Booking Appointment

[sonnyd]

Hello there,

First time on mumsnet and first time pregnancy!

I'm about 8 weeks, according to the midwife when I saw her last week, and am so desperate to have my first scan!

I have just received my hospital appointment for next week, but to my disappointment it says the appointment is to 'complete my booking history and will not involve a scan. A further appointment will be arranged for a scan if required when you attend'

My understanding was that the scan was taken at the booking appointment..has anybody else had them separately?
How many weeks were you when you had your first scan?
This secret is becoming very difficult to keep!

xx

I think the first scan is usually at 12 weeks...i can't be sure though as I didn't book until 24 weeks!

As far as I know the booking appt and first scan are almost always done seperately. In fact where I live your booking is done over two weeks (first week is just info gathering, second week is blood and urine tests and questions) and then your scan is about three weeks after that, mine for example are last week and this week and the midwife said she'll book my scan for twelve weeks (or close to) when I got back in this week to have my blood tests done.

Sympathise on having to keep things a secret!

First scan is usually around 12 weeks, I have had booking in and scan at the same time with my last two, but they were booked for 12 weeks. This time was booked for 7 weeks and I had to make scan appointment myself for 12 weeks.

Just realised I didn't actually give any timescale. I was asked to book my booking in appts for eight and nine weeks, which puts the first scan at 12 weeks which seems to fit with everything I've been told before.

My booking appointment and dating scan were more than two weeks apart -- and your dating scan has to happen between 11w and 13w6d if you're having NT screening done (to screen for Down's syndrome and another trisomies).

Think it can maybe depend on the area you live/what tests you opt for as to when the first scan is. I lived in North Yorkshire when I had my first DC, and they didn't offer a 12 week scan as standard. This was 5 years ago. But I think that was pretty unusual, most people I know seem to all get the 12 week scan as standard (and I had it as standard with DC2 but had moved to a different area by then).

12 weeks is the first scan but you can pay to go private if you want one before then.

I had one at 7 weeks due to a bleed and to be honest there is nothing to see - a flickering bean.

Thanks everyone.

Looks like I'll probably have another 4 weeks to wait and keep this secret..in the mean time I've got one wedding, one hen do and a 30th birthday party to be mysteriously (and suspiciously!) not drinking at.
I've already had 2 people ask me straight out if I'm pregnant..they aren't making it any easier.

The private scan gets more and more tempting by the day!
Aaaaarrgh!

There are no rules to say that you can't tell people until after your scan.

I told most people at about 8 weeks and didn't have my scan until about 13 weeks.

Like you, it was too difficult to keep a secret as I had horrendous sickness and had to keep saying no to invitations.

Me and my fella decided to wait till after the scan to make sure everything is ok with the baby first, as it would be so horrible after telling everyone about the pregnancy to then have to fill everyone in on bad news.

Fingers crossed all is well and we're just being over cautious!

I had booking appointment at my GPs with midwife at 8 weeks, then scan at hospital at 11 weeks. So your schedule sounds like mine although I think it varies on where you live.

I told a few people at 8weeks (family and a few colleagues) then everyone else on the day of the scan Like Mater I felt grim and it was almost impossible keeping schtum between 4 and 8 weeks, as sickness started at 5w.

Hey, I just had my first drs appointment today and she said that I will get a call about a dating scan in the next week. The suspision is I'm around 6 weeks, but we're not sure becasue I didn't have a period after coming of the pill in Jan, so could be anywhere upto 10 weeks.

I'll then have the usual 12 week scan.

As far as keeping it a secret... I've given up Alcohol for lent!!! :) Well that's the excuse I'm giving... not sure went lent finishes, but hoping that will take me up to the magic 12 weeks!

We are waiting till then to tell anyone, not becasue of the scan, but because the first 12 weeks are the most risky apparently. Would hate to make the mums so very happy then break their hearts if anything went wrong! :(

Just think of the 12 weeks as something to look forward to, then you can really celebrate and enjoy all the fuss when you tell everyone!

I've gone for the 'given up alcohol for lent' white lie too!
Lent ends on the Saturday of Easter weekend, this year it's the 23rd April.
Good luck! xx