Reassurance scans for next time round?

[McKTastic]

Had a mmc of twins in May and curious about thoughts re early scans if we're lucky enough to get pregnant again. Reassuring or best left well alone until the 12 week mark?

I had an early scan, at about 9 weeks, in July after a mmc last August. It made me feel much better to see a heartbeat and was able to relax a bit before the dreaded 12 week scan. All was fine and am now am now 20 weeks :)

You do have to have them privately though, the NHS will only pay if you've had bleeding or pain. Cost about £140 I think. Well worth it though.

Poor you, that must have been really tough.

I had reassurance scans with both of mine, had 2 mmc. However, both of mine were with the NHS. I think it depends on your area, your consultant and what the mmc was for.

Early scans get my vote as I need the reassurance.

Sorry to hear about your mmc

I had a mmc in January, and when I got pregnant again I had reassurance scans at 5 weeks and 7 weeks - my EPU is lovely and they do that sort of thing post miscarriage. I dont' know if I can say it was really reassuring - I think you will always worry after an experience like what you've had. But it is such a long wait til 12 weeks that for me, knowing there was a heartbeat at 7 weeks did help somewhat.

I hope that helps a bit - there is also a lovely group of ladies on the TTC board who have been through similar, and will give lots of support for trying again (don't know how I'd have coped without them!) I'll try and find the link.

xxx

I had an early scan at babybond at 9 weeks (£100) and it was well worth it. I was driving myself insane with worry and getting upset all the time because I didn't know if anything was happening. Cried all the way to the scan but everything was fine and heard the heartbeat. I know it doesn't mean everything is going to stay ok, and I'm still very nervous about my 12 week scan next Friday but I think I would have gone insane by now without it.

Link to lovely ladies here.

HTH

I had an MMC last July, so when I fell pregnant one cycle later, I was offered reassurance scans by my EPU. Had one at 7 weeks (due to spotting) and another at 8 weeks for reassurance - both were good and it did set my mind at ease that all was okay. However, at ny 13 week scan, it was then discovered the baby had a severe abnormality which meant she wouldn't survive to term.

I'm now 7 weeks pg again and am weighing up what to do. My EPU have stopped offering reassurance scans due to being over-subscribed, so unless I go private, I have no choice but to wait until 12 weeks.

On the one hand, I'm very much in the 'ignorance is bliss' camp, and I'm also very mindful that even if I have one now and things seem fine, things may not work out further down the line.

On the other - if there is an issue, I think I would rather know sooner rather than later.

I guess what I'm saying is that it's a very personal choice. My experience is (thankfully) rare so if you do have one and it goes well, I'm sure things will work out for you and your DH :)

Just to give a slightly different perspective...there are some unknowns around ultrasounds that caused me to request that scanning time was limited as much as possible and also prompted me to limit number of scans. I would personally avoid early scans if there having one would make no difference in terms of influencing the outcome of the pregnancy in a postive way. I appreciate that anxiety could dispelled by such a scan but similarly could raise questions and add to the anxiety.

Not everyone is a fan of this site/author but a fairly balanced view is given if you scroll down.

www.askdrsears.com/html/1/T011800.asp

I dont want to sound like I'm scaremongering at all, but I discussed the subject with the senior sonographer at my hospital, when I (at first) refused the first 12 wk scan, she advise that shared my concerns when pregnant herself and saw a value in limiting number/duration of scans. I had the scan, she performed it but it was probably a total of 1 minute scanning time to check (what I felt) was necessary.

I requested a reassurance scan at 6w (with a history of mmc, and early mc) and was not able to get this on the nhs because they would only do it if I was bleeding.
I paid for a private scan which showed the amniotic sac to be small for dates - and they dated the fetus 2 weeks earlier to what i knew was possible (I was very sure of my dates). They did see fetal heartbeat - but the private sonographer also said that sometimes if a pregnancy is not working the fetal heart keeps beating for sometime until it peters out if development is not progressing).
I did then get a scan 7 days later on the nhs after I took the scan report to my gp and explained my worries at the nhs scan they were unsure if the fetus was viable - sac was small and no heartbeat seen - so got scanned again 10 days later - where a missed miscarriage was confirmed. They were unable to see my left falopian tube or ovary - and as in each of their scans they were not certain the fetal pole was present - the private scan I had became very important and they needed the private scan report copied to their file before surgery to "clean up" the mmc could go ahead - as it proved the pregnancy had not been either Molar or Ectopic.
It's just a shame I could not get nhs to do the initial scan themselves given my history. Probably the best £60 spent as it prevented me having to discover my mmc at 12w+ when infection may have begun. Much better to find out earlier and sort it. Infection from a mmc can damage future fertility.

I also have a "file" of scan pics from my 2nd child's pregnancy as I had numerous unexplained bleeds - so pics of her from 13mm long - right up to 37 weeks! (she is fine with no problems whatsoever). I do not believe scans can harm the unborn baby at all.

I would advise getting an early reassurance scan whichever way you can - whether private or not. It will either reassure you or help you to protect your health and future fertility by picking up a mmc earlier if this is what happens. Hopefully you'll be fine next time - but if not - better to know and sort it out before risk of infection.

Hello :)

I too had a MMC for with twins in March. I am now 7 +5 weeks pregnant and just booked a private scan for when I am 9 weeks. Is for 2 reasons - I want to see if its twins again - and also if something has gone wrong then I would rather know earlier so I can get on and deal with it rather than waiting for another 4 weeks. It really is a personal choice though x

I really wanted an early scan after a close friend had had a mc at 7 weeks but didnt know till 12 week scan which made it all worse.
I paid £50 for early reasurrance at 9 weeks, and due to my nhs 12 week scan STILL not being till I'm 15 weeks am paying for another tomorrow. I'm between paranoid & just wanting to check - feel bit worried that if anything was wrong at 15 weeks it would have been such a long time un discovered feel as though i want to know pre telling work etc

Oggy, can they still do the nuchal tests at 15 weeks? That seems really late...

I paid for an early scan at 8 weeks despite having had early NHS ones at around 5/6 weeks due to pain and bleeding. The early ones probably prompted the need for the private one at 8 weeks because they were so negative when they only saw the sac - I was convinced it was all over before it had even begun. I'm not sure where I sit on this one - I'd probably give in and have one before 12 weeks but not as early as 5/6 weeks again. Too much stress and worrying, where you already are.

Sorry to hear of your MMCs, and all the best with everything xxx

Sorry, should have mentioned that this was with a pregnancy that has progressed successfully.

I agree - don't book early scans before 6 weeks - as you may find they can only see the sac at that stage - and this will give you more worry.
I'd say a good time for a reassurance scan in early weeks would be at least 7 weeks - or 8 weeks would be better if you can hang on that long.

After about 12 weeks you could also use one of those dopplers (angelsounds?) that they sell on eBay - I found mine to be good.

Am with Loopymumsy that 'ignorance is bliss'.

I had early scan with fourth pg (first pg early mm/c, second and third pg are now aged 7 and 9) which confirmed normal, viable pg. Had early scan because I'd been having investigations for odd menstrual cycle. Unfortunately, two weeks later, I started bleeding and had a m/c.

Early information about a pg is only reliable when you get it. The pg can change the next day/week.

Try (I know this is bonkers advice really, but...) to relax and wait.

I went on to have ds3 who is asleep upstairs. Was nervous much of the pg and especially the first trimester, but don't do as I do, do as I say! Relax, wait and it will happen and it will be OK.