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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Early Pregnancy Scan for First Time Mum to be...

28 replies

Rakhs · 08/05/2011 16:29

Hi all,

I'm new to this being first time pregnant and very worried about all the information relating to miscarriage and an empty sac... I'm 6 weeks + 5 pregnant and have had hardly any symptoms apart from the sore boobs and slight period like cramping (little nausea but not much at all). I sometimes even forget that I'm pregnant as I feel quite normal.

I've read that early scans are worth doing if you're bleeding or had a previous m/c. However I don't want to go into my 12 week scan and have an empty sac... My first midwife appointment isn't until 27th May (I'll be 9 weeks + 3 then...)

Anyone else been through this and can offer some good advice? I would like the scan for piece of mind but is it silly to do this?

Thanks in advance for your reponses!

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Petsville · 08/05/2011 16:57

Is an early scan even an option for you? Most NHS trusts won't do them unless there's some reason to be worried. If you can have one (or can afford to pay for a private one without breaking the bank) I don't see any reason not to, though.

Really don't worry about not having any symptoms to speak of - I didn't, and lots of other women don't either. If you haven't had any bleeding there's no reason at all to suppose you might have miscarried.

jasmine51 · 08/05/2011 17:19

If you can afford it I would advocate a private scan. Unless you have known issues you are unlikely to get one on the NHS and from experience an extra scan can do masses for your peace of mind.
However as Petsville says, unless you have any worrying symptoms there is no real reason to suggest there are problems, its just that the wait to 12 wks is an awfully long time!

lilly13 · 08/05/2011 17:45

it is definitely reassuring and, if you can afford a private scan, then do it any time after 8 weeks. don't do it before as sometimes they cannot detect a eart beat at earlier stages and could make you worried. hope it goes well.

d0gFace · 08/05/2011 17:45

www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/antenatalhealth/scans/beforetenweeks/

nearlyreadytopop · 08/05/2011 20:24

I had an early scan at 6 weeks (nhs due to irregular periods) and there was no heartbeat. The nurse that did it suggested a blighted ovum and said to come back in a week so they could double check. One week of hell later and there was a little heartbeat.
Also be prepared for an internal scan, I hadnt even heard of an internal scan until the nurse suggested I nip into the loo and 'pop my pants off' :-)

d0gFace · 08/05/2011 21:16

Not that I want to sound weird, but what was the internal scan like?

jenga079 · 08/05/2011 21:19

I doubt nhs would give you an early scan unless you'd had previous problems. You could get a private one though.

For what it's worth, my symptoms didn't start until about 8 weeks.

I hope everything's okay.

4pudding · 08/05/2011 21:19

I'd wait until 8 weeks if you can as you'll see so much more...

lilly13 · 08/05/2011 21:20

they won't necessarily do an internal scan. it depends on how heavy/slim you are. i was very slim and my consultant said that for slim women everything can be seen clearly externally... i would not do an internal scan, too much intervention imho

cowboylover · 08/05/2011 21:23

I second what the others have said that sometimes you have very few sympoms at all, NHS wont offer one for reasurrance and not recommended before 8 weeks as can be wrong.

I had an internal scan and DH nicknamed it 'dildo cam' as it was like a black hose pipe with a camera on the end. I was uncomforable but not as bad as a smear test.

If you can afford it and you think it will help you to relax private scans are great but try and relax, enjoy the early stages and look forward to whats ahead. As my Mum told me the worry starts with the blue line and doesnt stop even at 26 apparently

jenga079 · 08/05/2011 21:30

Oh, but if you do have one, don't worry about the internal scan. It really isn't painful and you'll get more intrusive testing later on!

jasmine51 · 09/05/2011 08:09

An internal scan is really no big deal! You lie on your back with legs akimbo. The sonographer has a probe like a small vibrator , will put some lube on it, and probably something that looks a bit like a condom. They will then insert it very gently into the vagina and move it around....thats all there is to it. It doesnt go into the cervix, it doesnt hurt, there might be a bit of pressing around but really it is nothing to be worried about. All my early scans were done this way because I had a retroverted (backward angled) uterus.

PoppysMom · 09/05/2011 08:21

I went for a scan last week at 11 weeks. I am not big, but I have a very tilted uterus, so the doctor couldn't see anything at all.

Had the internal and it was crystal clear showing a bouncy little baby.

Anyway, OP, I have not had any real symptoms apart from being dead tired and every now and again nausea. I kept forgetting that I was pregnant, but now at almost 12 weeks, my tum is sticking out permanently, although it does go down a little over night, I still have a very noticable bump in the morning.

I obviously know that this is not baby, but intestine, etc that is pushed out, as my uterus is expanding in the back of my body, rather than front.

Anyway, if you are worried and can afford it, I'd highly recommend a private scan. I went for mine at 7 weeks and it was very clear and we saw the beating heart.
The heart starts beating from 6 weeks, so anytime after that should be fine.

