Ultrasound Scanning (Ultrasound Scanning)

Member Name: Krystles

Product:	Ultrasound Scanning
Date:	23/02/09 (271 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It's lovely to see your baby.

Disadvantages: Can be quiet stressful if you're prone to worrying.

I have thus far had 3 ultrasounds, 2 NHS and 1 private, and have also managed to get 3 completely different experiences. My first ultrasound was a routine 20 week scan (anomally scan) at the local hospital. I had read various things on this scan and was looking forward to my first opportunity to see the baby. Unfortunately it turned out to be a very stressful experience. I understood that the purpose of this ultrasound was to check for any abnormalities, so I was a little scared that they might find something wrong, which thankfully they didn't. My experience wasn't great purely because the sonographer I got must've been having a bad day. The scan took about 5 minutes, I didn't get to see any of it, and at the end I asked whether everything was okay with the baby. The lady who had performed the scan would not make eye contact and said someone would be out to speak to me. I went back to the waiting room contemplating what this meant, and concluded it was not good news. Surely if everything was normal she would have said so. Anyway I spent 20 minutes waiting before someone came out to get me. This sonographer was much friendlier and explained that the baby was just laying in a position where they couldn't see anything so they were hoping he would have moved. I wished I could have been told that by the first sonographer, and still cannot see any reason for her not saying 'everything I am able to see looks fine'. The second sonographer showed me the baby and pointed out where the head, arms, legs etc were, and I was so pleased to finally see my baby.

After this first scan I felt a little unsure because it seemed quiet rushed. I had read an anomally scan should take at least 20 minutes, and between 2 different sonographers mine would have taken no more than 10 minutes. It was then that I decided to pay for a private scan.

From the minute I walked through the doors of the clinic it was different. They were open on weekends, which meant my husband could come and the overall experience was worth every penny. The premises and equipment were modern, the room the scan was done in had a separate monitor set up for the parents to watch the entire scan, and I felt much more confident with the attention to detail that was taken during the scan. The lady who performed the scan was friendly and very informative, and just generally made it a pleasant experience.

I had another follow up scan through the NHS, as the baby wouldn't move into the right position at the first scan. This scan too left me feeling like the NHS need twice as many staff. I waited for minutes, was rushed in and then rushed out the door just as quick.

I think overall, ultrasounds are not only a vital part of pregnancy from a medical standpoint, but also from a bonding perspective. It doesn't matter how many positive pregnancy tests you see, nothing makes it more real than being able to see the little person. And at the same time medical staff are able to gain vital information about the overall health and well being of a baby.

Summary: :-)