I'm new to this! tests / scans / ??????

Hi Guys,

I've just found out i'm pregnant for the first time this week (awesome! TTC 3 months)and have gone to the GP and rang to make an appointment with on Ob also. Between the two of them they've talked about screening tests and scans and dating scans.

Can someone please tell me if I understand this right?

10wks - do a dating scan referred by GP to confirm dates and weeks
10wks - screening blood test for abnormalities referred by GP
12wks - screening scan referred by GP for Down's etc..
then off to Ob at 12 weeks and take it from there.

Is this right? I'm a little confused with what 'normally' happens and what I request to happen. Apparently the screening test and scan are personal option.

Help?

Thanks
Jules

Hi jules,

i asked the same questions just a week ago of my GP. :)
i literally asked her "what do i do now" to which she answered, you just go home and rest! lol

From your GP: get an order for your nuchal tests (blood & ultrasound) for between 11-14weeks.
Ring and book in for your scan. results for the blood part take about a week apparantly, but you get your scan results straight away...

Also what i was told was to book in now for your 1st appointment at the hospital you want to have your bub in... they'll book you an appt at the 12ish week mark, which is cool cos you can take your nuchal results with you to your 1st appointment.

I've also booked in at another hospital for a "just pregnant, now what?" course which is designed for women up to 12 weeks. it covers everything we're supposed to do/know, and gives you a tour as well.

it seemed really strange to me to just have to sit here now until 11 weeks, but thats what i've been told? i think it's slightly different if you're going private? but this is what i've been told to do...hope it helps...

Jessie x

Hi Jessie,

Thanks for that - no-one has mentioned a hospital visit so that one is new to me, but good idea to book the appointments now. I've got to book another appt with my gp to get the initial blood tests back, but getting around christmas it might pay to book the scans in too so i can make sure i get in.

you're right - it does feel wierd to just sit and do nothing. i keep analysing everything i'm feeling and looking like and turning it into a pregnancy thing. ha ha.

this is great and so far thoroughly enjoying it. i'm evening eating 10 times better than i normally would. making sure i drink all my water, eat 3 pieces of fruit, had eggs for breakfast, make sure i have more than tea and biscuits for lunch.......guess all of this is a pregancy symptom too!! ha ha

hoping you're feeling well.

thanks again

jules

Hi Jules

I had two scans early on, one to determine dates (which was done around ten weeks) and then I had a scan at 12 wks to test for any abnormalities/downs. Once you have your referral from your GP, make sure you book your scans asap because I left mine to the last min and found they had very limited times left. And apparently your 12 wk scan HAS to be done on wk 12, not 11 or 13! (at least thats what my GP told me) :) Congratulations and I hope you have a happy and healthy pregnancy!

The earlier the dating scan the more accurate it is, I had mine at 8 weeks. You don't have to have the 12 weeks scan unless you want it - some people do not want the screening for downs. The 12 week scan is not covered by medicare unless you are considered high risk by maternal age its either over 35 or 37 - can't remember for sure. You should check with your Ob or Dr if they are going to deliver the baby as to what hosiptal they deliver at before booking the hospital. Mr Dr sent the referral to the hospital when I had my blood tests done.
You only need to see your Dr/Ob once a month up to 28 weeks and then ever two weeks up to 36 weeks. If you don't have the screening at 12 weeks there is another one that can be done at 15 to 17 weeks and at 19-20 weeks you have an anatomy scan.
Getting the 12 week scan just easy your mind that everything is going well since you get to see the bubs.
Your Ob should go through most of it with you when you see them.
I'm amazed at how little GPs tend to tell women when they go in to confirm pregnancy.

I booked my nuchal scan today and was told it had to be done before 12 weeks. I had my dating scan done just under 7 weeks but that's because I'd had spotting.

Congrats on your pregnancy!
Like others have said, the nuchal translucency scan is optional. I didn't have it.
Its weird isn't it, that no one wants to know about you until you're 12 weeks or so... But you have to make so many decisions in those early days! It is so hard to get the help you need. Glad people on here have been helpful.

