To request another scan?

[smileygrapefruit]

Posting here for traffic because I need some advice and Google is making me cry.

Basically I took a positive pregnancy test 2 weeks ago, only symptom was slightly achey boobs (didn't actually expect to see "pregnant 3+"). I have VERY irregular periods and have never been able to date pregnancies by my LMP so have had early scans to determine dates (I have two healthy children and two miscarriage losses).

Anyway, I got sent for an early dating scan on Wednesday. The sonographer said ohhh you're very very early, it's teeny tiny, 3-4 weeks maybe...but then she showed me the heartbeat and said how strong it looked. I always thought you couldn't see a heartbeat til 6ish weeks so I asked if that meant it wasn't growing properly and she said no, it's great you can see a heartbeat!

I know, I know, I shouldn't Google but I have and everything says measuring under 6 weeks with a heartbeat is not good. It's so hard because I have no idea of my dates and what baby should be measuring but the sonographer dismissed my worries and said she'd get me booked in for a 12 week scan. I'm driving myself mad with worry, can I request a scan in a week or two to check for growth/get a second opinion? Anyone got any positive stories about sonographers getting measurements wrong? Arrrghhh I don't know if I can cope with losing another baby.

[Tarla]

You can request one but they will more than likely say no, so going private would be the only way you'd be able to get one.

At this stage of gestation it is incredibly difficult to get accurate measurements and it's all very much an educated estimate. You're talking literally millimetres. I had four early scans in this pregnancy and one of the sonographers demonstrated it for me after I commented that her dates didn't match mine and didn't match my previous scan. She deliberately over measured by a couple of millimetres and it moved my dates forward by well over a week, then under measured and it moved then back by over a week. The baby is tiny and burrowed right into your uterine lining so it is very easy to understand or over measure without meaning to. When I had my proper dating scan at 12wks I'd caught up to the date I thought I was due, the pregnancy is easier to measure at that point.

[Tarla]

It's fantastic that there's a heartbeat. Consultant told me a widely held theory that most early miscarriages happen when the heart either fails to start to beating or doesn't beat properly and fails, so a strong heartbeat is a really good sign that things are developing as they should be.

[maggiethemagpie]

sorry but I think if you want a scan you should pay for it as there's no medical need IMO and the NHS is cash strapped. You can get a private scan for £50 near where I live.

[MrsChrisPratt]

Sonographer probably meant 3-4 weeks since conception, which would make you approx 6 weeks. At '3 weeks pregnant' your embryo may not have even implanted yet so she can't possibly have meant that.

Also the tests which give you a time frame tell you time since conception, not how many weeks pregnant you are, which would tie in with sonographer comments.

Congratulations

[FrankAndBeans]

Definitely go private. Would be about £90.

[smileygrapefruit]

Thank you Tarla, your measurement story is reassuring and what DH keeps saying to me, wish my sonographer had been more reassuring as I was obviously concerned.

One miscarriage was 4 days after my early dating scan in which we saw a heartbeat and baby measured 9 weeks so I guess my feelings are tainted by past experience.

MrsChrisPratt, I queried the sonographer on those things as I understood the clear blue and doctors dating methods are different I.e. conception vs LMP but she was very clear that it was tiny "probably the smallest she's seen with such a clear heartbeat".

[GrinchyMcGrincherson]

I've also never heard a heartbeat being bad. Most mc you never get one.

I also agree that she may have meant 3 weeks since conception (6weeks pregnant) which is still teeny as usually they don't do even early scans until about 8 weeks as from what I remember being Told most heartbeats form between 5-7 weeks so a viable pregnancy can still not have a visible heartbeat at 6 weeks if that makes sense?

[michy27]

I would pay for a private scan. Just to put your mind at ease. A heartbeat is a good sign though!

I had a scan at 8 weeks and a really strong heartbeat was found. However I miscarried at 12 weeks. Not sure how common or uncommon that is?

[Tarla]

michy, very uncommon in terms of mc it happened to me at 16wks and I was told that the odds of a mc after 12wks are only 1% so not at all usual.

[Justaboy]

I don't know as if another scan done privately would show much more of different that the one you had. Except that it will be a week or two more down the line to so the little ticker to be will be/may well be a bit easier to make out.

