First initial booking visit?

dan1979

None of the websites I've found seem to answer my question.

For the initial booking visit does a date scan take place?

It's happening around the 9/10 week mark and a date scan apparently happens at 10-15 weeks, so it seems odd there would be an initial appointment then a scan very shortly after.

Thanks

Becles

I'm assuming you are talking about pregnancy?!

When I had my baby last year, the booking visit was done with the community midwife in the local doctors surgery, and then all the scans were done in the hospital.

On the scan visits, I didn't see any midwives or obstetricians. I just saw the radiographer who did the scan.

The frequency of visits and number of scans varies from area to area. My pregnancy care was different to my SIL's care and we were pregnant at the same time! We live in different areas.

Nicki

Not usually, but this might depend on where the booking visit takes place. If at the GP surgery then definitely no as they won't have the equipment to do it. If at the hospital, the equipment is there, but I would have thought the scan would be by appointment (unless there was a problem with the baby). Is it routine to have a dating scan anyway if there is no reason to query the dates? I didn't have one with number 1, but did with number 2 when there was a doubt about her due date due to the circumstances of conception (ie hot on the heels of the birth of no 1!). Having said that, this was 7 and 8 years ago respectively.

dan1979

It's at the maternity ward of the hospital.

Surely there has to be a scan at some point otherwise how would we know it's going ok, I thought the scan was when it was official that you could tell people and stuff and that happened at 12 weeks?

Obviously I want to be at the scan but if this appointment is just some blood tests and a cosy chat she can go with her Mum whilst I save my holiday for the important bits.

drowningnotwaving_2

Hi Dan, no booking visits don't include the scan. That's done at 12 weeks where they can see a little bit more. I went to the booking in visit on my own, but took hubby for all the scans, etc.

If you have any concerns a quick call to the hospital just to check would be an idea.

Booking in visit is normally just lots of questions about maternal health, do you have any particular concerns, where would like to give birth, etc.

best wishes

DNW

dan1979

drowningnotwaving wrote: »

If you have any concerns a quick call to the hospital just to check would be an idea.

They're closed and I'm impatient!

Nicki

dan1979 wrote: »

It's at the maternity ward of the hospital.

Surely there has to be a scan at some point otherwise how would we know it's going ok, I thought the scan was when it was official that you could tell people and stuff and that happened at 12 weeks?

Obviously I want to be at the scan but if this appointment is just some blood tests and a cosy chat she can go with her Mum whilst I save my holiday for the important bits.

Different areas have different policies as to when they do scans. Some do them at around 12 weeks to check for Downs (nuchal fold testing). Some only offer bloods at 12 weeks and do the scan at 20 weeks to check for other abnormalities. Some offer both scans. If there is bleeding you'll usually get one earlier to check all is OK, and if there's a doubt about dates you might be offered a dating scan.

By 12 weeks though you are likely to have heard the heart beating at the ante-natal appointment (via a doppler device) and that's the point at which a lot of people break the news. If you wait to the 20 week scan, it might already be a bit obvious!

Dormouse

Whereabouts in the country are you? The reason I'm asking is that in some areas of Scotland, they do a so-called prebooking, which is bloods and form-filling, and the actual booking does include a scan. This is what I had with my DS2 and it confused me loads as I had DS1 in another area where the booking and the scan were completely separate.

If this is done at the hospital, I'd say there's a good chance of them doing a scan, but I would double-check with the midwife or the surgery/hospital just in case.

SeptemberBaby_2

My scan and booking in were done together at my antenatal clinic so it really does depend on which area you are in. In fact my scan was performed just before the booking in (cynical me at the time thought this was to make sure there really was a baby in there before filling out all the forms!). What does the paperwork your partner has been sent say? My letter told me what to expect, approx time of appointment and to drink plenty of water! I do know that some areas only perform a 20 week anomoly scan and not the 12 week dating scan.

Congrats, BTW!

tiamai_d

I had my booking visit at the clinic, where I had a scan to confirm the pregnancy and to get an idea of the actual gestation age. I then met with my consultant. The scan is opnly to confirm pregnancy, get your EDD and check for any problems.

At 20-24 weeks I had another scan at the hospital. This is the one where they check fully for problems as the baby is a bit bigger.

The way to check is on your letter if you are to have a scan it asks that you come in with a 'comfortably full bladder'. They can't always get a clear picture if your bladder is empty so always ask you to drink clear fluids prior to a scan. I'd advise you to learn how to have a mini pee if your bursting in the waiting room, it is uncomfortable having a scanner pressing on your full bladder.

Janepig

My midwife visited me at home for the booking in at about 9 weeks, then while she was here she rang the hospital on her mobile to book me in for the 12 week scan. However, afew miles up the road in Swansea, they only do the 20 week scan.

Jxx