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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Requesting an early scan [title edited by MNHQ]

25 replies

williwonti · 21/07/2013 08:12

I had planned to pay for a private early scan to (hopefully) allay by fears as I am pregnant post MC. But then I read a thread on here about the fact NHS allows an early scan if request it, but they don't advertise it in case they got inundated. Is this right? I can't find anything official that says this but would be very very pleased if I didn't have to find the £ myself. Anyone done this? Know this is right? Going to make contact with MW/GP tomorrow when I'll be 6+5. Thank you.

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andadietcoke · 21/07/2013 08:36

I think it depends very much on the hospital and the Trust. On our pregnant after a mc thread there's only one or two that have managed to get an early scan, everyone else has waited it out or gone privately. You can certainly ask, but be prepared for them to say no.

Lovemyprincess4eva · 21/07/2013 08:54

I managed to get one because my doctor referred me due to having a couple of previous mc's. But I then ended up needing 3 because of bleeding.
Hope all works out for you! You can only ask xx

FoofFighter · 21/07/2013 09:24

Not the best thread title there, you do have a reason for wanting one, not just purely because...

I had a MMC last year and was told at that scan to contact my EPU directly to arrange an early scan at around 7-8wks should I fall pg again (which I did).

I don't think it's a blanket thing though, some areas are different depending on size/demand/resources/money.

Ring your EPU directly rather than the GO/MW is my advice.

leelteloo · 21/07/2013 09:30

Depends where you are op? Which trust? I went to the epu at kings as a self referral as the anxiety after 2 mc was getting too much. They couldn't have been kinder and re scanned me at 9 weeks for reassurance. How ever when I was miscarrying and went to a&e in a different trust they wouldn't even refer me to epu and I got no help at all.

Sally8655 · 21/07/2013 10:31

Hi, I had scans at 5 weeks and 6 weeks. I've never had a mc as this is my first pregnancy but I was having cramps and did not know if i was 4 or 8 weeks along due to an issue with my period being very light previously. My GP arranged it with the local hospital and they asked me to go for the second scan as there was not much to see in the first. They were happy to wait for a 12 week scan once the saw a heart beat.
I'm now going for my 12 week scan tomorrow and can't wait to see my baby.
I also hired a medical dopler and was able to find the heartbeat for the first time yesterday.

Hope you manage to get a scan to put your mind at rest xxx

Theas18 · 21/07/2013 10:35

You wouldn't get an nhs early scan locally just for reasons of worry I'm afraid. there isn't funding.

PearlyWhites · 21/07/2013 10:35

My early pregnancy unit keys you request a early reassurance scan if you have had history of mc.

PearlyWhites · 21/07/2013 10:35

Let's not keys

PearlyWhites · 21/07/2013 10:37

Theas that isn't true my hospital is nhs and that is there policy. I have had the early scans in my last two pregnancies. It obviously depends where you live.

Definitelysometime · 21/07/2013 10:38

I'm also interested in this. Can anyone pay for a private scan, at any time? I'm keen to book a scan for 7/8 weeks. I'm going on a big family holiday and would love to tell everyone then (and won't be able to hide my not drinking for long!) but I'd feel better if I'd seen a heartbeat...

leelteloo · 21/07/2013 11:07

You can pay for a private scan anytime. Usually about £100 a time. Just google private scan + your nearest large town.

MrsLianeB · 21/07/2013 11:13

My trust is the same as foofighter just contact epu directly if you have had a previous mc. They are great and have lots of experience in this area

Original poster

williwonti · 21/07/2013 19:22

Thanks all for replying. I was scanned 3 times at my EPU earlier in the year with the MC so I will ring them in the morning as see what they say. I'll post back to let you all know, I am in the West Mids area.

OP posts:

GoshAnneGorilla · 21/07/2013 19:44

I'm also West Mids. Our EPU doesn't accept self-referrers but I was at a high risk of an ectopic pregnancy dues to my medical history, so the lovely midwife at my G.P's arranged a scan for me, which showed that everything was fine.

Fingers crossed for you OP.

Yonionekanobe · 21/07/2013 19:55

You my well be able to have one given your history. Good luck!

I would ask MNHQ to change the title of the thread btw - it sounds a little inflammatory as it stands, and your OP is anything but.

Shellywelly1973 · 21/07/2013 20:28

In reply to the person who wanted an early scan so she could tell everyone.

In my last pregnancy i had a private scan at 7 wk& 2 days. The baby died at 8wk & 2 days. It wasn't discovered until i went for my 12 week scan.

With this current pregnancy i decided an early scan wouldn't reassure me for any length of time. I ended up having a scan at 9 weeks but even though i had seen the heartbeat i was convinced they would tell me the baby had died when i went for my 12 week scan.

Im 13 weeks now & slightly more confident about this pregnancy. There are no guarantees unfortuately.

Original poster

williwonti · 21/07/2013 21:58

Didn't mean it to sound like that, whoops! No idea how i would contact them.

OP posts:

cantrillium · 21/07/2013 23:29

I'm also in the west midlands and got an early scan due to 2 previous miscarriages. Not sure how close you are to Lichfield but if the nhs will not scan you there is a clinic here who do scans for £50, normally they are around the £100 mark. Good luck

FoofFighter · 22/07/2013 10:31

Click on report your post Willi

soapboxqueen · 22/07/2013 10:39

I went to my gp and was referred for an early scan with ds as I had an early miscarriage just before conceiving him. Bizarrely he sent me to the standard ultrasound team not the ante natal section so the scanner lady had to run across the hospital for the appointment

For my dd I went privately. Just phoned up for an appointment, cost £90, I think I had to take my maternity notes with me. That was at the rvi in Newcastle.

Wowserz129 · 22/07/2013 10:43

I think there is no harm in asking. I had an early scan at 7 weeks and all they could see was the sac/no heartbeat. I went back at 9 weeks and they could see his heartbeat. The stress it caused me in the 2 weeks in between was enough for me to say I will never have an early scan again.

ZingWidge · 22/07/2013 10:46

I had early scan with DS3 to date pg as I never had a period after DS2.
turned out I was 6 weeks pg

my 5th pg ended in MC so when I was pg with DS5 I had an early-ish scan at 9 weeks - I had some symptoms that freaked me out thinking I was loosing baby, went to see gp she arranged early scan straight away ( same or next day I can't remember)

Yonionekanobe · 22/07/2013 11:49

You can just report your post. It just may sound to some people that you just fancy a bit of reassurance for no reason (as opposed to your very valid reason) and given strains on the NHS etc...!

KoalaFace · 22/07/2013 11:55

It depends where you live. Which makes my blood boil since we're all paying taxes so why don't we get the same bloody care?

I had a miscarriage at 12 weeks in April. I'm now 9 weeks pregnant and had to pay for a private scan since my midwife told me that I wouldn't get an early scan unless I started bleeding.

No problem if thats across the board. But I know it to be different in other areas. Its like this with so much NHS care and it makes me so frustrated!

Original poster

williwonti · 22/07/2013 13:19

I will report my thread title now, thanks.

Turns out, it does depend!! I rang the EPU where I was cared for with my MC and they said no, can't ccept self referrals. I rang another local one (where I would want to have the baby all being well) and they were lovely and have booked me in for Weds morning. I know things can happen at any stage and still very possible after this scan (assuming all is even ok on weds) but think it will stop my massive anxieties. It'll then be a 5 week wait until the 12wk scan. Thanks all. It is shocking that is another example of postcode lottery care.

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