Undecided if I should get an early scan

[Amz26]

Could anyone advise if it's worth getting an early scan?

So the reasons I'm unsure is that I'm worried I might find out something I don't want 2! The reason I do want to is because I want to check the baby is doing well.

I'm going to be 7 weeks on Friday so does anyone have any good advise? Xx

[sweetchilli77]

i had a private scan at 7,5 weeks for all your reasons above. for 1) i didn't believe it as we had been tic for 6 years before adopting,
for 2) if it wasn't meant to be then i could move on...

Also and this was very personal choice,but i thought if i at least of had a scan pic of a baby i had actually got pregnant, then i didn't want to miss it.

Im 25 week now!

I don't think you have anything to loose xx

[sweetchilli77]

TTC not tic

[ricepolo]

If there's a problem I'd rather know sooner than later-wouldn't want to not find out until 12wks.

The downside I guess is that if there's something which is worrying for the next few weeks which resolves itself and which you'd never have known about if you'd waited until 12wks (e.g. Slow growth so the baby is measuring behind at 8wks but catches up by 12)...

[Amz26]

sweetchilli77 Wow congratulations that's such a lovely story! I bet you couldn't believe it!! Thanks for your advice I just don't want to see anything bad but I guess waiting is not going to make any difference to the outcome! I'm just so happy being pregnant I don't want it to change xx

[Amz26]

ricepolo- That was my thinking too.. It's such early days and something may show up and 7 that might be resolved by 12.. The wait to the next scan would be agonising

[paperandpaint]

Hi Amz26, congratulations!

I was pregnant in June and had a private early scan at 8 weeks. I sadly found out it was a MMC which was obviously awful especially as I had to wait 10 days after the first scan just to make sure.

When I became pregnant again (the next month - very unexpected!) we really thought hard about an early scan (obviously consulting the great and good of Mumsnet!) and decided against it. The reason being that while you can get a positive scan at 8 weeks, things can also go wrong before the 12 week scan. I knew that for me personally, the reassurance wouldn't be enough and I would still be worried until the 12 week scan. We decided that whatever was going to be, would be and I would just wait.

The actual 12 week scan was the most nerve wracking thing but all was OK thankfully!

It's a really personal choice and good luck with whatever you decide.

[Amz26]

Sorry to here about your MC paperandpaint I'm glad your next BFP was a sticky bean :) how far along are you now?

It's such a hard choice to make and my OH is so chilled about waiting, but he's not carrying the baby so doesn't have the same connection as me X

[Bear2014]

Worth every penny I think. This is an IVF pregnancy and I have a history of mc so i need them to keep calm. I had one at 7 and 9 weeks. Now 10+2 and counting down to the 12 week.

[TeaCakeLiterature]

I had a private scan at 7wks because I knew so many people who found out they had an unviable pregnancy and there was no heartbeat at 12wk scan.

If there's a heartbeat at an early scan the chances of miscarriage are greatly reduced so I felt it worth paying for an early scan so I could enjoy the 5wks leading up to the 12wk scan! Made me much more relaxed, and was amazing to compare how it had changed from 7wks to 12 in such a short space of time!!

Definitely worth it in my experience

[MouseLove]

As you know I've been swaying about getting a scan or not. But I think I've decided that I'm going to wait.

Scans are only £50 in Manchester so it's not even a question about money but more so that I don't think it will calm my nerves.

I'm suffering with waves of complete happiness and omg I can't believe this is true feelings mixed with moments of extreme worry and negative thoughts. There's nothing I can do to alter the outcome if baby isn't viable but what I can do is be positive, look after myself and enjoy my pregnancy.

If I have a scan now there's no saying the baby won't be ok by 12 weeks and visa versa if they find something wrong now I'll only worry more for the next few weeks.

So I'm 7 weeks tomorrow. I'll be almost 9 weeks when I see my midwife and that's 3 weeks away from my scan. I think I can wait as I've had no bleeding or cramps, feel fine and although I have no symptoms and had the clearblue hiccup. I have to have faith in my body and that it can carry this baby safely for the full 9 months.

I think whatever you do, it has to be the right choice for you personally. X

[Amz26]

Thanks for your posts ladies :)
Bear2014 - Its Defo not the money that's putting me off as I'm sure it will 100% be worth the money.. I didn't think it would be such a hard choice! X

TeaCakeLiterature That's so true it would be lovely to have a scan picture at 7weeks and 12weeks to compare X

Waves mouse I know we're just as bad as eachother!! I have the same feeling as you its such a rollercoaster and we've only just got on haha.. I'm glad you've got your appointments to look forward too!! I'm still waiting for mine :( I think it's because we just want the best outcome we all worry so much X

[MmmMalbec]

I had some spotting at 6 weeks so I had a scan at my clinic (clomid baby) and I saw a little grain of rice with a bulging HB. I then had a scan at 7 weeks as they do that as standard before they discharge you and saw a much bigger blob with a HB. Now I've found an offer with a local place for a scan for £28 so I'm having that on Saturday when I'll be just under 9 weeks. With DS I waited until my NHS scan and I was a total and utter wreck on the morning. I couldn't even breath properly I was so nervous and it totally ruined the experience of the scan. So this time I just said I'll do whatever it takes not to feel anxious. After having those early scans I don't feel anxious at all. If everything is ok on Saturday then I know the chance of MC is very very low so I should be way more relaxed by my dating scan. I can't imagine what it must be like to get to the dating scan and hear the baby died weeks ago.