Original poster

Rakhs · 09/05/2011 08:40

I guess like most of you said the worrying never stops... I may wait a week until I'm in my 8th week and convince the OH to part with some ££... I know I won't get it on nhs as my periods were very regular before and no previous problems... It's just reading up on mmc scares me and what others have experienced. At the moment I'm just going on 2 positive preg tests..! So I suppose it doesn't feel real!!

Thanks for the advice ladies :)

OP posts:

grottielottie · 09/05/2011 09:07

I second waiting for at least a few weeks, I also had no symptoms but once they kicked in I wished I didn't have them.

While I understand that scans can be reassuring for some, I have tried as much as possible to stay relaxed through other means (I know this isn't always possible) rather than seeking medical assurance as this sort of thing is not available 24/7. I also think there is somewhat of an industry which exploits the worries of expectant parents offering reassurance with scans which their is no medical need for in most cases. I sort of figured that I couldn't control what was happening in my body, which is difficult to come to terms with if your a control freak like me, and so I have to just surender to whatever is happening and go with it day to day, and for me this is keeping me sane. This said if you feel that it right for you I would ignore everything I said and just have it!

Mums net can be reallly reassuring but try not to get to bogged down by stories of things going wrong, sometimes there is such thing as too much information. I'm sure when you have your booking in your midwife will reassure you, but don't feel "silly" for worrying because every one dose.

jasmine51 · 09/05/2011 09:21

grottie is my hero re the relaxing and surrendering to the journey, whatever it brings - its a life skill that is well worth developing anyway but in an anxious pg it is a life saver.

Ernie1 · 09/05/2011 09:32

I agree with grottielottie - even if you have an early scan you have no control over what could happen if there is something wrong. I was desperately impatient very early on too (now 10+4) but managed to relax the further along we went...

Also I haven't really had symptoms either - extreme exhaustion and slight nausea are really the only things for me and the nausea only kicked in around week 7.

Hope you manage to enjoy being pregnant without symptoms despite your worrying!

Mum2be79 · 09/05/2011 09:48

Hi.
Just joined today. I am 5 weeks + 3. Found out I was pregnant on Friday and 'due' 6th January 2012.

Though my husband and I had been planning a family since September, I knew I was due a period on April 25th - in the middle of my Caribbean holiday so she (nurse) prescribed Norethisterone to delay my period. I was told to take a pregnancy test three days before my period to make sure I wasn't pregnant but she said it wouldn't affect a growing embryo or a pregnancy. Anyways, I did and it was negative so I took the Norethisterone. I stopped on Thursday 28th and knew I should get my period 2/3 days after.

It didn't come.

I went to the doctor on Friday and mentioned it (I had VERY sore breasts - quite normal as I always get them a week before my period). I did have slight nausea but didn't link the two as I was sure I wasn't pregnant. He did a test and hey presto it was positive. Pleased, but very, very shocked!

Now what is worrying me is that he said that i was at slight risk of an eptopic pregnancy as the Norethisterone is a progesterone pill and can slow the embryo down through the Fallopian tube into the uterus!!!

Is that cause enough for an early scan?

So pleasesd that I'm not the only one with cramping/nausea. The cramping did worry me as I thought it wasn't normal!

Leo4 · 09/05/2011 11:33

I had early scan at 7 weeks due to continous cramping on my right lower adomen and my doctor was worried about eptopic pregnancy. Luckily everything was fine but it really put my mind at rest especially after a miscarriage a year previous.

H007 · 09/05/2011 11:41

I had an early pregnancy scan and it was great we paid to go private it was just under £100, we did this because a) I'm impatient, b) we had no idea how many weeks pregnant I was and c) I'm impatient. I would definitely do it again worth every penny :)

Mum2be79 · 09/05/2011 12:57

How early is early?

jasmine51 · 09/05/2011 13:03

Earliest would be 6 wks but even that might not show a hb or anything conclusive and might cause more stress than its worth...best wait for 8 wks

Original poster

Rakhs · 11/05/2011 08:02

Grottie I totally agree whatever will be will be, you can't control what's going on indside. And it does take a skill to just take it day by day. However I think the worst feeling for me would be going through the 12 weeks and then finding out something is not right.. (also I'm slightly impatient)..

Saying that last night I had awful cramping... Stayed awake til about 2am worrying! I really shouldn't pay attention to the posts about things going wrong .. I think I will go with the flow and just take it day by day and wait until end of this week

I've got a work bowling night tonight so have to come up with an excuse not to play!!! Hmm ..

OP posts:

grottielottie · 11/05/2011 08:54

Hey Rakhs, I also had terrible cramping from week 4 (was sure I was coming on my periord) till about week 8 and then a more gentle but still uncomfortable streching pain up until about week 15.

So far everything is good so try if you can not to think the worse.

jasmine51 · 11/05/2011 10:19

Rakhs If it is any comfort, mc doesnt start with cramping generally. More often than not it starts with silent spotting then heavier bleeding. The cramping comes later. Dont believe what you see on films, there is no sudden doubling up with pain then instant heavy bleeding. If you are cramping with no spotting I would take this as a good sign that things are bedding in and stretching and adapting, congratulate yourself that your body is making a nice nest for your bean and then get a relaxed nights sleep! x

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