Hi everyone,
I'm feeling really conflicted about my pregnancy care and could use some advice. I'm 38 with a history of 5-6 miscarriages/chemical pregnancies. Currently 7 weeks pregnant.
My journey so far:
- 5 weeks: Private fertility clinic scan. Told likely to miscarry due to hemorrhaging and history. Started intralipid treatment.
- 6 weeks: Another private scan confirming viable pregnancy and initial diagnosis incorrect.
- 7 weeks: NHS scan today, confirming pregnancy.
Total cost for private care so far: £2000
Upcoming scans:
- Sept 3: Private (with fortnightly scans and monthly intralipids planned)
- Sept 4: NHS
- Sept 18: NHS (10 weeks) + first midwife appointment
The private clinic has me on several medications including steroids to suppress my immune system (I have autoimmune conditions). The NHS won't prescribe these.
My concerns:
- The NHS is advising against continuing private scans, saying too many can be dangerous. But I can't find any evidence of this online.
- The private clinic is a 6-hour round trip and costs about £1000 per visit.
- My husband is worried the private clinic might be mainly money-motivated. We're wondering if I can communicate with them remotely instead of having fortnightly in-person scans.
The private clinic insists on scanning me personally, saying:
a) The quality of the scan depends on the sonographer (even though they were incorrect the first time).
b) They need to see me to determine if my medication needs adjusting.
Does this sound legitimate to you?
I'm torn because I want the best care, but the contradictory advice and high costs are stressing me out. The NHS care seems limited compared to what the private clinic offers, but are so many private scans really necessary? I'm considering cutting back to just visits for intralipids and medication adjustments.
Some additional context:
- I've been taken advantage of by other fertility doctors in the past, so I'm cautious.
- This pregnancy occurred naturally, but due to my history, I was prescribed medication immediately.
Has anyone been in a similar situation? How did you navigate it? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!