Refused a 12 week scan

[Petcat]

I was wondering is anyone else has been refused a 12 week scan because they have previously had an emergency scan at the EPU?

I am 10+1 and my midwife just phoned to let me know that when she tried to book me in for my 12 week scan the hospital refused because I had emergency scans for a threatened miscarriage at 7+1 and 8+5 weeks. Apparently they can use the scan from 8+5 to date my pregnancy so I won't be getting another scan until at least 20 weeks. My midwife feels the scan is necessary but the health board's policy says no addition scans are allowed if you've had one after 8 weeks.

I have a haematoma and have been experiencing ongoing bleeding since my 6th week and am terrified I am going to lose my baby. A fortnight ago I was told there was a less than 20% chance of my pregnancy proceeding successfully. I have been counting down the days to 12 weeks and really desperately need to know that my baby is growing and that the haematoma is resolving or at least not getting worse. The thought of waiting until after Christmas to know everything's OK is so upsetting.

I understand that the 12 week scan is mainly for dating the pregnancy, but it also marks the milestone where the pregnancy can be considered much safer and you can start telling people you are expecting. We are not well off but I am considering paying for a private scan. However as I have ongoing medical complications I don't really want some random unqualified person telling me bad news if something is actually wrong. Do you think I might be able to appeal to my health board so I can get the scan at my local hospital?

[stickybean]

This sounds very odd and very stressful. Would it be worth asking your GP to push it for you. Or perhaps call the hospital directly and try making your own appointment?

[ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged]

Can you afford a private scan to put your mind at rest?

[fengirl1]

Contact PALS at the hospital - they should help you sort it out.

[stickybean]

If you are in London and you are able to pay for it yourself, I can highly recommend the fetal medicine centre on Harley st. They are highly qualified and very professional.

[jo1958]

Are you in the Uk? Aren't they offering a nuchal scan for Down's.? Even if you don't actually want Down's screening you could say you're undecided and decline on the day. 8 weeks is too early for a nuchal and seems quite early for dating

[noblegiraffe]

Yes, this happened to me, I had a scan at 6 weeks due to bleeding and they dated the pregnancy at it, stamped 'dating scan' on the form and then said I wasn't entitled to another one because the pregnancy had been dated. I went private at 12 weeks. This was 3 years ago.

However at this 12 week scan they did a nuchal fold measurement for Downs, which they didn't do in my first pregnancy, so there was another reason for the scan than just dating. If you get a down's test with your 12 week scan is that a reason you can argue you still need it even if the pregnancy has been dated?

[Jaffacakeeater]

It's worth appealing to your GP. If the answer is still no I would definitely go private. Don't assume the person scanning will be unqualified. I had a private scan at 7 weeks to check for multiples and the consultant obstetrician performed the scan. He was great. Go to a proper hospital, not these places that offer 3D stuff etc.

[hazeyjane]

Not all hospitals offer nuchal scans. I would try calling the hospital and explaining your fears. We had private scan with all 3 of our dcs - compared to the one offered by the nhs, they are much more detailed, and in our experience worth the cost.

[daisydee43]

I had thousands of extra scans including EPU. They must give you a Down's syndrome test at 12 weeks by law I'm sure. It's very important. Go through your community midwife as they can get you fast tracked into hospital. Can you use a different hospital? Tbh they are all useless

[noblegiraffe]

My private scan was done by a proper doctor, who when I googled turned out to be a well-respected expert! I went for the full OSCAR screening and they were very good, the pictures were better than NHS and you got the downs results the same day instead of having to wait a fortnight.

[hazeyjane]

It isn't law to offer a nuchal fold scan. The 12 week scan is officially a dating scan, but some pcts add a nuchal fold scan at the same time. A lot of people don't want the nuchal scan so it isn't, per se, vitally important.

I think appealing to the hospital or gp for a peace of mind scan is important though.

[TurkeyDino]

I went to baby bond at 8 weeks mainly because I wanted to check all was ok before I told work (dc2). I got a midwife sonographer there. She was lovely.

