Nuchal Scan - Kings College Hospital, London

[laurasaurus]

Hi all,

Just wondering whether any of you Londoners had your nuchal scan done at Kings College and were able to tell me what to expect?

We're going to be having a dating scan at Farnborough beforehand (as they're not 100% on my dates because I fell so soon after coming off the pill) and then we have our nuchal scan at Kings College between 11-14 weeks.

Basically, what I'm wondering is whether its going to be like a 12 week scan at the normal hospital i.e. will I get pictures? I hope so as my doctor said they won't do a scan at my 12 week appointment if I've recently had the nuchal scan!

Also, will I still have a 12 week appointment at the hospital for bloods etc or will they do that at my dating scan?!?

Sorry for all the questions, I'm just all confused!!!!

Cheers...

Laura x

(p.s. sorry to anyone who's read this already on "the other side"!) x

[Cat]

Hi Laura
Is that Farnborough hospital as in Bromley?, cos if so, we're neighbours (I live in Bickley!).
I had an early scan at Farnborough a couple of weeks ago and did get a piccy (although as it was only 7 weeks it looked like a blob rather than baby shape!). I know at Kings, they're very good at giving photos, and if you've already had your nuchal scan at Kings, they're unlikely to scan you again at Farnb. The 12 weeks appointment there is just history and bloods etc
One word of warning about Kings - unless you have the first appointment of the day, you always have to wait ages so make sure you bring loads of food and drink and a LONG book! Do you have a Kings appointment yet? Mines 1st June, maybe I'll see you there!!!
Alison

[laurasaurus]

Hi Alison - thanks so much for replying!!

Yes, Farnborough as in Bromley - I live up by Sundridge Park station so we are very close neighbours!!

I've not got any dates for any scans yet - I only went to see the doc on Weds and called her yesterday to let her know we wanted to go ahead with the nuchal scan so am thinking I'll get dates in the post in the next few weeks? How long did your appointment take to come through?

I'm seven weeks now so am thinking by the time the dating scan comes through (unless they're really quick!) I'll be about 8 or 9 so the picture might look slightly more like a baby rather than a kidney bean!!!

I've never been to Farnborough hospital, we've only been living in Bromley a year or so, is it a nice hospital?

Sorry for all the questions - I'm just so chuffed to have found someone in my area who I can drill with all my queries!!!! Apologies in advance!!!

Laura x

[Cat]

Hello Neighbour :wave2: :wave2:
I got my Kings date about a week after going to the docs (are your Docs on London Lane??) I'm about a week ahead of you (8+1 today).
If you're 8-9 weeks you should see something. Tracey at the early pregnancy dept at Farnborough is lovely. The hospitals nice, clean and new- it only opened a couple of years ago and is LOADS better than the portacabin I had my son in!! (4 years ago). Apparently, maternity is great, but can't testify to that myself, yet hopefully.
One tip, DONT try and park in the hospital carpark - its a nightmare - park in the Sainsbury's one (if you don't know where that is, I can direct you).
Now, I'm the one with questions, is this your first bub? if so, I guess you're still working, otherwise maybe we could meet up and compare bumps (although mine is all chocolate at the moment!).
Alison

[laurasaurus]

What fun having someone to nearby with a similar due date - how funny would it be if one of us was early/late and we were in hospital at the same time!! :lol:

I'm at the surgery off Widmore Road so I don't think its the same one? I hope they're as quick though!! Do you think my dating scan date at Farnborough will come through more quickly?!? :puzzled:

In answer to the questions, yup, first bub for us and yup still working - I work up in the City as a legal secretary and so far not finding the commute too bad (its a really quick journey and Sundridge Park is literally just across the road from our house - you look down onto the station from our back yard!!) but I'm sure it will get harder as the months progress!!

Do you just have a son or do you have other children? Shame I'm not around to meet up for lunch - but I'm sure I'll be taking time off for appointments and stuff in the future so maybe we could try and fit a lunch around those when the time comes? :hungry:

Thanks for the tip about the car park, I was looking at the layout of the hospital on their website and I thought the car parks looked pretty small!!!!

Laura x

[laurasaurus]

YAY!! I got my scan date through this morning - I have a dating scan on Friday afternoon and then (if the dating scan is similar to the date I've worked out) I'll have my nuchal scan at Kings College on 12th June!!

Only 2 days to wait until the first one and only 4 and a half weeks until the biggie!!!

Oh how exciting!!!!

Lx

[Cat]

Great news Laura - it will be so exciting to see bubs.

[popinjay1]

I had both my girls at Kings so had all my scans there too.

At the nuchal scans you do get pictures. They take lots and lots of measurements which can take a while, particularly if bubs isn't in the right position (which my second wasn't so took over an hour!). They were really good explaining everything they were doing and then explaining the risk assessment afterwards.

As for the bloods I believe your other hospital will probably do these or your midwife. My midwife care was within my doctors surgery so all bloods...etc were taken there and only scans and delivery were done at Kings.

Agree with bluesgirl about a long wait though. I remember having to wait absolutely ages with my first but luckily with my second it wasn't too long.

Let us know how you get on.