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Pregnancy

Early scans - do they create more problems?

10 replies

electra · 16/08/2008 10:56

I just wanted to moan about my experience at the hospital yesterday as I am now feeling exhausted as a result.

The situation of this pregnancy is unusual anyway as the circumstances of it are not great and at first I was not sure if I could go though with it. However, I've decided that whatever happens termination isn't an option for me. I have well meaning people who are hoping I will have a miscarriage - which I don't much like, even though I've had mixed feelings about this pregnancy I'm sure miscarriage is awful in any situation I feel it's like wishing ill on someone.

Anyway, yesterday I was talking to my GP about a stabbing pain I had in my side. She was worried about the possibility of an ectopic pg and immediately referred me for a scan. Cue day at the hospital, waiting around in a ward. The whole experience was unpleasant, not least because the nursing staff could be heard talking loudly about the spelling of my surname, and my urine sample "That might suggest ectopic" which I felt was unprofessional.

Anyway, after I had been poked around by various people I finally got to the scan at about 5pm. The person doing the ultrasound confirmed the pregnancy is not in the fallopian tube but in the right place. However, later when I saw the doctor she said she was concerned because there was no heart beat. And they want me to go for another scan in 10 days to see if the pregnancy is viable.

I would prefer to see what happens rather than getting poked again in 10 days time - today I feel shattered. I only got a very faint positive on 4th August and since then the HCG levels have apparently risen a lot. But I don't see how it will help for me to now get on to a treadmill of early scans, when the problem I was referred for has been ruled out...

Any thoughts?

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belgo · 16/08/2008 11:03

electra - you don't have to have a scan if you don't want to.

How many weeks pregnant are you? Usually a heart beat is seen from 6 weeks, but if you are slightly less pregnant then you think you are, then it might not be until 7 weeks or more before they see a heart beat.

Will you be having a 12 week scan?

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belgo · 16/08/2008 11:05

and yes, I do think that although early scans are important to rule out ectopic, I do think they can cause unnecessary worry in some circumstances. This is why pregnancy scans should never be taken for granted - they are not carried out for fun, but for specific medical reasons.

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MmeLindt · 16/08/2008 11:21

The thing is, would you not prefer to know in 10 days time if the pregnancy is developing normally, then you can relax and begin to enjoy the pregnancy? (Even if you did have mixed feelings)

If you do decide not to go for the scan, it will not affect the outcome, just how soon you know about it.

It sounds like the whole experience was so bad because of the nursing staff and the waiting around all day rather than the scan itself.

Are you sure of your dates?

And, anyone "hoping" for a m/c deserves to be kicked where it hurts as a m/c is a horrible thing to go through.

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lazaroulovespastries · 16/08/2008 11:24

Go for the scan or you will worry even more.
It doesn't matter what circumstances surround your pregnancy, nobody should be wishing it away. I hope it all goes well for you. Good luck.

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lauraloola · 16/08/2008 11:29

I had a scan at 7 weeks as I had sharp pains on my left side. I also had my hcg levels done and they did rise a lot in 2 days. They could only see a very faint heartbeat on dd, I couldnt see it so maybe you cant see a heartbeat if you are very early.

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Mummyfor3 · 16/08/2008 11:35

I agree with a lot of the above: scan will not alter outcome, but you will know whether or not pregnancy is continuing earlier. It is entirely up to you to decide whether you would find a scan helpful or not.
If you were to miscarry nothing you do or do not do this early in pregnancy will have any influence on which way things may go. M/c can be no worse than a heavy period, can be terrible and can be a so called "missed miscarriage" where the pregnancy has ended but not bleeding/pain occurs and these are usually only picked up by scan.

Bottom line, IMO, do what feels right for you as there really is no right or wrong and whatever you decide in regards to scan, what will be, will be.

Hope you can resolve your mixed feelings re this pregnancy; to me that sounded worse than an unpleasant day on a day ward... Good luck.

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electra · 16/08/2008 12:22

Thanks for replies. I tested shortly before 4th August and it was negative. The doctor said the hcg levels would indicate a pg of quite a few weeks which doesn't fit with my urine tests. Also the person doing the scan said she thought it was too early to see anything properly...

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belgo · 16/08/2008 13:04

If you only tested positive 12 days ago, then you could be less then 6 weeks pregnant in which case it was too early to see heartbeat.

It's totally up to you whether or not you have the scan in 10 days time. If I were you, I wouldn't cancel it now, I would wait and see how you feel on the day of the scan, and if you find you want the reassurance that it will hopefully bring, then you still have the option of having the scan.

As MmeLindt says, the scan will not effect the outcome, just how soon you know about the outcome.

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electra · 16/08/2008 20:04

Yes I think I'll just leave it and see what happens. Thanks for replies.

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Qally · 16/08/2008 22:07

Good luck, whatever the outcome. I hope things work out for you.

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