UK answers please ! 9 weeks pregnant !?

Question

I got a letter today saying that I had an appointment to see a sonographer? Can someone tell me what it will evolve? Is it like a scan ? do you need to drink loads of water before hand?

Answer 1

if its a 10/12 week scan drink plenty of fluids if you feel like wetting your self drink some more i thought i was going to wee myself but they said my bladder wasnt full enough and it was hard to find and get a good picture of baby. feels a little uncomfortable but thats cause they press on your bladder. Be prepared to do silly things like jump or cough if the babys in a hard place to see. i was tipped right over so my feet where above my head!
If its your 20 week scan your babys visible so you dont have to drink loads.

GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN (its lovely to see your baby for the first time)

Answer 2

The sonographer is the person who works the sonography machine, or the ultrasound/scanning machine as it's otherwise known.

Some areas do scans at around 12 weeks, some at around 20 weeks and some do both. Normally if you get one at 12 weeks you will have one at 20 weeks too.

So, it is *not* too early for you as obviously you live in one of the areas that give 12 week scans. You have received the letter now to ensure you have enough time to book the appointment for the right stage of pregnancy. Any time between 11-13 weeks preferably.

The 20 week scan is used to check the placental position, as sometimes the placenta can cover the cervix (womb opening) which can cause bleeding as it grows, or (if it doesn't shift upwards) placenta praevia, which is where the placenta blocks the birth canal and normally means you need a c-section. Fortunately this is an uncommon event.

They can normally tell the sex at the 20 week scan too, but again depending on your area, you may not be told. Each NHS trust has a different policy on this.

The 12 week scan is given so that the sonographer can measure what is called the nuchal fold. This is the amount of fluid at the top of the babys spine, the neck area. The amount of fluid can indicate whether or not your baby is likely to have Downs syndrome. I have put a link below for that, as this is long enough already without me describing that too :)

Other factors that are used to work this out are your age, history etc.

Woman over 35 or 40 can request these early scans even when they are not normally offered in their area, as the increase in age heightens the chances of a baby with Downs syndrome. They are also entitled to an amniocentisis which involves using a needle to take a sample of the fluid around the baby, and is done at around 20 weeks of pregancy.

You will be told what the likelihood is in percentage (1% chance 99% chance etc). If you are in a high risk category you will be given the option to see a counsellor and the opportunity to discuss abortion if it is something you would consider.

At both scans they will check measurements against your estimated due date from the first day of your last period, to check baby is growing properly. They measure from head to bottom and the approximate circumference of the head.

For the scan you need to make sure you have a very full bladder (not difficult when pregnant!), to the point of being a little uncomfortable. If it's not full enough they may send you out to drink even more.

The water enables the beams from the machine to bounce back better and shifts the womb, forming a much clearer picture. It's not so important at the 20 week scan because baby is so much bigger. I would say a glass or too before you leave for hospital is probably enough, certainly it doesn't need to be 8-10 glasses, you only need that in a whole day!

You will lay on a bed and bare your tummy, so where a two piece outfit not a dress. You will have a cold gel squirted on your tummy which helps to conduct the beams. The sonographer will do what she/he needs to do, then after checking everything is ok, will turn the screen around for you to have a look, you should get to hear the heartbeat for the first time too. This is usually about twice as fast as Mums heartbeat and is probably the "whooshing" sound someone described above, I would describe it as a kind of "whoomph-whoomph" sound lol!

There is absolutely nothing to worry about. There is no pain, and apart from needing the loo there is no discomfort either. It's actually very peaceful laying there in the semi-darkness :) And very emotional too, so take some tissues!

Your partner/mother/friend can go with you too.

You will probably be offered pictures from the scan, so make sure you have some spare cash with you. The cost varies from place to place, but a couple of quid for each copy should be enough.

You might not be able to see much, and it can take a while to figure out exactly what is baby and what isn't, but you will cherish the picture!

Have fun!

Answer 3

I disagree with most of these answers! - Sonographer is a doctor who will put jelly on your tummy and using ultrasound will look for your baby, sounds like it is only a 'dating scan' to check size and dates, this is when you will get your EDD (estimated date of delivery) you will see your baby but it is only the size of a baked bean right now and you will not see much yet. The water drinking is a falicy, I have had 2 babies and altogether 5 ultrasounds and not once have I had to drink pints of water beforehand. God, you need to pee enough when you are pregnant! Anyway, you will have another scan at around 20 weeks and THAT is when they will check all the measurements and organs etc...Your first scan though is very exciting as it is when it really sinks in that you have another life inside you! - Hope it goes well for you!

Answer 4

Hello, congratulations I'm 9 weeks to but with baby #2. Its just a scan to make sure everything is in the right place and the baby's the right size for ur dates. U do need a full bladder coz it pushes ur uterus up so they can see in it clearer. In northampton u have to go into the scan on ur own at first then when they've taken measurements and made sure baby is ok they invite whoever goes with in to see the baby. Good luck.

Answer 5

I'm not to sure why you have got this letter now. you are to early for one. all it is to see if the baby is fine yes you need to drink water before but don't drink to much that you feel uncomfortable. the sonogram is a hand held machine that they put onto your belly to check baby s OK. you usually get this at 16 to 18 weeks that's what i don't understand i would phone them the number should be on the letter and ask them why you need this as you are only 9 weeks pregnant.i hope everything goes well.congratulations

Answer 6

I have two children and the scans are great. The first is around 12 weeks. all they do is put some gel on your tummy and put a scanner over it. It does not hurt at all. The more water you drink the clearer the picture so go for at least a litre. Good Luck

Answer 7

it is just a scan to check your babies measurments etc, you will need a full bladder as they can get a better picture that way, all they do is put a little gel over your stomach and then go over your stomach with an hand held scanner which transfers the picture of your baby on to a monitor,they can they see if everything is going ok, it is not painful and is very reasurring when you can see a picture of your baby on the monitor, good luck

Answer 8

It is a scan you will need to drink a pint of water about 30 Min's - 1hour before your scan its painless but leaves you wanting a wee!!!. It doesn't take long and its amazing. Good luck x

Answer 9

OK I AM FROM THE US, BUT A SONOGRAM IS BASICALLY THE SAME WHERE EVER YOU GO...YOU WILL HAVE TO DRINK QUITE A BIT OF WATER BEFORE HAND AND THEN THEY RUN WHAT LOOKS LIKE A 3 INCH FLAT WAND OVER YOUR BELLY WITH SOME JELLY LIKE SUBSTANCE.

THEY WILL LOOK AT THE HEAD, HEART, BRAIN, SPINE, VITAL ORGANS. THEY ALSO MEASURE THE BABY TO MAKE SURE GROWTH IS NORMAL.. AND DEPENDING ON HOW FAR ALONG YOU ARE THEY CAN TELL YOU (IF YOU WANT) WHAT YOU ARE HAVING.

ITS SO GREAT TO FINALLY SEE THE BABY..ENJOY!
MINE THEY ALLOWED ME TO BRIG IN A VCR TAPE AND THEY CAN RECORD THE WHOLE THING FOR YOU..ASK YOURS IF THEY DO THAT?

Answer 10

The letter telling me about my scan (which is in 10 days and counting) specifically said I did not need a full bladder.