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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

If you were having a private scan, would you have the NHS one as well?

18 replies

misty0 · 16/03/2011 12:34

Sorry to be on about this again - but i'v now booked my private scan (12 week NT) and the the clinic said i need not bother with the NHS one which is booked for 3 days b4 the private one.

She gave the reason as being a risk of confusing or conflicting reults. This was a new and scary thought for me!

I'm torn now between having both scans ie: more info, comparing notes, plus seeing my local maternity unit in action, as that is where i shall have the baby, and 'getting on the system' there ect.

or doing as the clinic sugests and keeping it simple....just with them.

ANY advice or thoughts welcome, as i'm now in a tiz. Thank you.

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porcupine11 · 16/03/2011 12:38

The NHS one is not as thorough so there is no point in taking up an NHS slot. Your private one will most likely include a blood test too, and look at more things, whereas the NHS one focuses on the thickness of the nuchal skin.

redface · 16/03/2011 13:07

I had both
nice to see baby again
would be hapy for as many comments as possible at that stage

Sunshine28 · 16/03/2011 13:20

I am going private for NT but the NHS consultant advised me to still go ahead with 12 week scan on NHS but ask for the bloods not to be done so I am not left with two sets of results. I said this to the NHS sonographer and she said it is better to just stick with the private one. From what I can see, the only advantage of going for the NHS one is if you want to see baby twice in a short period of time. The private scan is going to be the one that you will rely on for results at it is more accurate. To avoid confusion and because I am busy with work, I am just going to go for the private scan. Hope this helps in some way.....

Original poster

misty0 · 16/03/2011 14:36

Thank you for your replies -

I'm thinking i will cancel the NHS. Will chat to OH when he gets home tho'. From what you say sunshine, it seems basicly the best that can happen is that i get two identical sets of results - which is fairly pointless i supose, and the other posibility is one good and one not so good set. That would be so confusing.

Plus is it true that many scans isn't good for baby???

Sigh.

OP posts:

Sunshine28 · 16/03/2011 18:01

Hi Misty, yes I think you are prob better off just going for the one. It is so difficult making these sort of decisions that adding an extra set of results (which aren't as accurate) into the mix might just make things more confusing. I haven't heard that scans can be bad for the baby but somebody else might be able to answer that one. I suspect their prob. aren't any risks with them but I'm no expert :)

jasmine51 · 16/03/2011 18:59

If you cancel your NHS one, make sure you are booked in for your 20 wk scan ok, because most places seem to do this booking when you report for your 12 week scan. I fell off the radar after my private scan and had a hell of a time getting back in the system for my 20 wk scan. Worked out ok in the end...I got sent 3 appointments ranging from 21 wks to 24 wks, but it took intervention by my GP, my MW and phone calls from me to get me back in there.

mrsravelstein · 16/03/2011 19:02

ditto jasmine, i had exactly the same problem

MandaHugNKiss · 16/03/2011 19:16

Well, in my area (and I realise you may not have the same set of 'rules' in yours) the 12 week scan is the DATING scan at which, as per NICE recommendations, they will set your due date. The NT is offered in conjunction with this.

So. Perhaps just ake it clear for the NHS scan that you're there for dating only?

Re: safety of scans. Some pregnancies (one of mine included) are subjected to multiple, and/or prolonged scanning with no apparent adverse side effects for baby. As I understand it from research I did at the time of having to have so many (and so worrying, naturally!) the 'doppler' type scans they are less sure aren't harmful as they use a different frequency. Or something, it's been years! Similarly, the jury is still out with 3d/4d scanning but appears fine.

As the dating scan is pretty quick, I wouldn't be worrying about baby being exposed twice in a short time frame. Especialy as many women have to go and jiggle about before trying again for measurememnts and are then booked in for the following week when still no joy and that's with the NHS!

Original poster

misty0 · 16/03/2011 21:07

Mmmm, food for thought there ladies - thank you. That's a good point about the dating scan and getting on the system.

Oh decisions, decisions!

OP posts:

InMyPrime · 16/03/2011 21:32

Re safety of scans: there's no additional risk to getting extra scans. The consultant we are seeing privately at the moment told us she scanned herself every few days when she was pregnant just because she could!

lilly13 · 16/03/2011 21:38

I had both. My rationale -- I have paid a lot of taxes in this country, and am entitled to at least see what the state health care system provides. I didn't tell them I was going privately. The results were not confusing. However, I did notice that the equipment was much older and the sonographer very young and too busy to spend time answering questions. You should definitely do both if you have time. No risk at all. It is nice to see the baby twice anyway!

preghead · 16/03/2011 21:38

I always has both, figured 2 scans at 12 weeks more likely someone would spot any issues - also the Nhs never acknowledged the private ones further along in the pregnancy for due dates, measurement comparisons etc so if you didn't have one in the right place in the booklet it might cause issues later on?

My friend is an ivf consultant and also scanned herself every other day sobi have never worried about having one extra or so to the normal schedule

preghead · 16/03/2011 21:43

What is interesting/disturbing of course is that, as others have said, is that the private scans are way better (with the exception of Nhs ones have had at kings, big London teaching hospital, which was the same, local hospital tho clearly does not have the latest and greatest machines). My nuchal scan risk scores were also quite significantly different, much better odds with private scan that looks at more markers, better machines, proprietry software etc)

Original poster

misty0 · 16/03/2011 21:52

Oh blimey!

Maybe i should go for the NHS one and have a date scan and a look at the baby for signs but give no bloods untill the private one?

The NHS and private scan appointments are only 3 days apart - i realy dont fancy having blood taken twice in a week! I'm a woos when it comes to needles.

I can see the point about 'getting on the system' with dates. I can just picture me struggling with it already. I'm always getting forgotten/lost in the system with life in general as it is! God this means OH will have to beg two days off work that week .......

OP posts:

pooka · 16/03/2011 21:55

Mine was other way round - private scan 3 days before NHS.

I had the private one and cancelled the NHS one. The private scan provided print out and details of results which were sent to my GP, and I also had a copy which I put in my notes.

Went NHS for the anomaly scan.

preghead · 16/03/2011 22:04

Last pg I had private in the morning Nhs that afternoon! Bloods at both but am ok with needles ( not by choice, due to Nhs cock up with scan dates ). I had both in my notes and it used to bug me they always ignored the private one tho it's due date prediction matched my known conception date better ( so they had my due date earlier than should have been ) but maybe of you only have the private one in that space would be ok. I think at the anomaly scan they cross reference the measurmemts on the computer though?
Maybe do both but only bloods at private? My dp only came to the first one as then knew all looked ok.

humph123 · 17/03/2011 13:42

I had a private scan and NHS scan. I said to my midwife that i might not bother with the NHS one as I'd had a private one and didn't want to waste NHS money but she said that your GP receives funding per pregnant person so it's not as though I'd be saving my doctor any money. (if that makes sense.) I went ahead and had the NHS scan, just because it was lovely to see the baby again.

girlfromdownsouth · 17/03/2011 14:17

I went for private NT scan so my NHS midwife cancelled my NHS scan as a matter of course - I wasn't even given the option! She used my LMP for dates and then double checked it with the results from the private NT scan.

Personally I would have liked to have had the NHS scan too (double opportunity to see baby) but would only have given blood once.

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