12 week scan is too long to wait...how do you get one earlier? how much?

[mamaesi]

does anyone else feel that 12 weeks is to long to wait? so for your entire first trimester the nhs says 'you are on your own'

GP just said take folic acid, and wait for your scan at 12 weeks at hospital..

anyway out of curiosity how much is a scan privately? (in London) can I just ask a private doctor for one even if i will carry on with the nhs?

It is a real pain having to wait isn't it? I've got mine next week, it's been the longest three months ever!
I think they say 12 weeks because before that you can't really see a great deal. I think the midwife can detect a heart beat with a handy little tool she has from about 8 weeks though so you could ask her?

Do you have previous experience of miscarriage or health problems during pregnancy? What are you worried about in particular?

Yes, you can get a private scan and continue your NHS care as per usual.

If you haven't had any problems, just be patient and trust your body to take care of your baby.

I sort of understand where you're coming from, I was very unconvinced by my first pregnancy until after the scan - I just couldn't quite believe in it somehow until I saw the evidence.

But scans before 12 weeks, unless there are concerns about how the pregnancy is progressing, are mostly pointless because there's not much to see as natwebb says, so not a good use of limited NHS resources.

And yes, there are plenty of places in London where you can get a private scan if you want one, and continue with your NHS care.

I am having private consultant led care at the Chelsea & Westminster and the consultant's rooms are at the Women's Wellness Centre and they do private scans which you can use to supplement your NHS care - I think about £120?

I know what you mean mamaesi. Is this your first pregnancy? It is my first and from getting the positive test to the 12 week scan it felt like about three aeons. It was so long and I was so worried about everything (because, like you, I felt utterly left to my own devices) and ended up having a private scan at 9 weeks at the Fetal Medicine Centre in London. We had the viability scan, it cost £100, and it was really great. Put our minds at rest, made us very happy to see the bean, and made it all a bit more real so I wasn't dreading my 12-week scan so much. I'd highly recommend it if you can spare the cash: www.fetalmedicine.com/fmc/

I sympathise entirely!

have my 12 week scan on Monday and it feels like it's taken a year to get here! I found out at 4 weeks, so it's only been 8 weeks but if feels like an absolute lifetime and I'm at the point now where I can't think about anything else... I'm even having dreams about the scan - sometimes with a positive outcome, sometimes negative.

I had my booking in appointment with my midwife on Monday and tried to get her to hear the heartbeat but she wasn't having any of it.

I looked into private scans and the cheapest one I found was for £99, but we don't really have the cash so I have to try and wait it out patiently (not a virtue I generally posses!) for five more days...

I worried and waited inpatiently for 12 week scan, I am now worried and waiting patiently for 20 weeks scan.

I had no reason to worry well no history to panic over for 12 weeks scans, this is my 3rd baby, if that makes sense, so I couldn't justify to myself paying for a private scan, but they are available if you really can't wait.

I don't think our current culture of relying on antenatal scans is working like it should - it is supposed to reassure you but does the opposite.

In 27 weeks I have had three - including one 'emergency viability' scan when the MW couldn't find a heartbeat at 16 weeks (I was terrified and cried all the way to the hospital - she didn't think to tell me that at 16 weeks sometimes you just can't hear the hb). Since then I have refused to let her listen any more. I'm sure my name is down on some register with 'DIFFICULT' stamped next to it.

Sorry to rant and go slighly off-topic - but please try to relax, it does feel like a long time to wait but the chances of anything being 'wrong' are so, so slim.

Congratulations, by the way!

Yes, you can get one and in London I would highly recommend the Fetal Medical Centre, I had an early pregnancy viability scan and it was £100.

I think it's best to wait at least until 8 weeks as you might not be able to "see" much earlier and that will just add to your anxiety :) and yes - I know what you're feeling and totally recommend it, I had a MMC in NOv so decided to get an early scan this time around and although am still in "panic" mode seeing a strong heartbeat and a baby at 9 weeks was sooooooo reassuring and calmed me down, I don't think I would have made it through 12 weeks esp. that I found out very early (3 days before missed period!!)

Good luck!!!

i disagree that you cant see anything earlier. (this is actually my second pregnancy, i know i am being silly)

but last time I got a scan at 11 weeks and they dated my baby at 10 weeks... they did all the measurements and saw everything they needed to.

i know i should relax, but I am older now and three of my friends have just had second time miscarriages...and it just puts you on edge.

thanks for the references of places that do them!

now i just have to figure out if i can save the money or not.

Just wanted to add that i agree that the Fetal medicine centre is fab. Any time 7 weeks onwards and you'll actually see quite a lot. If you can afford it I'd definitely get one-you've got to trade off the cost against the mental anguish and stress you're causing yourself by stressing and worrying whether all is well. Also according to the miscarriage association, if you see a heartbeat and the bean's measuring ok for dates at 8 weeks, you've got a 98% chance of carrying to term which is a nice reassuring number!

They scan when they do for several good reasons. Mainly because it's a stage of pregnancy where most babies are uniformly sized and big enough to get accurate measurements, before genetic factors set in. Plus, many places now combine and do the NT scan at the same time, which has to be done in a certain timeframe. And sadly, most miscarriages happen before 12 weeks and they can't scan every woman at an earlier date as it would put a massive strain on resources.

They do offer scans to women who need them and there are epaus, GPs and midwives to do early care for you should the need arise. You are far from on your own.

I hope you find some reasurance from the scan if you get one, I had a lot early due to issues.

I had one at 6 weeks and couldnt really tell what it was at all, at 8 weeks it was more bean like, 10 weeks looked like a smaller version of the 12 week one so it does change so much from week to week so I would say wait til 8 or 10 weeks if you can to get your moneys worth and you can see heart beat ect.

I've just booked myself in for a private one tomorrow it was £99.

I have just had one at the Fetal Medicine Centre too and was the best £100 ever spent. I was 7.5 weeks and got to see and hear the heartbeat and you can already make out the head and beginning of the limbs. If you are worried it's defiantly worth doing to give you some piece of mind. The relief is enormous!! Good luck