Can they tell at a 12 week scan if baby had spinal deformities?

EternalRose · Oct 9th, 2009, 06:23 AM

Hi Ladies,

Well yesterdays scan went well and the sonographer said everything looks fine so far, and nuchal was only 1.5mm but when I asked her if spine looked OK she just said " oh we cant see that this early, they will be able to see that at your anomaly scan" which I was a bit surprised about. As, I thought by now she would be able to see whether the spine looked normal I mean baby was doing booooiiiing exercises so he clearly wasnt unable to move around e.t.c . I guess the reason im asking is because my mum had a baby that died when she was 24 weeks pregnant and had spina bifida, my mum was taking folic acid for 3 months before and she still got it So, this was one thing I was worried about and they couldnt tell me anything. Im probably worrying over nothing as she said everything is progressing as it should at the moment but I just thought they would have been able to tell me a bit more at this stage ..

EternalRose

saffy1978 · Oct 9th, 2009, 06:31 AM

I also asked if the spine was ok.. and she said the same thing to me. I remember in my last pregnancies that the 12 week scan is just purely dating. Guess we just gotta wait till the 20 week one, which by the way wasn't offered with my other babies.. so it's new to me! Seems so long to wait tho to find out if baby is ok. I mean.. if there was something seriously wrong.. I'd want to know a lot earlier than that. x

EternalRose · Oct 9th, 2009, 06:39 AM

I know saffy, I mean i will be 21 weeks thats over half way but she did make a valid point, " life is not guaranteed so stop worrying "..xx

jmct · Oct 9th, 2009, 14:46 PM

i didn't even ask any questions yesterday i was in shock, didn't mention nuchal or anything just gave me a date and showed us the heart beating.

ohh your next scan is the 21st dec, just before xmas - nice little xmas prezzie for you's. i've asked for a 4d scan for my xmas box haha

555 · Oct 9th, 2009, 14:58 PM

I'm going for a nuchal scan on Thursday I'm going to a different hospital as they have the best ultra sound equipment in our area. When i phoned to book i asked if they would be able to screen for spina biffida and she said they do a mini anomally scan but, only very severe problems would be picked up, as the baby is too small. I think she has been telling you the truth as I've been told this even before my scan. Try not to worry. Great nuchal measurement you must be reassured. x

Tegans Mama · Oct 9th, 2009, 15:00 PM

Nope they can't tell. my LO has SB, its pretty severe and they didn't see a thing at my 12 week scan.

Shady_R · Oct 9th, 2009, 15:04 PM

They cant see the spine clearly enough on the early scans, which is rather unfortunate, so have to wait till they do the detailed scan.....

EternalRose · Oct 9th, 2009, 16:13 PM

Thanks ladies, im kind of thinking I should carry on taking my folic acid till it runs out, it cant do any harm can it? The phlebotomist said it would be a good idea.but its one thing I was really worried about..

hr.lr.07 - Sorry to ask but when you went for your 12 week scan was your baby jumping around and moving a lot?

EternalRose xx

Shady_R · Oct 9th, 2009, 16:18 PM

I had a scan at 10 weeks and 3 days cause I needed a dating scan, with my last baby, I keep calling him a baby but hes nearly 2 now lol. He did nothing but wriggle around like a loony lol, when the midwife had just about got a measurment he would move again lol......That scan took 45 mins to do......I even had to go and half empty my bladder cause I drank so much water oooopsie, dont ask how though cause I dont really know myself......

Jemma_x · Oct 9th, 2009, 19:07 PM

I was told to take folic acid up until 20 weeks due to medication im on, i had a higher risk of having a baby with spina bifida or downs syndrome but id ask your doctor or midwife whether its safe to take your folic acid until it runs out

Oct 9th, 2009, 06:23 AM	#1
EternalRose Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 5,739	Can they tell at a 12 week scan if baby had spinal deformities? Hi Ladies, Well yesterdays scan went well and the sonographer said everything looks fine so far, and nuchal was only 1.5mm but when I asked her if spine looked OK she just said " oh we cant see that this early, they will be able to see that at your anomaly scan" which I was a bit surprised about. As, I thought by now she would be able to see whether the spine looked normal I mean baby was doing booooiiiing exercises so he clearly wasnt unable to move around e.t.c . I guess the reason im asking is because my mum had a baby that died when she was 24 weeks pregnant and had spina bifida, my mum was taking folic acid for 3 months before and she still got it So, this was one thing I was worried about and they couldnt tell me anything. Im probably worrying over nothing as she said everything is progressing as it should at the moment but I just thought they would have been able to tell me a bit more at this stage .. EternalRose

