What is the earliest you can have a scan on the NHS?

[dogindisguise]

I'm 6+6 today. I'm confused because the midwife I spoke to on the phone said I might be able to have a scan at six weeks, but the GP told me eight weeks. And when I had a reassurance scan with my son due to MMC in previous pregnancy, the hospital refused to scan me before 10 weeks. Do these things vary geographically?

At about the time my period would have been due, or just after, I had some pinky-brown discharge on two separate days, just a very small amount, and not actual bleeding. The GP said it might be nothing to worry about as it has stopped and not returned, so I'm not sure if I'll be offered an early scan. I feel a bit left in the dark. I haven't even got a date for my booking appointment yet, in contrast to my previous pregnancies when the midwife rang me up the day I went to the GP at five weeks. We can afford a private scan if necessary (they claim to be able to do one from 7 weeks), but would rather not if we'll be able to have one very soon after on the NHS.

I have no symptoms, but then I didn't really have any with my son other than extremely mild occasional nausea from about seven weeks.

If you can afford a private scan, then I think that would be your best course of action. The NHS will not scan you unless there is a medical need to do so, I.e. you are bleeding or having cramps. There is no reason to think anything is wrong after the small amount of discharge you had, but i Understand you must be worried anyway.

Sorry, really hope I didn't sound mean. I just meant you might get a private scan sooner than an NHS one will be arranged so peace of mind a bit sooner too! The only reason they say 7 weeks is because they don't want to scan earlier and risk there being no hb, ESP if dates are a few days out...

Thanks ellangirl. I think we might go for a private scan as I'm not very good at waiting patiently for the NHS one. Also they're likely to offer them at a time when my DH won't have to go straight off to work if it is bad news.

There's no reason it will be, but might as well get a scan ASAP if you can. Look after yourself!

I had one at 6+3 at epu after a bleed.
Hope all is ok- a reassurance scan in the absence of bleeding would probably be best at 7w+