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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Angry - probably unjustifiably though...

33 replies

SofaKitten · 27/10/2010 11:30

What do you have to do to get tests/an early scan?

I've had 2 miscarriages - both of which almost physically killed me due to extreme blood loss and cervical shock, both at 10-11 weeks.... and I can only see the midwife in 3 weeks time at 9 weeks and will not get any early tests or scans as "it won't change the outcome if you are going to miscarry, and it saves NHS time".

I am so beyond angry that I am alternately eating icecream and crying...

All I want is to get a scan at 8-9 weeks to see if there is a heartbeat, and check I don't have clotting problems.

Oh yes - she said as well that they only do tests after 3 miscarriages - 2 is "just bad luck". I could have slapped her...

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pinkyp · 27/10/2010 11:34

u could always get a scan if you had abdominal pains...maybe worth thinking about?
I did have abdominal pains at 5 weeks and they scanned me as they said it was perfect time for an eptopic pregnancy, infact i had 2 early scans as they couldnt see alot on the 1st one with it only being 5 and a bit weeks.

This is my 2nd pregnancy,1st pregnancy fine and no mc - i would of thought if you had nearly died from 2 previous mc then they would of got you in for a early scan!

ng1412 · 27/10/2010 11:36

That's crazy and very annoying! I suffered a m/c earlier this year at 7 weeks then got pregnant again immediately after, so was extremely paranoid as I had no symptoms of the m/c first time round, we only found out at the scan.

So, this time round I decided to go private and see my gyneacologist who I have been treated by before for PCOS and Endometriosis. I have had a few scans since week 6 of this new pregnancy as I had bleeding and cramps. It's cost me a fortune but I needed peace of mind and I don't think I would have got that from the NHS.....

Original poster

SofaKitten · 27/10/2010 11:36

Hmmm so lie you reckon? Could be worth a try but I can't lie for toffee - go bright red and stammer...

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Original poster

SofaKitten · 27/10/2010 11:39

Does anyone know if it is worth ringing the EPU direct - they were lovely last time and did say I would get extra care if/when I got pregnant again as I had such an awful time last time. I just thought my GP would realise and agree.

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japhrimel · 27/10/2010 11:39

It's normal. What you have to do is pay to go private TBH. It's what I did after 2 MCs.

The usual tests for clotting issues are done as part of fertility/recurrent MC tests and you would only get referred for them on the NHS after 3 consecutive MCs because 2 MCs can just be down to bad luck, rather than an ongoing issue. Those tests would need to be done before you then got pregnant again.

If you're worried you have an issue with not clotting, ask your GP to get some bloods done now to put your mind at rest (GPs seem to be quite happy to do blood tests they don't think are necessary if it'll shut you up IME ).

jeee · 27/10/2010 11:40

Many EPUs allow you to self-refer. I'd definitely ring the EPU direct - the worst that could happen is that they'd tell you that you need a referral. And if they don't allow you to self-refer, could you go to a different hospital?

Violet5 · 27/10/2010 11:40

Thats awful

You shouldn't have to imo but i paid for a private (you can have viability scans) at 7 weeks, just for reasurance.

They're a bit pricey though, but was worth it for my peace of mind.

Original poster

SofaKitten · 27/10/2010 11:43

Can I be awfully rude and ask how much private scans/tests cost roughly?

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Katietatie123 · 27/10/2010 11:47

Wherabouts are you? Long shot, but if you're in South London the EPU at Kings take self referrals. I got an early scan because I had no idea on dates and although the midwife told me to go there I had no paperwork to prove it. Good luck.

BitEmbarrassed75 · 27/10/2010 11:48

I lied and said I had pains and had a scan at 8 weeks - exactly the same circumstances as you; I was so stressed by thought of another missed miscarriage being discovered at 12 week scan, and GP refused to refer me despite my clear distress, that I told the midwife at booking appointment that I had pain and she instantly referred me for scan that day.

Private scans are about £60 in the north west.

japhrimel · 27/10/2010 11:51

My 8 week scan was £75 and we paid £10 extra to get a Saturday appointment. Was well worth it as I would've been a nervous wreck by 12 weeks.

I wouldn't lie to get seen at the EPU. For one, what you tell them will then be on your notes for the rest of this pregnancy so you'll be lying for a long time (and possibly confusing the medical picture). For another, I personally think it's wrong to lie to get NHS services that are not clinically warranted (and a scan at 8 weeks doesn't mean you'll be fine at 10 weeks plus it won't tell you anything about clotting issues).

MummyB2010 · 27/10/2010 11:52

Hi,

My NHS dating scan couldn't be arranged until nearly 14 weeks as they were so busy.

Not only did this mean a long wait but also it would have been too late to do nuchal scan.

So me and DH paid to have our nuchal scan done privately. Crazy thing is, it was the same hospital and staff etc but 1) it was a consultant doing the scan and 2) we got seen that week 3) it was an evening appointment.

This did not affect the rest of my care with NHS, we kept the 14 week appointment and then just carried on with NHS as normal.

I seem to remember it cost £150, but that included the blood testing to go with the nuchal scan as well. IMO money well spent just for the peace of mind. The first thing the consultant said was 'well you're pregnant and there's the baby's heart beat'. i could have kissed him...