Hi Jules

I already had 2 scans early on - 1st at 5 weeks to rule out ectopic and 2nd one at 8 weeks to confirm viability and dates. I had my first visit with my ob at 10 weeks and she didn't bother to do a scan at that appt cause I had already had 2. I have booked in for the NT scan which is tomorrow. When I rang to book the lady told me that they can only do the NT scan between 11w3d and 13w. This one is optional and isn't covered my Medicare because I'm not over the high risk age group (35+?) I more so want the scan to see my bub :)

its funny with the nuchal scans thing... my GP said 11-14wks for the scan, 11+weeks for the bloods.

I rang to book in for the scan @ 11wks +4 days at one place and they refused saying i could only have my scan between 12-13wks ONLY. She was very insistant that if i turned up earlier or later they'd send me away.

so i rang a different place and tey said any time from 11wks to 13wks+6days is fine.
I went with them, cos 12 wks is Xmas week :)

Thanks guys,

It's all so confusing with all the different information, so thank god for belly belly! At least I've got it right in my head now.

I have booked in for my date scan which will be around 7.5 weeks and also for the nuchal scan which will be at 12 weeks. And Lynny I'm more like you, more so to be able to see the bub which I can't wait for.

Thanks again everyone - trying not to be a neurotic first time mum, but just had to dispel the confusion.

Hope all are H&H!!!

Hi there,

It is all rather confusing and it all changes depending on the doctors you see, if you are public, private, etc. I have found that my obstetrician and especially his secretary have been very good about explaining everything and the options I have and how much it all costs.

Just one thing that I have found different to some of the posts. I got a medicare rebate for my scans. I know I got a rebate for the 12 and 20 week ones, but not so sure for the one at 8 weeks as it was an informal one in the obs office. I think medicare has changed recently because my ob told me I couldn't claim the NT test and bloods, but I did. He was very surprised when I told him this.

The invoices I got had a MBS number on them and a note saying that I could claim this through medicare. And I know that medicare don't pay on things twice or for things they don't think your entitled to. I have formed quite a relationship with the local office due to having two pregnancies within 12 months, the first ending at 12 weeks. I have had to provide a letter from my ob to prove that I am entitled to a second lot of tests because it was a second pregnancy.

On several occasions medical practitioners that I have seen do not have the latest info from Medicare. If anyone is unsure, i think it is worth checking with Medicare.

The whole date thing is really funny though. Especially if you don't agree with the date your doctor has told you. For example if I think I am only 4 and a bit weeks at the moment, but my doctor tells me I am 5 and a bit (cos I had a really long cycle so they are counting from my last period - even though I know when I conceived) then it means that all the tests which you have to do at a certain time, I will be a week early for. I won't worry too much though, cos my mum said that she predicted different (correct) dates for both myself and my brother. Does anyone else not agree with the date they have been given?

Jess,

I'm exactly the same as you. By the GP calculations I'm 5.5 weeks but cause of a longer cycle and me knowing when I ovulated and when we conceived, I reckon it's more like 4.5 weeks. I'm hoping my GP will refer me for the dating scan so I can get more of an idea.

What due date have they given you?

Hi Jules, they have given me July 18. I think July 25. The only thing I worry about is that if I go a week over their date, i'd be right on time (in my eyes), but a few days more and they might want to induce me, which I really wouldn't want. I'll just discuss my concerns with the ob and midwife when I have my first appointment with them. What date have they given you? must be pretty similar to mine!

Dating scans seem to be all the rage at the moment. But, if you know your dates, then you don't need to have the early scan. It's a good scan to have if you really have no idea of how far along you are, but if you have been trying to conceive and know when your periods have been or ovulation, then they are far superior dates to go off.
The jury is still out on the safety of ultrasound so I think it's wise to use that technology with a degree of caution. It can also add to the medicalisation of pregnancy particularly if you are receiving care from an Ob.

