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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

having scan at EPAU what should I expect

15 replies

namechangerbat · 04/01/2012 12:59

am 8+3 and had some sharp pains yesterday, then spotting, red to brown over last 24 hours along side cramps in my back and now dull period ache. GP tested urine this morning, all clear, has referred me to EPAU tomorrow for a scan.

What can I expect to happen?

She told me to go with a full blader, so can assume abdominal scan not transvaginal?

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PoppyS34 · 04/01/2012 13:06

I hand an early scan at 6+2 but it was internal as it was so early, but it wasn't the glammest moment of my life :)

I think a full bladder means it's adbominal scan.

I had pains in my side and pink spotting, which is why they sent me for a scan, but all turned out ok in the end, and the bleeding/spotting stopped.

Good luck namechangerbat, let us know how you get on x x

Maranello · 04/01/2012 13:08

Hi namechanger, hope you're ok.

I've had several EPAU scans. IME they attempt an abdominal scan first (hence full bladder) but as it's early in the pg they may need to try an internal scan if they don't see all they need to first time round.

Good luck.

goingmadtrying · 04/01/2012 13:11

Hi yes that's my experience too, I am overweight which I think makes a difference but I think you should be fine with an abdominal, if they need to do an internal they will let you empty your bladder and it's much the same feeling in terms of having your undercarriage in view as a smear, but doesn't hurt at all :)

good luck x

Original poster

namechangerbat · 04/01/2012 13:33

do you think it will be ok to take my 13 month old? shes really good

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mungojerrie · 04/01/2012 13:51

Hi - I went in for a check at the EPAU last month at 11 wks and at our hospital it was actually a clinic - we were there all morning (even though everything was fine) because there were lots of other couples there, and obviously some had sadly had difficult news.

I asked a friend to look after our 2year old DD and I'm glad I did as it would have been a nightmare. Is your DD likely to nap? I guess it will just depend, if you have bad news would it be best for DD to be with someone else. I had an abdo scan - they should be able to do that by 8wks.

I really hope it is a reassuring scan. Maybe call the unit to ask about how long you might expect to be there and whether it is sensitive to bring your DD.

Original poster

namechangerbat · 04/01/2012 13:53

DP is coming with me but he really wants to come in & hold my hand. He could take dd off if needs be.

OP posts:

mungojerrie · 04/01/2012 14:03

That sounds like a good plan - they could always go for a walk down the corriders if needed. Hope it goes ok

scarletfingernail · 04/01/2012 14:20

My local EPU only does transvaginal scans before 10 weeks. Although if they've asked for a full bladder it would suggest abdominal. But depending on how clear that scan is they may ask to do a transvaginal scan as well, so be prepared just in case.

With regards your DD, is there anyone who can have her for you while you go to the appointment with your DH? In my experience there's a lot of time spent waiting in between seeing a nurse, having the scan then seeing the nurse again. Might also be more considerate towards other people in there who may be suffering miscarriages. Seeing a 13 month old can be a sad reminder of what they're losing.

I once took my toddler DS (I had no choice, was an emergency scan) and we ended up in EPU for over 2 hours, mostly waiting. I could see it was upsetting for other people and made me feel terrible. Every time I've been since I've left him with a relative.

Of course if you have no one else to look after her fair enough. Good luck, I hope everything is all well.

brettgirl2 · 04/01/2012 14:41

I had an abdo at 6+5 so at 8 weeks + I would be expecting abdo. That's a strange policy scarlet - why would they do that?

Our EPU is just part of antenatal scanning, which I suppose is a bit different but I wouldn't think twice about taking a 13 month old. At the end of the day you are all there for the same reason. I took dd to 12 week scan purely because it was at 8am and her nursery didn't open until 8.00, both sets of GPs were on holiday. Not much I could do really.

Good luck, not nice.

scarletfingernail · 04/01/2012 15:05

Not sure why brettgirl2 it didn't worry me so I didn't ask. Maybe it's not an official policy, just going by what they told me during my own experiences. Maybe they were just too polite to tell me that it was really because my abdomen was too well padded.

I think it's fine to take DC to a routine ante-natal scan. My local EPU is completely seperate from the ante natal scanning and I incorrectly thought that all hospitals would be the same as it seems more sensitive.

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 04/01/2012 15:26

I second what scarlet says about finding someone to care for your dd if at all possible. I've had several EPAU scans and most have involved a lengthy wait; one time I was there for barely an hour, another it was more like five (!).

I disagree with brettgirl though when she says women are "all there for the same reason". If it's a mixed clinic (routine scans and EPAU at the same time) then there'll be some women joyfully having their dating scans, and others there to have bad news confirmed. I found it didn't really help my state of mind having shouty toddlers charging about (no matter how delightful), although I do appreciate that some people simply have no choice.

brettgirl2 · 04/01/2012 16:03

Do people 'joyfully await dating scans?' I have found all those I have ever had pretty terrifying tbh.

blacktreaclecat · 04/01/2012 16:16

I've had 5 scans this pg all abdominal, first at 6+3. But have had a mc before where they couldn't see a lot and asked me to empty bladder and did internal scan.
I really wouldn't take your LO if at all possible. IMO just not an appropriate place for a toddler. When you are having a mc just seeing someone else's LO can be upsetting.
Hope it goes well and there is a lovely hb

phlossie · 04/01/2012 16:32

They'll try an abdo scan, and then if they can't find anything, they may ask you to empty your bladder and try the 'dildo-cam' as someone delicately put it! Basically it looks like a vibrator and goes up to your cervix to have a look. It doesn't hurt at all, it's just cold a bit like a smear.

Not having your LO there might help you relax. I can see what blacktreaclecat is saying, but I was thinking more that you need to concentrate and I would hate to have had mine there when hearing bad news - it's hard enough as it is.

brettgirl - I have never found the wait dating scans joyful either!

Good luck, OP.

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 04/01/2012 17:07

Fair enough, "joyful" is the wrong word. What I meant is that people awaiting routine scans are in a different state of mind than those awaiting scans because they're bleeding, or because they need to have a MC confirmed.

They're not there for the same thing, basically.

namechanger, fingers crossed for tomorrow. At our hospital they seem to do transvaginal scans by default pre 10wks - I wondered if I had mine that way because I was a little tubby at the time, but thinking on it my very skinny friend also had one at her dating scan. It seems to vary from hospital to hospital. Take it easy :)

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