When to book an early scan (very anxious after recent MMC, feel like I'm going mad)

[Makqueen]

I am 7 weeks on thursday and I am going out of my mind with anxiety and worry. I posted similar last week, sorry, but I am at the stage now where I want a scan.

I went for a private scan at exactly 8 weeks when I was pregnant in April, only to be told that it was measuring 7 weeks and that the heartbeat was on the slow side. I knew that it was all going very wrong as I knew when I conceived and that a slow heatbeat wasn't a good sign, despite being told not to worry.

I also felt like death warmed up, not pregnant, just ill. Some days I did not have the energy to get out of bed. I also had terrible backache and cramps that never let up, I had a hot water bottle permanently attached. (I had a successful pregnancy 11 years ago so I know what a 'normal' pregnancy feels like - the polar opposite to how I felt in that pregnancy). When I went back for a follow up two weeks later, I was told the baby had does a few days after the first scan. Which I already knew as I felt better, symptoms all gone and I felt almost normal again.

This time is more 'normal'. Nauseous, sick, very tired, yes. But, I can still function with my day. I feel pregnant, not ill. No backache or cramps either.

But I am terrified. I want a scan, I don't want to go through what I did before (stupidly, I waited 4 weeks to mc naturally and almost died of blood loss and other complications in the process) and if something has gone wrong I want to know and for it to be over and done with this time.

I will have to pay for scans privately, have been in touch with EPU, they have been quite nasty actually and won't do a scan for me.

So, I guess my question is, should I book a scan for this weekend (7+2) or next (8+2) - I want to book a weekend as dh can come. I can't face it on my own. BUT, I don't want to go to early so that they can't see anything and have the worry of waiting.

I'm just so anxious. It will break my heart to see that another one has died, or to be told that its smaller and has a slow heartbeat, but I need to know if something is going wrong for my own sanity.

I'm sorry you're having a hard time of it. Personally, I'd wait for 8+2 - more chance of seeing a good heartbeat etc. And please don't worry about measurements alone - they are not reliable this early (although I guess with other indicators they may be a sign of something). I measured 1-2 weeks behind at a 7 week scan, measured bang on dates at the dating scan.

hey sorry to hear what your going threw ive had seven miscarriages so I no how you feel its terrifying im 20 weeks pregnant now and with this one I had my first reassurance scan at 7+4 and sore a strong heartbeat and a little bean good luck I hope all goes well xx

If you're certain of your dates, then you should see a heartbeat now. You can see a heartbeat from 6+0 although most people like to wait a day or two to cover dating discrepancies.

Having said that, at 8 weeks the risk of miscarriage with a strong heartbeat plummets even further, so you could be a lot more reassured with a good 8 week scan than you would be with a 7 week scan.. although of course a strong heartbeat (and measuring right for dates) at a 7 week scan puts things very much in your favour!

I completely understand, I've had six scans at this stage. For the first three pregnancies I had, two of them had no heartbeat at that first early scan. My luck has improved a lot since and I've had three good ones in a row but at only 7w5d myself this time around, I'm not counting any chickens and still waiting for it to go horribly wrong even though odds are on my side! I had a scan this time at 6w3d and the heartbeat was easy to see.. I've also seen a heartbeat for the first time at 6w0d, 6w1d and 6w4d with my existing three children.

Good luck!!

You see, I just don't want to wait until 8 weeks and find out there is no heartbeat and it's all gone wrong.

Which is why I would rather have one earlier.

But I know that makes no sense as anything could happen after 7 week scan.

I called EPU again. They said I would have to be refereed via A&E. I think I will go thur when my dates say I am bang on 7 weeks. Dh can;t get time off work, so I will have to go on my own, but I really am driving myself mad. What if it hasn't developed? What if there is nothing there? God, this is horrendous. My heart goes out to those of you who have had multiple MC

mak - full of sympathy. Being pg after a mc is terrifying. I had two mcs and am currently 20 weeks - three scans this pregnancy!! You sound scared enough that an earlier scan would probably be wise. Pay to go privately (if you can) rather than facing the miserableness that is the EPU, as the waiting around part can be worse than the scan itself. Though my mw in pg#2 did tell me to go to the EPU and lie, claiming I was bleeding to get an early scan (which I did - I would have felt guilty if it hadn't been another mc).

If you (and the other posters on here) are brave enough, come and join us on the Pg after mc thread - prettty much every form of emotion and stress has been gone through by the women on the boards, and it has been my absolute sanity saver.

I understand how terrifying it is but please don't lie to get a scan, the reason epaus can't do reassurance scans is there just isn't the capacity so if you would be taking the slot of someone with symptoms. I know it's awful. Can't believe a mw would suggest this.

