Navigating Your 20-Week Anatomy Scan with Confidence | 150

I'm here to help you take the guesswork out of childbirth so you can make the choices that are right for you and your baby. Quick note, this podcast is for educational purposes only and does not replace your medical advice. Check out our full disclaimer at the bottom of the show notes. Good morning mamas.

So the 20 week anatomy scan is a detailed ultrasound that gives you and your health. care team a comprehensive look at how your baby is developing, and it's typically performed between 18 and 22 weeks, and it focuses on examining all your baby's little parts, the organs, the limbs, and overall growth.

They also take a look at the placenta. The placenta is really important. That's how your baby's getting all their nutrients. They check out the amniotic fluid. If you don't know, your baby is actually responsible for your amniotic fluid. They drink it and they pee it. So how much amniotic fluid can tell us how baby's doing as well.

Then you're going to want to wear comfortable clothing, obviously, hopefully you're already doing that, while you're pregnant, but you could wear something that's easy to, lift. Or push down. So like I always wear like leggings and like a big sweatshirt or something. You can pull it up and push it down because obviously the technician needs to get to your beautiful belly.

And so, finally, the one lady looks at me and she goes, okay, so I'm training, you know, Sarah. Sally, whatever you want to call her. I'm training Sally and can I, do you mind if I let her go and do it? And I was like, I don't care. I just want to know what I'm having. She was, oh, it's a girl. And I legit went and like screamed out loud.

And she looked at my ex husband and she's like, was she wanting a boy? And he was like, no, we have four boys. She's, she's excited. Anyway, so that's my fun little story. Okay. So it's going to be a longer appointment. It can take from anywhere from. 30 minutes to an hour and a half, just depending on how cooperative your little baby is.

screenshot, like did a video of that. Have a list of questions of what they might be checking, anything you want to know more about. So the reason we do the anatomy scan is 20 week scan serves as a critical checkpoint in your pregnancy because we're going to screen for structural abnormalities, we're going to check the baby's growth and development, they're going to check where is the placenta, like because if you have a low lying, or you have a previa, that's crucial for planning your birth.

So let's talk about that. What to do if you hear something unusual? Girl, hearing unexpected news at all during your pregnancy, but especially during the scan, can be really overwhelming. But it's important that you stay calm and informed. So here's what I suggest doing. Take a deep breath and ask questions.

Understand exactly what was found and what it means for your baby. Usually this is going to be a provider talking to you. Then ask what are the next Like, is this a definitive thing? or, are we gonna do follow up tests? Are we gonna have special consultations? Whatever. But, whatever it is, don't panic. Many findings such as like a soft marker or a variation can really resolve on their own.

Now, if it's size, I'm just going to throw this out here. Size is genuinely wrong. So if they start dropping some big baby hints at this point, girl, do not let that get in your head. You made this baby. You can birth this baby until this baby tells you otherwise, until your body tells you otherwise. Don't let a third party tell you otherwise.

Your provider is there to guide you through your challenges. So you're not alone, but advocating for yourself and your baby starts with knowledge and there, you know, this is your power. Knowledge is power and you have to have knowledge to stay informed. So here are a couple of things you can do. Stay informed with evidence based resources.

Don't go following Joe Blow who just decided they're going to teach, you know, childbirth and pregnancy. Please find someone like me. I've got 16 years of experience, high risk labor and delivery experience. I have traveled to some of the top facilities in the U. S. And I am a mom of seven. That is a lot of evidence based resources right there, girl.

And you're going to have all the support you need. Prepare for all possible scenarios, but stay positive and hopeful. If you want to join my membership, call Mama Society. We are we have so much for you. Three pregnancy hangouts a month, three postpartum hangouts a month. We do once a month tapping sessions with.

EFT. We have mornings with Trish, dinner desserts with the doula. We have so much inside of there, a wealth of workshops and resources. It's 19 a month. Go to labor nurse, mama. com forward slash C M S. Join us, check it out. You'll love it. Knowledge is power. The more, you know. The more confident you'll feel about your pregnancy journey.

I am begging you. I am on my knees begging you. Write a review. Take two seconds. Send your girl a review. Tell me how much you love this and tell me what you want to hear more of. We read each and every one of them and we do a drawing at the end of the month. You'll get a gift card if you're the winner because gift giving is my love language.

All right. Thank you for listening to the birth experience with Labor Nurse Mama. I will see you again next Friday. Bye for now.