[michy27]

Tarla That's quite surprising, I had no idea it was that uncommon!

[smileygrapefruit]

Grinchy, she didn't mean that and that's the whole reason I'm so worried...I.e. the baby is measuring too small for a heartbeat to be seen so mustn't be growing properly :(

Michy, I'm sorry that happened to you, I've also miscarried after seeing a heartbeat.

Sorry if anyone thinks I'd be wasting nhs resources by having another scan but actually I think for my mental health it would be good to ask. If they say no then I'll have to think about going private.

[Bugsylugs]

OP it's never unreasonable to ask only to demand. You may get one but unlikely I guess. What do you think would reassure you with your history? Try asking but expect to maybe need to pay. Good luck

[bunnyfuller]

Echoing what others have said - weeks pregnant is counted from your last period. As you're irregular the lady was saying its a 3-4 foetus, so the HB is bang on. Stay away from Google!! X

[Bugsylugs]

OP also think about if the next scan is conflicting what would you want then? This is a very roller coaster ride and a few words can send us into turmoil without the speaker realising, evidence of repeat scans can heighten anxiety we live from one scan to the other and can't relax. You can take control by looking elsewhere for scans if that is right for you.

[smileygrapefruit]

Sorry my tablet froze so have crossposted with a few.

Justaboy, I want the scan to be maybe two weeks since the last one and for it to show the correct amount of growth. My worry is the baby is measuring smaller than it should to be the gestation to have a heartbeat.

Bunny, she definitely said it was very uncommon to be able to see a heartbeat at that size. I don't know, she was not reassuring when I was very clear about my concerns.

[Blondeshavemorefun]

was told no heartbeat before 6w, usually nearer 7 it shows

you can ask for another scan via nhs but they will prob say no, unless already with a mw and she pushes it, plus likely to be a few days till they can squeeze you in

i would pay for private, varies in cost but usually 50/60

after we did ivf we paid for 3 private scans to reassure us, its owth the money

sorry for previous mc and to others on thread with mc

[smileygrapefruit]

Thanks Blondes, that's exactly why I'm so worried but the sonographer wouldn't listen/talk to me properly about it. I've had the same midwife through all my pregnancies so although I haven't seen her yet with this one I wonder if I get in touch with her she would help, she was brilliantly supportive previously.

[smileygrapefruit]

Thank you lalaroo, that's very reassuring and what DH keeps trying to tell me.

[Starlight2345]

I don't think you are unreasonable to ask for another scan for reassurance..

I would though think you may need a lot of support through this pregnancy ..If you have seen heartbeat before and MC it is unlikely to reassure you..

I think depending on hos hard the cost of the private fee for a scan are would depend on your approach..If you can afford it easily it will simply reduce the stress you can have one regardless and likely exactly when you want one.

Wishing you luck.

[Benedikte2]

Smiley, from what you say, the sonographer said it looked great so take that as some reassurance.
As other posters have said, the measurements are minuscule and not reliable. Babies grow at different rates after birth so stands to reason it would vary a bit in utero.
Obstetricians thought my DD was growing slowly, was small for dates so wouldn't let me go beyond due date but she was born a very average just under 7pounds. (they were relying on growth hormone readings).
So much about pregnancy is beyond our control and so worrying excessively can only lead to a frustrating feeling of impotency. Try to relax -- maybe get a CD from your local library and visualise yourself having a happy and serene pregnancy and being safely delivered of a lovely baby.
Good luck

[zoemaguire]

I think you have it wrong. It's not a bad sign to see the heartbeat before 6 weeks! It's just unusual because mostly the baby will be too small to see at that stage - it's in no way a bad sign, it's a good sign to see a heartbeat! I've got three children and had very early scans with all of them, and saw early heartbeats too! Once at just over 5 weeks from my last period.

[YeOldMa]

I had ICSI with my last one and had a scan very early where one showed a heartbeat but the other didnt. I only went to term on the one who had shown the heartbeat. At my first NHS scan I was told I was 10 days behind where I should have been with my dates. I explained to them I could tell them 'exactly' when I had got pregnant to the minute but nothing would move them. The scan dates were the bible! Do try not to worry but I know how hard that is. I think I spent more on pregnancy tests than I did the IVF as I became obsessive with making sure I was still pregnant!