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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

8 week scan - would you?

75 replies

lowra · 03/08/2013 14:03

I've just found out I'm pregnant again after an early mc last month. The month before I think I had a chemical. Before that we had been trying for 9 months. As a result (and because I am a fairly anxious person) I am paranoid that this one isn't going to stick either. I have been testing daily and checking my breasts constantly in case the tenderness disappears. That`s what happened last time. Has anyone got any advice? I think I may go private and have a scan at 8 weeks. Has anyone else done this?

OP posts:

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ilikebaking · 03/08/2013 14:06

I had a scan booked for when I should have been 8+5, but ended up having some nhs scans, including one on the day I should have been 8+5 and I was only 7+1 then. Seeing little bean with a heartbeat reduced me to tears after weeks of stress. I was fully prepared for it to go the other way, but I was lucky, I guess. I would say, if you can afford it, do it.
We cancelled the private scan, but, had we not had all the dr related fuss, we would have had it. I even got a picture from the nhs one at 7+1 :-)

misshoohaa · 03/08/2013 14:16

Do it. I did it with DS at about 6 weeks, seeing his little heart beat was so reassuring.

kilmuir · 03/08/2013 14:18

yes if it will give you some peace of mind.
will say as someone who had loads of miscarriages, that i was told not to keep doing HPTs, they can keep showing positive for weeks after a miscarriage.
I had weekly scans with my oldest DD. said no to weekly ones with second successful pregnancy, as although it was reassuring at the time, I knew that it was only relevant at the time it was done, if that makes sense.
On a positive note , I had 9 miscarriages but I also managed to achieve 4 pregnancies.
good luck, hope it all works out for you

RobotHamster · 03/08/2013 14:18

Yes, for the same reasons. I booked for what I thought was 8 weeks and was told I was 7.5w though, so maybe book between 8-9 weeks.

CheeseFondueRocks · 03/08/2013 14:26

Yes, we did it with both pregnancies around that time.
If you see a heartbeat at 8 weeks, your miscarriage risk goes down to about 2%. That's only 1.5% off the 12 week risk so seems like a huge re-assurance to me. Of course, things can still go wrong with a heartbeat at 8 weeks, but this also happens after 12 or 20 or 30 weeks.

islingtongirl · 03/08/2013 14:42

I did at about 8 weeks, was about to go on holiday and gave me some reassurance before I went as the 12 week scan seemed so far away! It was worth it for me personally.

MistressofPemberley · 03/08/2013 14:48

I've had 2 mcs and a chemical so this time I self referred to Early Pregnancy Unit and they offered me a scan at 7 weeks and another at 9. I was so prepared for bad news but I didn't get it. Now 39 weeks waiting for my DD to arrive.
Really helped put my mind at rest as I'd researched odds etc. I say go for it.

BunInMyOven93 · 03/08/2013 15:12

i had one at 9 weeks and was so cute. Mine was NHS but was still amazing to see lil bean! then only had to wait 3 weeks for 12 week scan! x

resipsa · 03/08/2013 15:18

Do it! Best money you'll spend this year.

MrsBungle · 03/08/2013 15:22

I did it with both of my pregnancies. I had a private early reassurance scan around 8 weeks. I didn't want to wait until 12 weeks and wanted to know if all looked ok.

EhricLovesTeamQhuay · 03/08/2013 15:26

I got one on the NHS after 2mcs and it made me feel much better.

HotCrossPun · 03/08/2013 15:27

Definitely worth it if you are worried.

I had one a few weeks ago when I was 8+1. The thought of waiting until 12 weeks until I knew if everything was okay was unbearable!

I think prices vary around the country, but mine was only £40 .

littleABI · 03/08/2013 17:58

Hi ladies, as a first time preg, I am interested to know that you can have an early scan done... how did you go about doing it? Do I have to kick up a fuss at the EPU or just call and book? How come some of you are paying, and some are getting early scans with NHS? Is it high risk pregnancies that get offered this?

