Heartbeat at 8.5 week scan

[mummyofnone]

Hi guys - it’s me (yet again)
firstly, if you have seen my posts you will notice I’m really struggling with my anxiety. 4 years of infertility and we are finally pregnancy through PGT-M. I had the 7 week scan and all was good. Had a rubbish and stressful week and said I’d like to book a practice scan to see the little one ans get some reassurance. I went to a private clinic and they did an ultrasound (on top of the abdomen) I saw the little red and blue markings on the scan- i think to show the heart and circulation. However the sonographer (who wasn’t very friendly) clicked a button and said ‘and you can hear the heartbeat’ I didn’t ask for that as I didn’t think we could so early on but it was lovely to hear (I actually asked him to play it again which he did for another 2 secs) anyway, I went down the Google rabbit hole and so many women have said it’s dangerous and I could have hurt the baby. I don’t trust the clinic now and will call the doctor tomorrow (I also won’t do a private scan again) on other threads - there have been so many lovely and supportive women (one or two have been exceptional) I am just wondering if I’m being silly or if Iv damaged my baby

also, I know I’m struggling with my anxiety- I am having therapy and am trying various methods but I feel like I’ll have to accept the fact I’ll be scared until I get to the 12 week scan.

Kindly OP , if this is going to be your only pregnancy I'd really try to enjoy it. All these early scans cause more worry. It will fly to 12 weeks which us when most get their first scan. Amd they'll be able to date you properly then.

you are the reason these reassurance scans are offered, you took advantage by paying privately to have it and your attitude towards the person helping you “the crappy sonographer” is pretty horrible, crappy even!

I wish I had had a heart beat with every pregnancy I had.

In terms of the scan - yes, the baby will be fine and it won't harm it. Seeing a heartbeat is a good indicator the pregnancy will be viable, but it isn't a guarantee - but please take it as a little bit of reassurance that seeing the heartbeat drastically reduces your odds of miscarriage vs not seeing one. Anxiety during pregnancy (especially after losses etc) is absolutely awful, be kind to yourself ❤️ I found it easier to sort of disassociate from my pregnancy for the most part and not really "think" of myself as pregnant most of the time until I had an appointment. I have known another woman who paid for weekly private scans to reassure her as it was the only thing that made it bearable for her - you do whatever is best for you!

Sorry you're feeling so anxious OP. I was the same in my first pregnancy. Congratulations on your pregnancy! The scan absolutely would not have caused any harm or injury to your unborn baby, the clinic you have gone to are regulated and scans wouldn't be advertised and given if they were any major risk to you or your baby. I'm heavily pregnant with my 3rd now, due any day and I just had scan number 14 this morning. Baby is very active+ healthy and I heard the heartbeat too. NHS do the very same thing. Have you had your booking appointment with the midwife? Could you have an open discussion about your anxiety? They are very good and offer a lot of support to you throughout your pregnancy. I hope the remainder of your pregnancy goes well - be kind to yourself, it's a vulnerable time for you.

Well if you were in the room and were part of the interaction, then you would be able to comment. I stand by my comment that the service was appalling, We have reported it and have been advised that the heartbeat should not have been made available to us and an investigation is taking place

Thank you - I’m not too worried about the scan itself- it’s more the fact we heard the heartbeat and I have been told that this shouldn’t be done before 13 weeks- the clinic is looking into this now - which is making me so anxious
I feel so so worried, I’m trying to manage my anxiety but feel like hearing the heartbeat might have caused him damage as it produces a heat that is risky to the embryo x

Thank you so much for your message and your good wishes xx I had seen the heartbeat before so I was happy all was ok. I’m ok with the scans- I can see them being useful but I’m so worried about the fact we heard the heartbeat. It’s against regulations and they say it produces heat that it shouldn’t. The clinic itself are concerned that this has happened and are looking into it which makes me feel me feel even more worried x

You have come on here for support but your attitude towards the sonographer is incredibly entitled.
They are a health professional with high qualifications.
Ultrasound does not harm you or the baby.
all the best for your pregnancy but please be kind, it sounds like you will need it.

as I said, it’s hearing the heartbeat that’s the worry and it’s published everywhere that this shouldn’t happens. They have launched an investigation.
i have been perfectly ‘kind’ but i think im allowed to say how im feeling - other people seem to understand and are kind but you seem to be personally impacted by the fact i am questioning a professional (someone I haven’t even named or mentioned the clinic name) - just because someone is a professional - malpractice is a real thing and if the clinic are worried that this has been done my concerns are valid.
please don’t message again as it feels as though you are the person being unkind

Thank you so so much x the clinic confirmed that the sonographer should not have done this and they offered another reassurance scan. I took it (with another sonographer in a different clinic) initially I was 8w5d and he was 2.57cm and today I am 9 days and he’s 2.66. We could see the heart beating clearly and saw the teeny little arms stumps waving. I felt better. They did confirm that if the sonographer had concerns he should have done an internal scan- to be honest, he was so rude and in such a rush I think he wanted it over and done with. I’m really really worried that he hasn’t grown a lot and that there may be long term risks from what he did (it was about 2-3 seconds the two times he did it) he said my BMI was heavier (I’m a size 10-12) and so he pressed down more and didn’t see a good rhythm in the babies heart. I know this wasn’t true as he showed us and told us it looked great and I think he was showing off with the heart rate. They are dealing with it in the clinic but after 4 years of infertility il frightened about what unseen damage he may have done x your reassurance has really helped- I’m so frightened x

On the 27th when you wrote this thread you stated ' (I also won’t do a private scan again) '
however upon complaining to the doctor / private scan clinic ' they offered another reassurance scan. I took it '

why

why on earth did you have another private scan when the first one gave you so much anxiety