Scans in pregnancy- a general query. Maybe trigger warning for methionine of miscarriage?

[CurlewKate]

When I was pregnant, a million years ago, we had, for an uncomplicated pregnancy, a dating scan at 12 weeks, and an anomaly scan at 20 weeks (I think- it was a long time ago!) That was it, unless there were any concerns.
People seem to have a lot more now-particularly very early ones. It seems to me that, considering the frequency of early miscarriage, for example, they must just increase anxiety and stress? I certainly think they would have for me. I don't understand how they are of any benefit. Presumably they can't provide much useful information, and just add to the grief if the worst happens. Or am I missing something? I suppose I'm also influenced by the fact that in my day, we tried to minimise scans because there was some concern among some people that ultrasound could be damaging to the baby. I know that's been shown not to be true, but it's still there in my head! I remember worrying because I had to have more-my babies were enormous!

Ah, shit. Title should read "mention of miscarriage."

AFAIK the NHS doesn't offer scans before 12 weeks (ish) depending on when a woman 'logs' her pregnancy with the NHS.
Do you mean women paying for private scans?

@SouthernLassies I don't know- I've just seen lots of posts on here about 6 week scans. Are they private?

Well because urine pregnancy tests can come up with a positive so early these days, some women know they're pregnant before they even miss a period. Many women who find out early want some reassurance that there's a heartbeat and baby forming before the 12 week scan, so often have a scan at say 7 weeks.

I've known couples over the years go to the 12 week NHS scan as their first scan, to be told they've had a missed miscarriage. That is a really sad situation to be in - they've probably been getting excited for the best part of 8 weeks about that pregnancy / baby. Many other countries do a viability scan as standard at around 7 weeks, which can help limit this scenario. My midwife at my booking In appointment a few weeks ago told me most women she sees now have paid for a private viability scan.

And then you can get a sex scan at 16 weeks, and a 4D scan later on... partly women have more scans now (including me) because there's a thriving market for them and it's so tempting... and they're often good value and also performed by NHS sonographers working a second job, so they're legit.

Yes most will be private or NHS if previous issues in previous pregnancies- NHS only do 12 and 20 week as standard

I really don't understand posts like this. If it doesn't affect you, butt out. We had 20+ scans for my daughter, I had had 13 scans by 12 weeks! And I would do it all over again for the chance at another pregnancy. I couldn't give a crap what anyone else does or does not do. Ultrasound also does not hurt the baby or the mother 🙄

I had a private scan at 8 weeks because I was excited, a very bad NHS 12 weeks scan (couldn't find baby, did internal scan that caused pain and bleeding and a lot of anxiety), 20 week anatomy scan, emergency scan at 32 weeks because of bad fundal height measurement (baby had turned transverse and caused a dodgy reading) and then a pre-birth scan at 36 weeks because she was previously transverse and then wanted to check she'd turned. But we get 3 at my NHS, 12 weeks (NIPT testing), 20 weeks (anatomy) and 36 week (delivery planning). The extra ones emergency and then one private one I had.

I fell pregnant with twins overseas, with private health coverage. I had a history of miscarriage so saw my ObGyn as soon as I had a positive test. I had a scan at 4 weeks, 5 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks, 10 weeks, 12 weeks, 15 weeks, 18 weeks, 20 weeks, 22 weeks.

I then moved back to the UK where I was classed as a high risk pregnancy. I was scanned properly at 24 weeks, had a mobile scan for reduced movements at 24+4 weeks, proper scan at 27 weeks, 30 weeks, scan for reduced movements at 31 weeks and 32 weeks, proper scans then twice weekly, including 20 mins before delivery before my c section at 36 weeks.

Admittedly this is probably an extreme example but my babies had no ill effects and I was very comforted knowing they were being watched so carefully.

Well not all that long ago they didn’t scan at all and my mother found out she was having twins when they were born. Should we go back to that?

