Viability scans

[LoveRainbow02]

What's your thoughts on early viability/reassurance scans?
I'm 6 weeks pregnant from my conception date and battling with myself as to whether I should book 1 or not. I've had 3 losses in total, 2 of of them being back to back last year. Feel like I need 1 to settle my anxiety but I know I I go and dont see a heartbeat this early itll only make me worry more. Who's had an early scan and what was your experience of it? How early did you see a hb?

Given your history I can see why you would want one - I would wait until 7 weeks though as a scan at 6 weeks can go either way in terms of seeing a heartbeat and it may just cause you further anxiety x

I agree with @itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted
Tbh i would even wait 8 weeks as sometimes HB only shows between 7 and 8

:)

Don't do it too early, as it might be difficult to see something clear enough to reassure you.
Also be mindful that early scans aren't accurate in measurements most of the tine so don't get anxious after the scan. Go with the expectation to see a forming baby and maybe heartbeat.

I agree that after 7 is ok, but best is 8 weeks.

Logically I know I should wait a little longer but my anxiety is ridiculous. I had an nhs scan with my ds at 7+4 and seen the heart beating away strong then but I'm really struggling as I've since had 2 losses after having my ds. Every little twinge or backpain and I am freaking out! I know having a scan this early wont really tell me much but I feel I need to do something to have the pregnancy validated or recognised.

@LoveRainbow02 i had scans early and not only i left in the worst anxiety but the fact that nobody will ever tell you it’s viable after at least a HB is making it worse.
Honestly no point in going before 7 weeks.
Some pregnancies progress differently and some (like mine) ended in MC even the one that show nice progression fetal pole etc...
If i were you i wouldnt put myself through this.
Good luck though as i feel you pain x

I went weekly from 5.5 (long history of MMC and failed IVF) helped me through the early weeks

I had one at 6/7 weeks and it helped me a lot.

People tend to sneer at them and im not sure why.

Thanks for sharing all your experiences. I really dont know what to do. I would like to have an early 1 but also dont want to add unnecessary stress and anxiety to what I'm already feeling. Most places say a hb can be detected as early as 5.5 weeks but I know this isnt the case for most and also seeing a hb doesn't mean everything will work out ok anyway. I have the midwife on the 27th for my booking appt but seems so long away and no guarantees I would get referred for an early NHS scan either.

@OP you're 6 weeks since conception? This means you're actually classed as 8 weeks pregnant.

If this is the case, I would go to do a private as soon as you find a place available. You're enough far along to see a baby and heartbeat.

Sorry 4 weeks from conception so 6 weeks in total. Can I blame baby brain already 😂

I would wait until 7 weeks.

I was told a pregnancy was non viable at an nhs scan at 6 weeks, but she's two years old now and won't go to bed 😂

I had two miscarriages as we tried for a third child - we had a big gap and eventually decided to go for it as we'd always regret not trying.

With both MC I didn't have early scans - I seemed to know with both that it wasn't going to work even though with the first I got to 10 weeks and some bleeding took me in to EPU.

With my most recent pregnancy I knew I needed to see my baby early on - I had some spotting early on but felt differently. It turned out I was having twins. I had an early private scan at 8 weeks and discovered the happy news. Two little hearts beating away. This helped as I could push to be seen at 12 weeks (at my local hospital it's not unusually to get your viability scan as late as 15 weeks) and as it was twins (who shared a placenta) I had lots of extra scans as it was high risk.

Even with our extra scans I had a couple of extra private scans. I just needed to see my boys. We did a private gender scan so our older children could be involved which was just lovely.

I was very grateful to be able to have the ability to have the private scans whenever I felt the need to check in. It was a scary pregnancy and felt like I had so much to lose - but here I am with a pair of boys about to turn 1.

If it eases your mind and reassures you - why not.

I had a scan at 5+2 for medical reasons- no heartbeat but a 'cardiac pulse'. I've been asked back at 7 weeks for a viability scan. I would wait til at least 7 weeks if I were you if you think it'll upset you not seeing a heartbeat.

I had mine yesterday and, by my dates, I was 8+1 but she measured the baby at 7+4. I saw the little heartbeat flickering away before she even pointed it out to us.

I was a ball of anxiety before I went. Having seen many threads on here about really early scans not seeing everything, I wanted to wait until I’d have a clear answer straight away. I’m so glad I did.

Thanks everyone. I think I'll wait another week and book a scan for when I'll be 7 weeks. Only 7 more days to distract myself which should be fairly easy with work and my ds. I've woken up and feel a little better today, anxiety was through the roof yesterday!