Status: Offline

Oct 9th, 2009, 06:31 AM	#2
saffy1978 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Whitwick, Leicestershire. Posts: 2,445	I also asked if the spine was ok.. and she said the same thing to me. I remember in my last pregnancies that the 12 week scan is just purely dating. Guess we just gotta wait till the 20 week one, which by the way wasn't offered with my other babies.. so it's new to me! Seems so long to wait tho to find out if baby is ok. I mean.. if there was something seriously wrong.. I'd want to know a lot earlier than that. x

Status: Offline

Oct 9th, 2009, 06:39 AM	#3
EternalRose Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 5,739	I know saffy, I mean i will be 21 weeks thats over half way but she did make a valid point, " life is not guaranteed so stop worrying "..xx

Status: Offline

Oct 9th, 2009, 14:46 PM	#4
jmct Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Stockton-on-Tees Posts: 307	i didn't even ask any questions yesterday i was in shock, didn't mention nuchal or anything just gave me a date and showed us the heart beating. ohh your next scan is the 21st dec, just before xmas - nice little xmas prezzie for you's. i've asked for a 4d scan for my xmas box haha

Status: Offline

Oct 9th, 2009, 14:58 PM	#5
555 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: sunderland Posts: 261	I'm going for a nuchal scan on Thursday I'm going to a different hospital as they have the best ultra sound equipment in our area. When i phoned to book i asked if they would be able to screen for spina biffida and she said they do a mini anomally scan but, only very severe problems would be picked up, as the baby is too small. I think she has been telling you the truth as I've been told this even before my scan. Try not to worry. Great nuchal measurement you must be reassured. x

Status: Offline

Oct 9th, 2009, 15:00 PM	#6
Tegans Mama Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sunny Derbyshire Posts: 12,027	Nope they can't tell. my LO has SB, its pretty severe and they didn't see a thing at my 12 week scan.

Status: Offline

Oct 9th, 2009, 15:04 PM	#7
Shady_R Waiting To Try (WTT) BnB Addict Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Torfaen Posts: 3,343	They cant see the spine clearly enough on the early scans, which is rather unfortunate, so have to wait till they do the detailed scan.....

Status: Offline

Oct 9th, 2009, 16:13 PM	#8
EternalRose Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 5,739	Thanks ladies, im kind of thinking I should carry on taking my folic acid till it runs out, it cant do any harm can it? The phlebotomist said it would be a good idea.but its one thing I was really worried about.. hr.lr.07 - Sorry to ask but when you went for your 12 week scan was your baby jumping around and moving a lot? EternalRose xx

Status: Offline

Oct 9th, 2009, 16:18 PM	#9
Shady_R Waiting To Try (WTT) BnB Addict Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Torfaen Posts: 3,343	I had a scan at 10 weeks and 3 days cause I needed a dating scan, with my last baby, I keep calling him a baby but hes nearly 2 now lol. He did nothing but wriggle around like a loony lol, when the midwife had just about got a measurment he would move again lol......That scan took 45 mins to do......I even had to go and half empty my bladder cause I drank so much water oooopsie, dont ask how though cause I dont really know myself......

Status: Offline

Oct 9th, 2009, 19:07 PM	#10
Jemma_x Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 13,391	I was told to take folic acid up until 20 weeks due to medication im on, i had a higher risk of having a baby with spina bifida or downs syndrome but id ask your doctor or midwife whether its safe to take your folic acid until it runs out

Status: Offline

Similar Threads
How can they book me for a 12 week scan when we don't know how far i am!	Pregnancy - First Trimester
For those of you who have had 12 week scan or are close to it xx	Pregnancy - First Trimester
Woohoo! Had my 12 week scan, all good!	Pregnancy - First Trimester
No 12 week scan!	Pregnancy - First Trimester
First scan at 12 weeks	Pregnancy - First Trimester

User Name		Remember Me?
Password