I had a lot of trouble getting pregnant and several miscarriages. The early scans I had provided a lot of reassurance that things were progressing as well as they could be - or gave me early warning when they weren’t. If you see a heartbeat at 8 weeks you have an excellent chance of progressing to full term.

Also, take it from one who has experienced several miscarriages - they’re all awful. Nothing makes them worse or better or more or less sad. Having seen your little blob on a screen or not does not affect your grief.

i had an early scan because i had zero idea of how pregnant i was havign what i thought were my normal periods! as it turned out, it wasnt a period it was heavy implantation bleeding from twins!

After recurrent miscarriage I was offered a 6-7 week scan to check for a heartbeat and then was prescribed progesterone. They don't like to prescribe it before knowing their is a viable heartbeat as I believe it can delay an inevitable miscarriage.

I was then given scans every two weeks until the 12 week scan for reassurance. This is because studies have shown that women who have recurrent miscarriage and have reassurance scans were slightly more likely to have a pregnancy to term then those that do not. The causal link is unclear but it is offered anyway.

Sorry for the grammar/typos. I'm rushing while I have a sec

I paid for a private scan at 8 weeks, because if the embryo wasn’t viable, I’d rather know at 8 weeks than have to wait until 12 weeks with the NHS.

It helped me because if it was good news, great, if it was bad news, at least I know sooner rather than later.

Other than that I’ve only had the NHS 12 week and 20 week scans.

Not sure how having the early scan would have made me more anxious?

I had ds abroad.

I had viability scan at 8 weeks.

Then scans at 12, 16, 20, 28, 32 and 37 weeks.

I remember when I came back saying how I don't think I'd manage to relax during pregnancy if I only had 2.

But that was because I'd had more. I don't know how I'd feel if I'd had ds in the uk?

With one of mine I had a scan at 9 weeks because I'd some significant bleeding and I didn't know what was going on (baby was fine). I think she said something along the lines of "when you came in here you had a 25% chance of miscarriage, but now we've seen that everything is in the right place, the heartbeat is good, and measurements are good, we can say the risk has dropped to 5%"

That said, I know of at least two friends who had early scans at 7-9 weeks that showed everything was OK, but they still unfortunately went on to miscarry. So I think they can give a false sense of security. And/or they become addictive because that brief reassurance doesn't last.

"Scanxiety" is a thing. You get yourself all worked up for each scan, and if its good news than you get a huge rush of reassurance, but then you find yourself needing that constant reassurance again and again. But of course, who know which way round it goes - if we had no availability of scans would we just get on with it, or would we worry even more?

And 36 weeks nowadays (since roughly 3 years ago in a lot of trusts)

@MaybeBabyTwo "I really don't understand posts like this. If it doesn't affect you, butt out."

The same can be said for practically every other thread on Mumsnet! I was simply curious.

I had many scans during my pregnancy due to my ‘horrific obstetric history’. I was very glad to have them.

@Pollywoddles Of course. I did say "uncomplicated pregnancy" in my opening post.

My pregnancy was uncomplicated.

@Pollywoddles Fair enough.If Mumsnet allowed editing, I would add "or uncomplicated obstetric history" to my opening post. Apologies.

We had a private scan about six weeks as my pregnancy symptoms disappeared overnight and I feared the worst. All was fine but it was so reassuring. I couldn’t have waited calmly for another six weeks for the nhs scan. It was only £40 or something.

i also think there’s a lot of social media pressure for the later four d scans. Don’t shoot me but I actually think all babies look the same in scans whether it’s 2d 3d or 4D so we didn’t bother.

I had early private scans on all three of my pregnancies. On my first and third they gave me real reassurance, as once a heartbeat has been seen the pregnancy is much more likely to go to term.

In my second pregnancy it did find a missed miscarriage. I was referred into the NHS and able to have surgery before I went on holiday. The holiday then was healing and I enjoyed wine and the spa. If not for the scan I would have abstained for no reason, and worse would probably have miscarried naturally while away.

Big fan of the early scan.