With my first pregnancy I had an epu scan at 11 weeks and my 12 week scan was booked at 16 weeks. So I went to the appointment and the po faced sonographer said it should have been cancelled but would scan me anyway.

I think if you complain enough they'll probably give you a scan, but £80 will stop all of the stress and you can just go private.

[Petcat]

My health board doesn't offer nuchal scanning, just a blood test at 16 weeks so I won't be able to get a scan on that basis.
But I am reassured that people have been able to get private scans from proper doctors - I googled some private scan providers in my area and the shonky websites really put me off. Some of them seem to offer laser lipo and beauty treatments with a bit of antenatal scanning on the side. I don't want to 'peekaboo' at my baby, I just want to know whether they're alive or not.
I will try asking my GP to back up my midwife and see if the hospital will change their mind. I'll let you know how I get on!

[Worley]

every woman should be offered combined screening, which is the nuchal scan and then blood test from your arm. 8+5 is too early too date. complain to pals but you need to hurry. you can have combined screening until 14 weeks. many women turn up for a nuchal scan and then decline. a 4d place may be able to do a nuchal scan unless they have some job I agreement with a pathology lab to complete the blood testing. it is a two part test and the results of the nuchal scan are not meaningful without the blood test. Combined Screening is part if the fasp and you can contact them or google it if you need further information.

[Theas18]

Daisy dee I love your idea of what must be enshrined in law!!

My local area still does downs screening that doesn't involve nuchal fold testing. It is all still area dependent.

Ireland does no downs testing at all iirc

I'm afraid ladies all scans are medical screening tests, not opportunities o get photos and bond with your baby ( yeah they are that too of course but that secondary to the medical reasons to do them)

Op express you anxieties re the resolving clot etc and you migghtfind someone to push the rules, but they are all very bound by protocols and budgets.

Why not book a lovely reassuring private scan that will give time to put your mind at rest and provide some lovely photos ? It would make a great early Xmas present

[hazeyjane]

maybe ask for a recommendation on mn for a good clinic.

[Worley]

I meant a 4d place may not offer it as blood test is needed too.
I'm not sure wether a baby bonding service would do this. at the moment sonographers soon these types of scan are on dodgy group as they are not legally covered by their professional bodies. it is a great debate at the moment. I work for a 4d company and refuse to give any medical advise as we have no back up from drs and makes my society's legal protection invalid.
anyway.. sorry I'm rambling. but contact the hospital or pals.. maybe even a different midwife or the antenatal app office itself as the situation your describing should not happen.

[Oodthunkit]

petcat are you in Cumbria? I had one a 9 weeks and then nothing until 20weeks. No NT scan here. You've got more of a medical reason than normal though surely?

[noblegiraffe]

My private OSCAR scan was through Spire Healthcare and they have a few hospitals offering scans around the country. Perhaps there's one near you, OP?

www.spirehealthcare.com/our-treatments/body-map-and-a-z/a-z-treatments/nuchal-scanning/

[stowsettler]

No nuchal scans in Neath Port Talbot. Had a quad blood test at 16 weeks also.

[Petcat]

Oodthunkit I'm in south Wales, my health board is Cwm Taf. They seem to have a target to reduce the number of antenatal scans offered to pregnant women in the area. It's an area of high deprivation and all health services are stretched to the limit with long waiting times for everything and very overworked staff. I had to wait 4 days when I first started bleeding to have my 'emergency' scan. I thought that was hell, but waiting 10 weeks is going to be worse!

[CaseyShraeger]

Whereabouts are you, petcat? If you can even travel to London I can really recommend the FMC who do more detailed scans than the NHS normally dp and will process your bloods while doing the scan so that you get the full picture at the end of the appointment. One of my last EDD group on here travelled down for the day.

[Oodthunkit]

Can MW not push it through as medical necessity rather than just dating?

[CaseyShraeger]

Cross-posted, sorry...

[noblegiraffe]

What about the Spire Hospital in Cardiff?