My NHS midwife put me in touch with the right people to arrange it.

lilly13 · 27/10/2010 11:57

SofaKitten, i am sorry to hear about your experience. I can totally appreciate how frustrating it is. I was also offered a 3-4 week waiting time on NHS. I couldn't wait as I was really anxious (this is my 1st pregnancy) and DH who is American and used to a very different level of healthcare gone mad about the waiting, lack of services, etc. We decided to go the private route. I did some research and found a great obstetritian who was very thorough and also did the scan himself as he was a fetal medicine specialist. I think it was the best gbp200 we spent in a long time...

Original poster

SofaKitten · 27/10/2010 12:04

Thanks.

I'm not in London - in South West.

No I don't really think I can lie to the NHS either but if I'm going to miscarry it needs to be managed properly this time.

My first was a MMC picked up at the "12 week" scan - at 15 weeks - I'd been carrying a dead baby for over 6 weeks.

Second my "12 week scan" was not booked until I was 14 weeks - and I miscarried at 11/12. Who knows how long it had been dead for.

Both times I lost more than half my blood, almost died and had to have morphine for the pain (and I have a high pain threshhold) due to cervical shock.

I CANNOT go through that again. I need to find out if it is still alive at 10 weeks - and if not then it needs to be "managed" not "go home and almost die".

I think I'll spend the £100 for the scan.

Sorry for the rant...

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Original poster

SofaKitten · 27/10/2010 12:06

Sorry, 5 weeks not 6

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yellowtomato · 27/10/2010 12:13

Hi SofaKitten the rant is totally understandable. I think the frustrating things is that NHS care depends on where you live and what your dr feels like doing.

In my first pregnancy I paid for an early private scan at 8 weeks (cost £120) because we were going abroad to see in laws and wanted to check everything was ok before telling them.

Everything wasn't ok, pregnancy hadn't gone beyond 4/5 weeks.

I then went into the NHS system and the EPU scanned me again to check and I had a ERPC booked but it happened naturally in the meantime at about 10 weeks but was relatively easy compared to what you went through.

At the time the EPU said that if I got pregnant again I could have early reassurance scans from 6 weeks if I got a GP referral. So I did and am having an early scan tomorrow at 6+5

Sorry for waffling on but my point is that it might be worth ringing the EPU directly and/or seeing a different dr to get a referral? If it hadn't worked for me I would have paid privately again because I just cannot cope with the not knowing.

I am really sorry you are going through this stress and hope you get something sorted out.

Violet5 · 27/10/2010 12:14

I'm in the south west too, my husband paid and arranged it for me but i think my scan was about £80.
We found the place by googeling private pregnancy early viability scans.
It was definately worth it, i'm in Wilts but had mine done in Hampshire here www.firstviewimaging.co.uk/types_cat05.htm

Good luck with everything.

GoreRenewed · 27/10/2010 12:16

I had abdo pains with baby no 2. They were dreadful. So I got scanned at 8 weeks no argument.

It's not a lie, just stretching the truth

GoreRenewed · 27/10/2010 12:17

In Somerset so I went to Musgrove.

Original poster

SofaKitten · 27/10/2010 12:35

Ooh I've been lucky/naughty!

Rang the EPU, spoke to a very lovely lady who said she'd try to sneak me in!!

Fingers crossed...

Thank you everyone. Feel relieved now!

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slimyak · 27/10/2010 13:10

You've done the right thing, sometimes you have to bend the rules.
I've had 3 MC but not consecutive. When I got pregnant this time my GP sent me to the midwife drop in for me to get sorted with an 8 week reassurance scan. The midwife agreed that it was a good idea but the EPU wouldn't book me in unless I had bleeding or pain - I'm no good at lying either.

The midwife left it half an hour and booked me a 12 week dating scan, when I would have only been 8 weeks and told me to act a bit ditzy when I turned up. She later phoned back and spoke to a more sympathetic songrapher and let me know I could be honest and above board.

And your not alone in the it's just unlucky comment, I could have killed when I got that after MC 3.

I really hope all goes well for you.

cotswolder · 27/10/2010 13:46

glad to hear!

yes completly agree that sometimes you do need to bend the rules and this seems to be one of them. I was in a very similar position after 2 mcs and did exactly this (with advice from midwife!) - I did feel guilty for lying when I did it but not after the scan. Not good for you or what will be developing to be stressed and upset! Don't feel guilty if you need it!

Original poster

SofaKitten · 27/10/2010 13:54

Well I've got a scan booked for friday! Not ideal as it's earlier than I wanted, but I'm not going to turn it down, and it will mean I'm in the system at least.

Not sure they'll see much though!

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Goodluckbear · 27/10/2010 14:35

Hi SofaKitten - that's really good that your EPU will see you. I think EPUs understand this better than GPs - my EPU you can just turn up and fill out a form to be seen, and one of the reasons they do early scans is because of previous miscarriage. I really think having the reassurance is important and something that EPUs can do.

I did that with this pregnancy (which is post mc) and they saw me at 5+3 - didn't see much but it looked ok to them. They told me to come back in two weeks, which I did, and at that point saw a heartbeat.

Hope it goes ok on Friday.

Original poster

SofaKitten · 27/10/2010 21:53

Sorry to go on about this - but have been doing some calculations and although by friday according to LMP I will be 6+5, I reckon I will actually only be 5+4.

Should I ring to delay by a week, or just go in the knowledge that they may well have to do another scan anyway.. - I don't want to waste their time...

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