early scan to sort out dates - what to expect?

[roundabout1]

I'm pregnant & think I conceived either 7th or 9th Sept, after being told by my gp to add 2 weeks on to that date to get my due date I've just seen my midwife who wants me to get a scan to sort out my dates for sure. She was getting very flustered trying to work out the date on that calender thing as I didn't know my last period. I had an early mc 1/2nd Sept & did a preg test after bleeding stopped & that was negative so I was confident on my dates. Anyway what I'm asking is what will they do at the EPU, will it just be like a "normal" scan but earlier? & will they do any other tests? - thanks

[alana39]

Depending on how early the scan is it may need to be transvaginal rather than abdominal. I'm sure someone else will come along and tell you when they do these up to. I assume they just want to date earlier so that you get offered things like nuchal fold scan / triple test at the correct time.

[AnAngelWithin]

hiya. it will probably be an internal scan to be honest, so not very dignified i am afraid. I suppose other tests depend on what the scan shows.

[roundabout1]

Oh no I am useless at anything internal, I am the world's biggest wimp, seeing how many cenimetres dilated I was was one of the worst things about my labour!

[humanfraggle]

hello

Hopefully they will try and do an external scan first, make sure you've got a full bladder to lift your uterus up as high as possible!

I had to have an early scan in my last pg and ended up having an internal scan after the external one wasn't successful. It wasn't too bad, the lady was very lovely and gentle - to be honest I find the smear test much, much worse than the internal scan was.

Just another point - I have been told that if you have an early scan you will not be offered the routine 13 week scan. Not sure how true it is or if it's the same in every area of the country.

Fingers crossed for an external scan!

[roundabout1]

Thanks humanfraggle, I'll be drinking lots of water thurs am & keeping everything crossed they do an external first!

[MandaHugNKill]

Ok, given that you know when you had an early miscarriage (beginning of september), followed by a negative pregnancy test...when did you get your postive pregnancy test? A 'early' pregnancy test will usually show positive two days or so after implatantion, which will be (again, usually) between 6-11 days past ovulation.

I only ask as there is also the 'risk' that you'll be too early to see anything more than the sac on Thursday and whilst that can be TOTALLY NORMAL for a very early pregnancy, if you're not prepared it can also be very traumatic with copious amounts of worrying by you until they re-scan you a week or so later.

WIshing you lots of good luck!

[first1]

I've had two early internal scans (though I had to pay for them)just to see if things are developing as they should. First one was at 6.5 weeks, but even the 10week one was internal too. Midwife said all scans before 12weeks are internal as baby is so low in the pelvis. Good luck!

[ShowOfHands]

I had an external abdominal scan at 7+4 as I was bleeding and they could see everything they needed, including heartbeat, corpus luteum etc. I also had a transvaginal scan, purely to try and locate the origin of the bleed. My 12 week scan was actually at 10+6 and also an external abdominal scan so doesn't follow that it will be an internal one.

PS the internal one was fine. Very thin probe with a condom on it, no discomfort.

[roundabout1]

Thanks for the reassurance ladies, very nervous about it for some reason.
Showofhands - glad to hear it's a thin probe!
MandaNugNKill - I'm trying not to get my hopes up about seeing much tbh. I'm pretty confident on my dates, I've only had sex twice since mc on the 7th & 9th Sept (dp has been away & since he's back I've felt like crap!) the midwife wants to make certain that I did have a full mc hence checking the dates.

[Gangle]

Good luck in getting a dating scan on the NHS! I was supposed to have one after conceiving DC2 (am now 18 weeks) as hadn't had period in over 2 years (was still breastfeeding DS) and no idea when I conceived. They just booked me in for a scan on a random date which worked out to be when I was about 12 weeks. Wasn't happy with that though as worried they would miss the time periods for doing the nuchal fold so booked a private scan which was done externally and confirmed I was 8.4 weeks. Could actually see loads and heard the heartbeat which was quite emotional as this wasn't a planned baby and I had had conflicting feelings over what to do. I also had a private scan done as soon as I got a BFP as I was terrified I was like, 4 months pregnant and didn't know! It was an internal scan but too early to see anything (think they dated it as between 4 and 4.5 weeks but said I would need a later scan to confirm) - womb was literally empty so huge question mark over whether I was or wasn't, even though I had a BFP. They can usually tell from your bloods though whether the pregnancy is a gooer. If you want me advice, chase up for the scan as it may be left to around 12 weeks if you don't! Good luck.

[MandaHugNKill]

Thinking of you this morning, roundabout - Good luck!

[roundabout1]

Mandahugnkill - Thank you

Well I had an external scan - yay! I was told that if they couldn't see enough I would need an internal but luckily was ok. I'm right about my dates & am 8 weeks + 1. The doctor said they found a really strong heartbeat & I can have my 12 week scan as well as "this one just looks like a baked bean" I was kind of hoping I would be pg from the mc as at least that way I'd be further along & hopefully nearer the end of feeling crap all the time! Thank you for your replies at least I was prepared for an internal scan if necessary x

[humanfraggle]

roundabout that's great news, glad the external scan was enough

x

[MandaHugNKill]

Indeed, this is great news! Many congrats on your pregnancy and here's hoping the rest is uneventful and stress-free!