So I think it depends on how you feel in yourself and whether you think it would help, but it 100% has for me!

[TriJo]

I did it with my son and I have the appointment booked for this one. I've been unsure on dates both times and the scan gives clarification, also it's really nice to hear a little heartbeat thumping away. I'd also like to know about an MMC sooner rather than later so we can do something about it and move on.

I'm the kind of person who needs as much information as possible though at all times.

[Lunalovepud]

I've had an early scan both pregnancies because I am anxious and impatient and I feel better after I have seen the baby's heartbeat. All you will see is a little mushroom with a heartbeat - if that's enough for you then go for it - it has always been enough for me!

[harleysmammy]

I had a scan at 10 weeks down to bleeding but before that i was panicking something was wrong and i didnt know about it. Having the scan and not having to wait until 12 weeks was so reassuring. I didnt pay for my early scan but i paid for an 18 week one, id had a scan at 16 weeks but i wanted to know the gender and even though i knew things were okay, because i couldnt feel him yet i wanted reassurance. It was great and well worth the money. Although it is reassuring at an early scan to see the heartbeat, dont expect to see a baby having a disco in there because even at 10 weeks, my son looked like a bean haha. I would definitely have an early scan x

[ricepolo]

www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/information/ultrasound-scans/

Read down at where it gives you risks after seeing a heartbeat.

If you see a heartbeat at an early scan then you know that your odds of miscarriage are very low indeed (obviously they could be this low without the scan, you just wouldn't know!). Obviously you could fall into that small % of miscarriages, but to say it's not worth having an early scan because you could still miscarry isn't sufficiently acknowledging the considerably reduced rate of miscarriage post a 'good' scan.

[Embra]

I got first eus because I had very bad abdominal pain and it was at 4 weeks, there was n heartbeat so I was asked to come back in 2 weeks, then I came at around 6 weeks and saw a heartbeat, at 8 weeks I went for harmony test and saw the baby again already moving ! Now I can not wait for 12 week, I worry all the time. Although I read that ultrasound might be bad for embryo so now I worry about this as well((

[jld128]

i had a missed miscarriage in june and found out i was pregnant again in november last year had an early scan at 6weeks and a reassurance scan at 9 i found they helped at the time but then made the fear more real as i have seen and heard the heartbeat i am now 15weeks and had my 12week scan which was very good but i am still absolutely petrified and feel i can't enjoy this pregnancy so i guess what i'm trying to say is i had scans but i don't feel they helped me

[jld128]

also i'd had an early scan before my miscarriage and saw a faint heartbeat again not being negative just sharing my experience

[badg3r]

I had early scan with both of mine. First was because we were seeing my parents a little before 12 weeks then not for a long time, and I wanted to tell them about the pregnancy in person knowing that everything was going as it should. Second was because my due date coincided with our wedding and moving abroad and I wanted to be sure all was ok before I shifted all the dates! Waiting till 12 weeks would have meant we lost a lots of money on deposits due to cancellation policies. With my second the consultant said the official advice is to avoid early scans unless medically necessary. They found a reasonably large cyst on my ovary at the early scan that was a bit of a worry for me. By 12 weeks it had gone so I wouldn't have known about it if I'd not had the early scan. If I got pregnant again I'm not sure if I would have an early scan, it would depend on circumstances.

[Justcurious000]

1st pregnancy I didn't as DH didn't want us to spend the money, but this pregnancy I did and I was 7 weeks gone.

Obviously baby is very much Like a prawn at that stage and doesn't move either. But it's great to know that little life inside you is doing ok and exactly how far you are.

Personally I'd do it again.

[NewMum17]

I had an early scan mainly for reassurance as I was pretty confused as to why the doc wouldn't see me until 8 weeks. Im a FTM and thought the reason you notify them ASAP is to be seen ASAP. I'm glad I paid for a scan because it was such a surreal experience. They say they will refer you to the relevant people if they do find anything wrong. It IS a scary thing to do but a great experience at the same time. I'm glad I did it because the doc didn't even do a urine sample at my first appt which left me come away feeling a bit odd. Good luck whatever your decision. I definitely advise taking someone supportive in with you for the scan though. xX

[Amz26]

Thanks everyone for your posts! I think I'm going to get an early scan but I'm going to wait until I'm 8 weeks xx

[NewMum17]

Good luck xX Let us know how it goes afterwards if you feel up to it.

[MouseLove]

Looks like the decision has been taken from my hands. I'm having an early scan on Saturday at 8am as my GP is concerned with my blood results. Basically I'm hyperthyroid and unmedicated and they want to make sure baby is growing as he should. The lack of symptoms and clearblue digital not progressing is enough of a worry.

Trying not to worry.

Personally my thoughts still point to, if you have no reason to worry, don't. I'd give everything to having a normal experience right now. X