why scan ar 12 weeks???

[mom and ttc]

I don't trust midwives, I feel more comfortable with a doctor. During the pregnancy, during labor. If something goes wrong I want to feel like I did everything I can and put my unborn child into the hands of a doctor and not a midwife. Also with more ultrasound they can detect abnormalities and may decide to do surgery in three womb. It's everyone's own decision. But I am glad that I don't have to wait 3 months to see a heartbeat . Also read that midwives tent to not induce and don't like to give epidural and do episiotomies.
The health insurance system in the US I'd inane and non exciting, i grew up in Germany. and I wonder how people here afford to be pregnant. My husband Is in the navy so we have tricare

 

[babybrums]

I guess midwives are different in different parts of the country. Mine practices in a clinic with an OB/GYN. I'll be giving birth in the same hospital my brothers OH did and she went to an OB/GYN (actually, the one who works in the clinic with my midwife), not a home or in a non-hospital setting. If something were to go wrong, I feel confident she would be just as helpful as an OB/GYN. Plus they can always call one in if need be. She's delivered over 3000 babies so she must be doing something right! She holds the following degrees: PhD, RN, CNM, APNP, FACNM, more than her practice partner! The OB/GYN and my midwife both do ultrasounds at 16-20 weeks. I asked if they could do one at my appointment this Friday and they said it wasn't a problem. They usually don't do them sooner or more frequently because they can cause birth defects. I don't want to do anything to risk the health or life of my baby!

Just wanted to clear everyone's opinion of midwives up. Some are far more educated and knowledgeable than OB/GYN's! To each their own though. My previous OB/GYN didn't run any blood work until 6 weeks with my second pregnancy, even though my first ended in miscarriage. I can't help but think if she had done it sooner, I would have a 4 year old running around the house. By the time the tested my levels, my progesterone was rapidly falling and my hcg levels never doubled. This time, I got in at 5 weeks, was tested, found my progesterone low but my hcg doubling. She started me on supplements and here I am - 9w1d pregnant!

 

[Tonka106]

I won't even get a scan until 20 weeks. That's the only time they do them here unless you have an issue. I just heard the heartbeat for the first time yesterday. I wish I would at least get a 12 week scan because I've seen so many people go for their 20 week scan and get told the baby is small and something might be wrong, when really their dates are off, but since they didn't get a dating scan they didn't know. I'm jealous of all the 12 week scans I see on BnB!

 

[MyMomToldMe]

I just had a 12-week scan which is, as mentioned, the screening for down's syndrome, neural tube defects, spina bifida, and abdominal issues.

Having this test (should something have been wrong) would have let me know early. Then, I would be able to make decisions (e.g., further diagnostic testing, surgery for abdominal issues) and to prepare for things.

I think the 12 week scan is cool. I can't wait for 20 weeks. We had an 8 week scan just to see that there was something in there.

I don't want to overdue the scans either, though.

 

[EMC0528]

In canada we get an optional scan at 12 weeks. It is the NT screening that others are talking about. Not everyone opts to have it.

We also get an 18 week ultrasound.

I do agree to some extent with others. There isn't much point to having a scan before that because of the miscarriage rate. However, having miscarried myself, it was hard to wrap my head around the idea that I wouldn't know that my baby was ok until 12 weeks. That seemed like eternity to me.

I had some spottinbg at 7-8 weeks and my doctor sent me for a scan to see what was going on, so I didn't end up having to wait that long thank goodness.

 

[kat2504]

In the UK, midwives are very well qualified and have done extensive training in normal pregnancy and childbirth. The specialist obstetricians have extensive training in complications of pregnancy and childbirth. If you don't have complications, the midwives are very well trained to deliver your baby, they have a university qualification I believe and a lot of on the job training.
Obviously they won't want to induce you unless you are actually overdue. Why would they?
Episiotomies are not standard practise as they take longer to heal than minor tears and they only do them for instrumental deliveries or if it looks like the baby needs to get out faster or if it looks like you are about to have a bad tear. Why would they want to do one if it wasn't needed?

As for epidurals I have no idea. I thought they would go with whatever your choice was and let you have one if you wanted. The main prob is apparently getting the anaesthetist there when you want them.