12 week scan - urgent advice needed!

[wondering7777]

I'm 12 weeks pregnant and paid for a NIPT blood test to be done recently. The package also included a 12 week nuchal scan, where they checked that all organs were present, measured the baby, took a nuchal measurement etc.

I'm due to have a 12 week scan and blood test at the NHS this afternoon and am wondering whether I still need to go to this appointment?

It sounds like a silly question but I'm just worrying that a) the NHS might spot something the private clinic didn't; and b) I want to make sure that I don't fall off their system as I want to have the baby at an NHS hospital.

I've been trying to call the hospital all morning to ask for advice but nobody's picking up the phone.

Should I go along anyway or is it a complete waste of time/NHS resources?

Any advice gratefully received!

@Horehound it's my first pregnancy so yes, I am worried. Everything's completely new to me.

Definitely go, two opinions are better than one

@Horehound give OPa break you have absolutely no idea of why she may be anxious or what her experiences are. There's a kinder and much less patronising way of trying to put someone's mind at rest

I just gave birth to my first 9 weeks ago.
Take my advice and calm down! You have a long way to go. If you have a sip of alcohol or a small bit of rare meat or blue cheese it's really not going to do anything.

I’m in the same situation - booked to do NIPT privately, including a scan. I asked about this in advance and was told I didn’t need an NHS dating scan as well. I conceived through IUI though so am 100% certain of my EDD which they were happy to accept and record on my notes at my booking appointment.

As your appointment is this afternoon however, you’re probably best to go to it now and just tell them the situation.

I had a private 12 week scan and NIPT so didn't have the NHS 12 week scan or bloods etc. The NHS just confirmed my due date at my 20 week scan. The private 12 week scan was certainly more through than the NHS one (45 mins instead of 20 20mins) so I wasn't concerned about anything being missed. It certainly didn't mean I was 'out of the NHS system' or anything like that!
As the appointment is this afternoon I would attend, however, as I'd hate to be responsible for a missed appointment!

Thanks. Since there’s not a 100% consensus I think it’s probably best if I go just in case. And I still haven’t been able to get through on the phone!

It does seem a bit odd having two 12 week scans in a matter of days, but there you go.

Just thought I’d update for anyone else in this situation in future. I went to the hospital and the NHS said I needn’t have come as all the information from the 12 week private scan (which I brought along with me) was there. The sonographer was in training though so she was pleased to have the chance to practice on me.

They did enter all the details from my private scan into their system and said they’d go with the due date given by the private clinic. They also booked me in for the 20 week scan while there, so that was something.

I wish I’d been able to get through on the phone beforehand but there you go!

That's not the case everywhere then because it wasn't acceptable when I had had a private scan.

I had a private scan at 8 weeks and turned out to to 12, my trust wouldn’t accept the details and in order to update my notes about a dating scan (12 week scan name) they wanted one themselves

Happy to see my baby again !

If you want to give birth in NHS care then I think you should go along with their processes.

Also - from experience, a lot of the clinicians who work at private clinics also work in the NHS. Id really stop paying for a service you're going to get on the NHS for free, unless theres something you particularly want or the NHS arent giving you.

Its my 1st pregnancy too, I was like you and super on edge about everything, but ive realised that if I lived like that for 9 months id wear myself out! Enjoy it 🙂

Just here for the scan pics

My NHS scan had no idea I'd had private scans - how would they? I never told the private sonographers where I was planning to give birth!

Are you EU? I'm in Spain and toxo test is standard here, but not in UK plus the late scan that you also don't get in the UK.

Glad everything’s ok. Best wishes for the rest of your pregnancy

My NHS scan had no idea I'd had private scans - how would they?

I don’t think they would ordinarily, but I took my private notes along today!

Glad everything’s ok. Best wishes for the rest of your pregnancy

Thanks!

Can I ask why a few of you paid privately for 12 week scans?

My NHS one is next week & it never occurred to me to look at a private one (in fact I didn't really know that was a thing).

For those saying they had a NIPT so not to have anything else, did you still have the nuchal done?
The nuchal measurement can tell a lot more than the NIPT, though obviously cant tell you what the problem may be.

From personal experience of a high nuchal, clear NIPT and a very poorly baby.

All the best OP.

Should have read the whole post. Congrats OP

I know you're saying you didn't need to bother because you had a scan/bloods already but didn't they do your booking in?

So my 12 week, they weighed and measured me, did bloods, tested wee sample. But then they gave me my pregnancy folder and booked me in for my 16 week (doppler, anti d results), booked my 20 week scan and my first mw appointment in clinic.

My booking in was completely separate to my 12 week scan with all three (three different areas). Booking in with community midwife at GP surgery at 8-10 weeks, then 12 week scan obviously at the hospital.

I’m not sure why you booked and paid for a private scan at 12 weeks when you know you’ll get a free scan with the NHS at 12 weeks 🤷‍♀️

Same situation as you for both DC, has alrady had Harmony test + scan

DC1 - NHS sonographer told me I shouldn't have bothered and should have cancelled

DC2 - I cancelled 12 week scan telling them I had had it privately with harmony test, they deleted me from hospital records and I didn't get invited for 20 week scan, had to chase and chase to get back on their 'list'. Midwife seemed to think this was an inevitable consequence of not having the NHS 12 week scan!

So if I had DC3 (eek!) I'd just go to the NHS 12 week scan

The OP has said that she paid for NIPT blood testing (not typically available on the NHS) and that the 12 week scan came as part of the package ittooshallpass.