34 Week Scans?

Hi guys..

As you all know I lost my daughter to anencephaly last year at 20.2 weeks.

I am now 31 weeks pregnant with a healthy baby girl due on the 10th of september.

I went to the docs yesterday, and he said he wants to do a 34 week scan. I have never had a 34 week scan before.. and I am freaking out as to why he wants to do one.

I looked at my pregnancy card the other day at my measurements, and I am also measuring 5 weeks ahead (so im 31 weeks measuring 36 weeks).

Do you think maybe I am having the scans done because of the baby measuring bigger? If it was something more serious- the doctor would have had to tell me surely...


Oh I think I am just panicking...:(

No, I'd say that your Dr is just taking extra precautions in having an extra scan given that you lost a baby. Measurements can be wrong. Probably just wants to check that everything is fine for the delivery. If there was anything wrong, yes I'd think he'd have to tell you.

My Ob did extra scans because I lost a baby and had resultant medical problems that could have caused problems in any subsequent pregnancy.

Wishing you all the best.
TICKLISH

xygmum,

first of all, sorry for the loss of Savannah (beautiful name!) and congratulations on your healthy baby girl..

i don't think that you have any reason to be concerned. my SIL's OB gets all of her patients to have 34wk scans just "to be safe rather than sorry". so given that Savannah had health problems, your OB probably just wants to be as sure as possible that they haven't missed anything in your current pregnancy. i don't think it would have anything to do with measuring big for dates, because those measurements are notoriously inaccurate anyway (i think my OB just takes them to make sure that i'm getting gradually bigger, but doesn't really care what the actual measurement is - as long as it's bigger than last time iykwim?)...

if you're still concerned, just call your dr back and ask him/her why they have recommended the scan, and explain your concerns to them - i'm sure they'll be happy to go into more details for you...

please don't worry, i'm sure everything will be fine, and you'll be blown away by the scan - your baby will be so much bigger than the last time you saw her!! almost fully-cooked!

I agree that it's probably just an extra precaution in view of your history.

In obstetric terms, having lost your other little girl immediately places you in what they term a "high risk" category. Once they've labelled you as that you will get all sorts of extra tests, scans and interventions.

I had GD with both of my babies which again is enough to be called "high risk" and I had scans at 34 weeks with both of them to check on their size and how they were doing in general.

You will be blown away - when you see them at that gestation it really hits home what's about to come into your life ;) Try to relax and see it as an opportunity for some reassurance ;)

Hehe I am having scans every 2 weeks!!!

I have only m/c'd once, but i also had diagnosis of brain ventrig...... at my 22w scan.

Bub's is perfect! And its great to keep seeing him all the time.

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy:)

Firstly please don't worry about the size of your tummy - it isn't an indicator of the size of the baby, just your uterus. You could be carrying extra fluid. I agree with the others and just think that he is taking precautions because of your history.

I would ask him exactly why he wants to do another scan and if you think it isn't a valid reason for it, then you don't have to do it.

I would say it is because he'd rather be cautious, because of your loss. You could always give hiw office a quick call & ask?

Hi,

well I know you've already had lots of responses but I thought I would add my 2cents as well. I have gestational diabetes and one of the things that can happen is your baby grows fast and gets big (which has happened to me) I didn't have to have scans though until my fundal height measurement was over, another lady at my hospital has gd too but her fh measurements have been fine so she hasn't had any extra scans.

It will just be to check the size of your baby given that you are measuring 5 weeks ahead (just a common standard practice kinda thing) if it was anything more serious I'm sure they wouldn't leave you 3 weeks before giving you a scan and they would have told you if they had concerns.

I can completely understand you feel a bit worried so if you still feel uneasy I think you should just call your hospital and ask them to clarify exactly why you are having a scan.

Good luck with everything and congratulations also

Firstly.. contrats your baby is due on my Jesse's bithday!! hehe

Um.. when i was pregnant i was told that they let you go 2 weeks in size either side of how far along you are (as Jesse was always 1 week bigger). Honestly, id say he is sending you for a scan because of the size of bubs.. just to see whether youll need to have a c/s, maybe to see whether youll need to be induced a little early, what position she is in, to see how she is growing etc etc.

Try not to worry too much.. just think of it this way, youll get to see bubsie again before the birth!

Best of luck with the scan!

He he in regards to FH measurements....
I was measuring at 44weeks today!!! lmao

I have a slightly higher than normal amount of amni fluid.... but I think I'm having a heffer baby!!!
lol

I think it's just to check the size of the baby - I had 34 week scans with both of mine because the dr thought they were big. I get the impression that the usual reason to have a 34 week scan is to check the size. They can tell by measuring the leg bones and the skull and around the stomach. It should be hugely reassuring for you - you get to see really cool stuff and if you can get a shot of the face you can actually pick out facial features rather than just the "alien" look you get in the earlier scans. The detail you can see of the heart and all that is really amazing. They also check blood flow through the cord, and the placement of the placenta and all that jazz, and then at the end they can give you a size estimate - my current one came up on the 70th centile, so looking at over 8lb (rats!). I wouldn't stress too much - I actually looked forward to mine as another chance to see my baby - and one I wouldn't have got if it wasn't suspected that the bugger was going to be big!

xygmum - I was told the same thing today 30+ weeks measuring 35+ weeks. Im booked in for a scan in 2 weeks time.

My OB also did not seem concerned at all just wanted to check the size of the bubs.

I've taken some positives from the other replies on this thread. At least we'll get another look at bubs. The thought of having a good facial shot gives me goosebumps............. I'm sure we'll both be fine.

When's your scan ????????

Mine's on 26/7.

hey there
was told by my OB at my 1st appt that she will do a scan at about 34 weeks just to know size, look at placenta etc, more of a well being check than anything serious. I am low risk (1st preg and no complications at all) so I think some OB may just do this for peace of mind...