Having a private early scan?

[weeblueberry]

I'm toying with the idea of having a private early scan. My two 'options' are September 22nd, when I'd be 7 weeks, or September 29th when I'd be 8 weeks.

Obviously the latter would be my choice since there's a better chance of hearing a heartbeat but I have a couple of questions:

1. Can you definitely hear a heartbeat at 7 weeks (if there's going to be one at all?)
2. I have to leave for San Francisco on a work thing on the week following the 29th appointment. So if I were to get bad news etc I'd end up being away from my partner and having to deal with it myself. Not sure if this is wise?

What do you guys think?

I'd go 8 wks. Had a friend who went at 7w & couldn't hear heartbeat & cried for a wk til could go back again & be reassured all ok. Saying that I went for scans with both of my pregnancies (post one miscarriage) & I was lucky enough to see clear heartbeat at both. One was 8w 2d, the other (I couldn't wait as had no symptoms & was paranoid!) 7w 3d.

(1) I would say yes to that, but it is hard to be exact about when your baby was conceived so if you think it's 7+0, but it's actually only 6+1, you might have a shock.
Sadly for (2) if you get bad news with either scan you would still be upset. Have you reason to think it's not going to work, eg previous mc?

Its a difficult one because everyone is different. The 7 week one would obviously be better for you timing wise with you going away. However, I suppose you would be better leaving it as long as possible for a more positive result. However, I had to have an emergency scan due to bleeding at 6 + 1 and there was a strong heartbeat there already. So you never can tell.

Thanks guys. Think I'm going to leave it til the week I come home from SF (where there are appointments available at a close, but not in my hometown, clinic) and then I'm even better timed for hearing a (hopeful) heartbeat. :)

BF isn't keen on having the scan at all...hmmm...

You will SEE the heart beating on a scan. Its bloody gorgeous

Have you had previous mcs is that why you need an early scan?

No. I don't need an early scan.

It's a mixture of the fact that (I think...) I'm about 6 weeks and have no symptoms. At all. And the fact I'm ridiculously impatient and want to make sure there's actually a baby in there...

Just to reassure you, I had virtually no symptoms until 6.5 wks. In fact, I think it's quite common for them not to kick in until the 7/8 wk mark.

I had one when I thought I was 6+6, turned out I was 6+1. The lady couldn't see the heartbeat over my tummy so she did an internal scan and there it was flashing away. Amazing! My friend came with me and she recorded the screen on my phone so I could show my boyfriend who couldn't be there. I watch it 20 times a day and it gace me so much piece of mind. Keep us updated xxx