What happens at the 1st scan?

[Laurajanefoulkes]

I'm terribly nervous about everything, but mostly I hate having my blood taken. I nearly passed out at my 1st midwife appointment after they took the blood. I know I need to focus on the exciting bit but I just keep dreading it. Can anyone tell me briefly what goes on? Obviously I know they will do a scan. And do I need a full bladder? Thanks 😊

[Seb9]

The first scan isn't very long, you get up on the bed and they scan your belly.They take measurements and date the baby, check it's in the right place and that's about it. They'll take some pictures and print them if you want them.

Your letter for your dating scan normally says if you need a full bladder. I think for the first one you normally do have to as it gives a clearer picture.

Hope it all goes well xx

[Beanybeanz]

They will offer you something called a Nuchal Translucency check which is a two part check (scan measurement of fluid behind baby’s neck + a blood test - possibility at another time, mine was separate) to test for the risk of Downs, Edwards and Pateau syndromes. You don’t have to have it and can decline - it’s entirely up to you. I had it and mine came back like 1 in 20,000 risk so very low risk. If it comes back 1 in 150 or less it’s considered high risk. Ask your midwife or the sonographer about it xx

[Fudge26]

You will need a full bladder to make sure baby is high enough to scan fully. I got told off for not drinking enough.The other checks they offer are all part of the scan. No more blood tests just yet. Good luck and enjoy its amazing seeing your baby for the first time. X

[AER91]

My experience was similar to Beanybeanz - except they took bloods at the same appointment rather than a separate one (so scan measuring NT and confirming dates then bloods). I suppose different hospitals will organise themselves differently.

If you opt for the combined tests (Downs Syndrome, Edwards and Pataus) they will test between 10-14 weeks - they will need to take blood for it. I’ve included a link to the NHS site at the bottom that might help you. I suppose you will want to weigh up if you want to know the results. Honestly, in my experience it was so quick (they won’t take anywhere near the same quantity as your first appointment). Don’t let the thought of it put you off if you do want the test/results. I used to be the same with bloods - so I’d take a tube of fruit pastels or oddly, I’d pinch my leg with the other hand while they were taking them to distract me.

As for your bladder it will need to be full, as others have mentioned. You should have been advised to drink fluids beforehand.

Perhaps your could call your midwife to confirm information specific to your hospital/circumstances and ask all of the questions that you have here so you know exactly what your experience is likely to be.

nhs.uk/pregnancy/your-pregn...

Best wishes

[Laurajanefoulkes]

Thank you! Haha thats not odd with the sweets, I told my husband yesterday that I'll need distracting with sweets. It must be something from our childhood. Thanks for the advice.

[Afrohair]

I'm on my 4th baby 5th pregnancy and I still hate going to midwife because I hate blood tests but your scan won't require this you will need a full bladder for every scan unless it's a private scan and 4d .some later scans may say you need a full bladder as it says it on every letter but the further on you are the more they can see so definitely need full bladder for your early scans

[Afrohair]

Trust me the worst thing is injecting yourself after birth I can't do that I can't even get hubby to do it when he did it was too hard so I just stopped

[NE90]

I had my first scan yesterday and was told I needed a full bladder but due to the sonographer struggling to get measurements I ended up emptying my bladder on 3 separate occasions, and on all occasions, I was told only to let go of a certain amount of pee (so hard). One thing to mention is that with both my first child and this scan, the sonographer pressed down VERY hard in order to get the information she needed but that ends up causing you discomfort after your scan and possibly for a few days. She pressed down SO hard in my scan and at the time it didn't hurt, as all I could concentrate on was my bladder that was about to explode lol. But last night and today, my belly hurts a lot! You worry so much about harming baby up until 12 weeks, even the slightest knock to your belly or your child play fights too hard, but when you attend your scan, they press and prod much more invasively and harder. Good luck x