As first preg and what I suspect to be after a MC earlier this year, I would feel very reassured to have a scan. I think I worry too much, as I did about 7 preg tests all with a BFP but then the Doc didn't confirm anything and booked me straight in with midwife. Can't someone tell me for def "yes, it's really, really true!" ??!
Love to all and hope you have successful pregnancies :)

EhricLovesTeamQhuay · 03/08/2013 18:15

The NHS won't pay if it's a first pregnancy, but you can pay privately.

StarsAboveYou · 03/08/2013 18:22

I had one at 8w and 5 days as I had no symptoms and had convinced myself that I had had a MMC. I should never have gone near google.

It was the best scan out of the 4 I had in total. I had just been expecting to be told "you're pregnant" or "I'm sorry" but the sight of DS heartbeat on that monitor is one that will stay with me forever. It was so clear and strong and he is now a mischievous 17month old.

I will do the same when/if I am pregnant again.

Wishing you all the best.

littleABI · 03/08/2013 18:36

thanks stars and ehric I shall see what the DH thinks. Torn between having an early and being happy, then something scary happening between 8 wks and 12 and being sad... we shall see, but thank you for the advice. stars enjoy your little one!

Hope you enjoy your evening xxx

Original poster

lowra · 04/08/2013 12:09

Thanks for the advice all. DP is not sure he wants to do it but I think he accepts it down to me. I think I'll see how I go. Maybe get my first appt with the midwife at 7 or 7 weeks and take it from there. I tested again this morning and the line is still getting darker which is good.

OP posts:

Writerwannabe83 · 04/08/2013 13:02

I really want to have an early scan but my husband laughed it off and told me to be more patient I'm not worried about the pregnancy but just the thought of seeing a little beating heart....well, it just makes me feel all warm and squishy inside

I'm only 6+1 so can't have one anyway yet I imagine, but I might keep on nagging at the hubby! I really don't think I can wait another 6 weeks!

Londongirl84 · 04/08/2013 13:40

Having an early scan was honestly the best money ever spent. I had one at 7 weeks and saw the little heartbeat fluttering away. It put my mind at rest beyond imagination. 12 weeks is just so long to wait. I couldn't recommend it more x

littleABI · 04/08/2013 17:16

I'm on a diff chat topic and one of the ladies had an early reassurance scan and found an empty sac a day or 2 ago it's really sad and very scary isn't it. She thought she was 7 weeks...
I don't know how to remain positive with so much scariness. How do you all do it? This is my first pg and I seem to come across so much to worry about (unless I am the one looking for it!). The thing is, and I'm sorry to be a downer, my sister lost a baby at full term, and that was 6 years ago but she and her DH haven't had any kids at all now. It's made me and DH very cautious I suppose.

missmargot · 04/08/2013 17:21

I had an early miscarriage in March and then became pregnant again a month later. We had an early scan at 8 weeks (although they dated me at 9 weeks so further along that I thought) and I'm so glad we had the scan, it really put my mind at rest.

My biggest fear was a mmc having watched a close friend go through this and finding out at her 12 week scan that her pregnancy hadn't progressed past 6 weeks. I know that it is possible to have a positive scan at 8 weeks and still have bad news at 12 weeks but the risk is small and the difference that the early scan made to me in terms of reduced stress and worry was definitely worth it for me.

x0gawjus0x · 04/08/2013 17:26

I had a scan at 9 wk, saw wriggling baby and heartbeat so lovely :) go 4 it x

flowersinavase · 04/08/2013 17:29

Do it.

In the worst case scenario, not having a scan is simply putting off the inevitable - you'll find out at the 12wk scan anyway. Surely finding out sooner is better. Of course things can happen between an 8wk and a 12wk scan, but it's unlikely.

little - you have to remember that there are millions of pregnancies every year which you don't hear about, precisely because they go well. You only hear the horror stories. Being cautious is good to a certain extent, but you have to realise that the odds are on your side.

One thing I read which helped was to be thankful each day that you are pregnant - 'Today, I am pregnant'. You can't think forward the whole 40wks: just one day at a time.

CatsCantFlyFast · 04/08/2013 17:32

writer I had one this week at 6w so you can have one any time after then if you want to

Writerwannabe83 · 04/08/2013 17:36

Can they see a heartbeat this early then???

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