Hi All
I'm REALLY CONFUSED!!!! PLease help!!!!
I've read all the previous replies on here but I'm still very confused! I feel a bit like hiding my head in the sand and hoping it will all be sorted out when I re-emerge!!!(which is my usual response to things that scare me!!) I may have to try and post this as a separate thread as the dates it was last responded to were a while ago!!
I found out I was pregnant at the weekend and OH and I are really pleased but we have some complications to deal with before we can relax. I have a genetic condition which could be passed on to our kids and saw a specialist at the hosp. in Aug. who advised that we 'got on with things' asap. It's taken since then but finally we did it!! I was told that when we got pregnant we needed to see my GP to have it confirmed and to have a dating scan before being referred back to the hosp. The CVS tests we have to have are done at 11 weeks and take 2 weeks to come back.But all the info I have found says you don't have dating scans until 10/11 weeks. This will be too late for us to inform the hosp.!!!!!!! I was also thinking that I should leave seeing the GP until 7 weeks or so, so that they'll be something to actually see if we can have the scan then but other people on here were advised to book all the other stuff by then?!?! Should I see the GP next week (5 weeks I think) as a first visit and then later for the scan?? HELP!!!!!!! IT'S ALL TOO CONFUSING FOR ME!!!! I'm new to Oz and don't have anyone to ask about it cos we don't want anyone to know until after the results at 13 weeks!! Any help would be great!
Thank
LOl

hi lol...

you poor thing! It can get really confusing, especially when everyone gives you different information.

if you're wanting confirmation of your dates you go for a dating scan.They'll measure the bub and tell you based on that a due date and how many weeks you are. i know girls in my belly buddy thread have gone as early as 5 wks, but in some cases as there was no heartbeat yet they were told to come back a week or 2 later. so my understanding is that you can go as early as 5-6 wks through to about 10wks. I've heard the ideal time is about 7wks. if you go early and get told to come back, as far as i know the main downside is having to pay 2 times?

once you are sure of your date, you book your next scan at 11-13weeks. I'm not sure what CVS tests are:redface:, but with a nuchal translucency (NT) test you can go for that 11-13wks. you need to get your (NT) blood tests done a week before the scan. they then send you for further tests (amnios etc if you need it).

so honey - if you need a to do list like i did :) this is what i did:

1. go to your GP ASAP:
a) get advice on private (eg obstetrician), public (public hospital drs or midwives), or shared care (GP & hospital).
b) Also get a refferal for a dating scan if you want one. If you really want one, just insist, even if your GP says its not nessesary. The refferal will have the number of the imaging place, and you just ring and book in.
c) Also get a refferal form for your NT scan. Your GP will also give you advice about where to get your NT blood test done.
Ring and book in for both scans when you get home.

2. choose a local hospital and ring them ASAP and book an appointment for 12 weeks. They will send you a pack, with forms for you, and tests/refferal forms for your GP.

3. Go back to your GP with the forms, and get your initial blood tests etc done.

4. Go for your dating scan

5. Maybe you might want to book an appt with your genetic specialist as well? perhaps ring their rooms and ask when is best?

6. Go back to your GP for your blood test & dating scan results, get all your paperwork together for your hosp appt.

7. (this is what i'm up to now) get my NT blood test done at 11wks, 1wk later i'm getting the NTscan, then the day after the scan I've my 1st hospital appt at the public clinic.

Thats as far as I've got :) lol but its a bit of a to-do list...i'm a bit an*l about details, so i was really keen to have every test organised from day 1!

i'm sure each state varies, as does everyone's experiance, but this is what i did, and at least it might help give you some direction?

good luck lol and don't stress!

jessie x :hugs:

PS - i've had to pay $195 for my dating scan and my nuchal has been quoted at $270. From reading over this thread, it's more than most people pay (stoopid sydney!!), but i believe you get some $$ back from medicare for only 1 scan in your 1st trimester. if money is an issue, keep this in mind!

The dating scan is usually done at around 7-8 weeks. Mine cost nothing as it was bulk billed but was also done as I'd had a little spotting so that might have been why I didn't pay.

Once you know your date then you can book the NT scan. Mine is being done at 11W5D.

