankfully was nice having extra scans though!

Good lucks with your scan

 

[SteffieLee]

They may. I had to have several level 2 ultrasounds done at high risk doc with my DS due to an amniotic band scare. Ended up being placental fold instead thankfully. But I was given several photos. A profile pic, him giving a thumbs up, and one of his face facing us.

 

[littlefishygg]

I seem to remember us briefly having discussed this before, but do you have lupus? If so when did you see the consultant for the 1st time. I'm 20 weeks today and I still haven't heard anything about a consultant appointment yet!

 

[Mrs Eleflump]

Thanks ladies It seems it differs from place to place, I will ask on Thursday and will update on what happens!

I seem to remember us briefly having discussed this before, but do you have lupus? If so when did you see the consultant for the 1st time. I'm 20 weeks today and I still haven't heard anything about a consultant appointment yet!

They have decided I have sjogren's syndrome and urticarial vasculitis. I'm Ro and ANA +, but my dsDNA wasn't consistently high enough to definitely say it's lupus, they said, though it could well develop in future.

I first saw the consultant last November, before we even conceived, and saw him again at just over 12 weeks. The appointment on Thursday will be the first since then.

I would definitely chase this up with your midwife and rheumatologist, you should be seeing a consultant obstetrician! Do you have Ro or La antibodies too, or kidney or clotting issues?

 

[Mrs Eleflump]

As promised, a little update. I asked at the desk and they weren't sure, but said if I was allowed pictures I could pay for them after. I asked the ob and he just said 'pfft, tokens...have some pictures, I'm not going to charge you!' YAY

 

[Gnomer]

I was going to say, my hospital told me to buy the credits after if they could get a good photo. After an hour and a half long scan, I got 4 free photos as a way of apologising. (Not that I was complaining. An hour and a half lay on a bed watching my little bird was pretty amazing!)

Glad you got photos and hope the scan went well! ��

 

[Mrs Eleflump]

The scan went very well! Baby is perfect, no heart damage at all, and estimated weight is 1lb 13oz! At the start of the scan, baby wriggled a bit, yawned, and then snuggled in for a sleep

 

[AP]

It really depends on the sonographer and the hospital, no one here can tell you unless they have been in the same position as yourself.
I have had a few medical scans where I was given a photo.

Edit: you've update Im glad it went well

 

[Yo_Yo]

Aww great news! glad baby is all well, must be a relief for you. Glad you got some pics too.

 

[littlefishygg]

Thanks ladies It seems it differs from place to place, I will ask on Thursday and will update on what happens!

I seem to remember us briefly having discussed this before, but do you have lupus? If so when did you see the consultant for the 1st time. I'm 20 weeks today and I still haven't heard anything about a consultant appointment yet!

They have decided I have sjogren's syndrome and urticarial vasculitis. I'm Ro and ANA +, but my dsDNA wasn't consistently high enough to definitely say it's lupus, they said, though it could well develop in future.

I first saw the consultant last November, before we even conceived, and saw him again at just over 12 weeks. The appointment on Thursday will be the first since then.

I would definitely chase this up with your midwife and rheumatologist, you should be seeing a consultant obstetrician! Do you have Ro or La antibodies too, or kidney or clotting issues?

I chased it up, my midwives swapped at around the 12 week mark as one went on leave so it turns out my referral was never sent off so they are fast tracking it through so I should get an appointment soon. I'm ANA+ but I can't remember about the Ro or La antibodies, I am guessing not by the fact that I don't remember. I don't have kidney issues related to the lupus (although I do only have 1 working kidney which is yet another reason for a consultant) but no clotting issues as far as we are aware, but my care has been pretty rubbish since diagnosis due to different consultants retiring and moving hospitals so I have always felt they have probably missed things or at least not done all the tests necessary. Hopefully when I get this consultant appointment through that will speed things up with tests etc.

I'm glad everything went well with your scan!