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Pregnancy

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

Private scans - when is the best time?

8 replies

LilllyLovesLife · 31/07/2012 11:40

Me and my partner have decided we will probably pay for a private scan this time round (my 3rd baby but his first), mostly because I never would of been able to afford it before and have always liked the idea of seeing it all in 4d etc and to have a (almost) definite answer to the sex.

I am currently 15 weeks. I can't decide if I should go next week, which is when they do the Gender scans from, as I am dying to know what it is. That then only costs around £80 but it's mostly 2d but you get a 10 min 4d freeview included. However I imagine 10 mins in 4d is probably enough.

However if you buy an actual 4d package it says it is best to wait till later for better pictures (Think between 22-30 weeks, depending on which clinic you go to).

I don't know which to choose, the 16 week one is cheaper and means I get to find out what sex we are having, which will be really handy as we are moving and it would be helpful to know if I should bring all my DDs old stuff with us if it's a girl, or if it's a boy we can sell anything girly and not have to move it all for no reason.

But the baby would be so much more developed if we did it later, so it might be better. But it costs more, and we might already know the sex from the 20 week scan if they tell us so it might just not end up happening - might seem a bit pointless.

I also like the idea at 16 weeks of a bit of reassurance. We haven't announced our pregnancy yet due to lots of early problems and threatened misscarriage etc. Where as come 25 weeks or whatever we shouldn't need the reassurance as we should be able to feel baby kicking and hear the heartbeat on the droppler.

Basically, I think I WANT to do the 16 week one, but know others have said it's best to wait, so trying to get a bit more info!

OP posts:
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PeshwariNaan · 31/07/2012 11:49

Did you get your 12-week scan from the NHS? We found that to be very good. Also I've just had my 16 week midwife appointment and my midwife easily heard the heartbeat with a doppler. That could very well be the case for you if you need reassurance.

If you haven't had a scan yet or heard the heartbeat, go ahead and do a private one now if you like, but I'd try going to see your midwife first.

LilllyLovesLife · 31/07/2012 12:44

Yes I have had the 12 week scan. I also had one at 6 weeks (no heartbeat) and one at 8 weeks with a heartbeat. But in between each I have had pain and bleeding. Everything was OK at each scan but doesn't help you worrying. Especially after having 2 previous pregnancies where I didn't experience any problems like this.

OP posts:
PeshwariNaan · 31/07/2012 15:11

At my hospital, if you're having problems like that past 12 weeks the midwives tell you to go straight to the Maternal Assessment Unit where they will see you and probably book you in for a scan asap.

I'd say if you are that worried go ahead and do that. If you will be OK with hearing the heartbeat the midwife will probably do that as well just to check! (They can hear the heartbeat at the point you're at - not always consistently but it's definitely possible.)

If you just want a fancy 4D scan for fun, well that's up to you and go anytime.

GingerDoodle · 31/07/2012 15:37

Hey

We've had:

8 week - Private
Went as we thought we were a couple of weeks further than we were.

10 week - Private
To check on growth due to dates being different

12 week - NHS

(16 week appt with midwife - found the BH with a doppler without problem - I was very nervous about this!)

20 week - NHS

27 week - Private 3 / 4D

29 week - Private 3 / 4D
Re-scanned due to positioning and being kept waiting the first time!

I got a Doppler around 19 weeks just when I was starting feel movements but nothing regular.

TBH the airliner 2D pictures are brilliant as you see the whole body, the later 3D ones are very cool as you see all the bones etc.

I'm 31 weeks on Thursday :)

CandyPop · 31/07/2012 17:45

if you are 15 weeks, then personally i would wait for the NHS scan at 20 weeks. Depending on which hospital, they can tell you the gender.

For 3d/4d scan, i'm having one at 29 weeks. Apparently around this time this will give you optimum image. The can also doubley confirm the gender at 20 weeks.

At 16 weeks, i'm sure how accurate a gender scan would be.......

BuntyCollocks · 31/07/2012 18:09

16 week gender scans are very accurate. From pricing structure I'm guessing op is using babybond - they have >99% accuracy from 16 weeks.

OP - I would say if you have to have one or the other to do the 3d/4d one. They are fantastic. The 4d freeview at 16 weeks is quite freaky (we had ours nearly 3 weeks ago - very impatient to know pink or blue!) in the nicest possible way.

If you can afford both, go for both. :)

Bodice · 31/07/2012 18:31

I wouldn't use 4D on my own baby until late in the gestation. Plus they look really quite horrible and skeletal at 16 weeks in 4D. Also I don't think sexing can be that accurate at that stage and you only have to wait four weeks for your twenty week scan. It is a long time from 20 weeks to term. I feel that the best time for 4d is between 26 and 28 weeks when they have more "meat" on their face. In My opinion 29 weeks is pushing it - they are getting more likely to be head down and if you want to go back another day because they are not showing off you are giving yourself less time. Please don't expect your 4D scan to be like it is in all their glossy brochures. They don't always pose.

Beans1977 · 01/08/2012 07:02

We had a 4D scan with Baby Premier (private). They wouldn't let me book it until we were after 26 weeks - they said 26-32 weeks was the optimum time as Baby is carrying a bit of flesh and looks more 'baby-like' but also has enough room to move about and wiggle a bit.

I was 28 weeks when we had mine and we loved it - so far (I'm 33 weeks) it has been one of the most exciting experiences of the pregnancy. Baby wasn't always in the best position for the pics (bless her, she is stubborn like her Mum!) but the ones we got were really lovely and it made it feel much more real for me to see the baby like that (first pregnancy after a MMC and losing a twin in this PG so have been a bit in denial).

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