Thanks JDX and Satya. The 'to do' list is great!! I'm a BIG list maker!! I think that's why I've been panicking so much. The CVS tests are chorionic villus sampling which are done like an amnio at 11 weeks. They have to anaylse the baby's genes to determine whether it has a full mutation of the condition I carry. For that reason I think DH and I don't really want to do anything too early to try not to become to attached to the idea of being parents (although that's easier said than done).We made a decision years ago when we knew about my situation that we wouldn't tell anyone until we knew that every thing was ok at 13 weeks.So it's really hard! And for that reason it feels like we're tempting fate to have doc appointments and scans/ hospital visits booked in until after then. Silly, but that's the way I am.
I guess I'm going to have to just get on with it but I'm pretty nervous.
Thanks for the advice. I'll be brave and see the doc next week.... I think!
Lol

I found it hard to get excited also because I was told by my gynae that I'd never conceive naturally due to both tubes being blocked from endometriosis.

I did a HPT (4 of them!) on a Wednesday, went to my GP on Thursday and said "I think I'm pregnant but how is that possible with my endo?" She said "Never say never, we'll get you a scan to make sure it's not ectopic". She wrote up a referral and I got an appointment at the ultrasound place the next day on the Friday. They weren't checking for heartbeat at that stage only checking to see where the gestational sac was located. This scan cost me nothing as they bulk billed. I had another one 3 weeks later at 8 weeks to see the heartbeat and confirm dates. This was at the same place so didn't have to pay as they bulk billed again.

Since all was good from then I went back to GP and got a referral to my obstetrician, called the hospital to get all the paperwork sent out. My ob did my referral for my NT scan at 12 weeks. This cost $160 and on my invoice it stated that no refund from medicare was available. SKG had told me about this saying that Medicare will only rebate if you have a high risk and you need the NT scan.

It's really hard isn't it to know what's going on at times? Good luck with your appointment and tests. Looking at the bright side if you organised all your hospital visits, appointments scans now and everything does turn out to be ok, then you have all that done and out of the way! :)

Hi LOl,
I was one of the ones JDX said went for an early scan, I was that early i didnt see a heartbeat BUT it did tell me dates etc. My u/s said i was 5 days behind although we are going by LMP anyways. I would be going to your GP and getting confirmation, then asking for a referral to have a scan, going for an early scan and then ringing up and making an appointment with the hospital for your specialist. So then he can organise your scan that NEEDS to be done @ 11wks.
Goodluck!!

Thanks again everyone.
I've checked out the letter I got from the specialist back in Aug.after our meeting that detailed what we discussed and what we would need to do if we got pregnant, and it says in the actual letter that I need to ask the GP for a dating scan so do you think if we take that along to the appointment we would need to pay? Would the dating scan be classed as a 'requirement' do you think?? Hope so!
I'm going to see the docs next week (fingers crossed it sticks!) and see how it goes. They don't do blood tests and stuff at the first appointment with a GP do they?? Is it just a chat about LMP dates?
Sorry...more questions!!
Thanks again ladies. It's so nice to be able to talk to someone about it!
Lol

hi lol,

i'm not sure about the medicare thing - i've had to pay $195 for my scan, plus for 4 GP visits, and the NT scan next week i've been quoted $270. i don't have private health cover and i've been told that medicare only cover one 1st trimester scan, but i could be wrong? maybe ring medicare on that or get your GP to send you to a ultrasound place that bulkbills :)

as for when do they take blood - mine did when i brought the hospital forms in, but other girls in my bellybuddies had it done on their 1st visit... so it''ll be up to your own GP. Also depends if they have a nurse in your medical centre or if they refer you to a pathology lab... Just take all your info to your GP, and prepare yourself for a needle just in case :)

jessie x

Thanks again JDX.
I've booked an appointment with GP for Monday so I'll hopefully feel a little wiser after that!
Have a good weekend all!
Lol

Hi Lol, glad that you've booked your appointment with the doctor. I'm sure if you have any concerns or questions they will be able to help you out.

Wow, I am amazed at how much some people are getting charged for the NT scans!! I paid $155... Because I didn't have a dating scan earlier on in the pregnancy I got them to tell me when I'm due as well.