Go for a private scan now, they would be able to detect a heartbeat now (we had one at c. 6wks post IVF and mcs). But you really should go to a private clinic for this, not your NHS EPU, they're massively under-resourced as it is so can't be expected to schedule non-emergency scans, plus they're not exactly the nicest of places to have to wait

Hi Makqueen,

First of all, congratulations on your pregancy. I am 8weeks today after a mmc in February so completely understand the fear. I went for an early scan last week when i was 7.5 weeks and saw a heartbeat. It really gave me some confidence in this pregnancy. I think if you can afford a private scan you should go for it. Hopefully to give you some good news :) Your symptoms of the pregnancy that mc'ed last time sound really similar to my mmc and your current symptoms also sound similar to mine (actually feel pregnant - nauseous and tired but can function as you say as opposed to just feeling ill.)

I agree with Santa - you should join the posifrickintivity thread for those anxious ladies pg after mc. I'm on it and have received a lot of support (and tears and laughs!). We have a great mantra: today i am pregnant :)

When I called the EPU again this morning they were more helpful. They saw me during the first mc (I had the early scans privately, but then had to go to them) and said they would scan me in early pg for this one, but that I had to go to A&E to get referred up to them.

That's good news Makqueen. Hope you get good news. Try and distract yourself while you wait for the scan now!! did they give you a date?

No, they can't. They just said to go to A&E and explain that they had treated me for a MMC a few months ago and they would refer me up to them, but to be prepared for a long wait.

I could get the same through a GP referal, but I don't have an NHS GP, mine is private, so the hospital won't take a referral from her (it was hard enough getting them to see me for the MMC, she was arguing on the phone with them for 20 mins).

Thats another reason I wanted to go to the EPU - because the MMC was diagnosed by a private scan it meant nothing to the hospital. I still had to be scanned and then wait 14 days for another scan before they would confirm the MMC which had already been confirmed. (Even the consultant said how stupid it was). It added so much stress and I want to avoid all that this time.

Sorry to hear about your MMC Op .

I MC in March and we found out we were pregnant in May. I got a package of 4 private reassurances scans. First at 5+4 (saw heartbeat), the 7+4, then 9+4 and 11 weeks. I personally think that was some of the best money I have spent. I would recommend it every time.

Congratualations on your BFP

I have also been where you are OP and know how hard it is not to be consumed by anxiety. However, I do think its worth you thinking about getting some support with the worry this is causing you, because it's clearly making you really really miserable. The likelihood is that your new pg is fine and history won't repeat itself, but (as I know) every day can be spoiled by constructing and replaying worst-case-scenarios. Ultimately, it doesn't matter if you have a scan this week or next - all it will tell you is that your pregnancy is progressing normally at that moment in time (and I say that with full knowledge of the temporary relief a reassurance scan can bring). But as well as a scan, I think you might find it helpful to acknowledge and address the thought patterns that lead to spiralling anxiety. CBT helped me with this, as did Robert Leahy's book 'The Worry Cure'. Ultimately you've got to find a way to live with the worry and uncertainty that pregnancy involves without going stark raving bonkers in the process - not easy after a MC. I wish you all the best with your new pregnancy and hope that you find a way to enjoy being pg now, rather than living in fear of another MC.

Hi Makqueen,

I am in a v similar situation - mmc last year and pregnant again now (6 weeks), really anxious, trying to chase up the nhs to see if they'll let me have an early scan (saw gp at 4 weeks who looked doubtful but said she'd refer, no word since). If they refuse I will just go private, it is poor that the nhs will not give the reassurance and it does seem to be a postcode lottery as to whether they'll do reassurance scans.

Try not to stress too much as you can always pay - I am going to do this, for me it is actually much more convenient as I can go from work and a private clinic will be more accomodating with appointment times, etc. I am planning to go next week at around 7+3 if the nhs don't come through.

I've just had a scan, it was positive news

The EPU called me this morning. The consultant who dealt with my mmc saw that I had called and wanted me to come in for a check over.

I had an internal scan (I had about 7 of them during the mmc and the aftermath, I don't bat an eyelid about them anymore!) and my dates match up perfectly, 6 weeks and 6 days. I saw its little heart beating, consultant said its a good rate.

They have booked me in for another scan next Friday to reassurance as my last pregnancy ended between the 7th and 8th week.

Seeing as last time they put me over a week behind my dates and the heart rate wasn't good and that this time my dates match perfectly and it's heart is beating strong I am feeling a lot more positive.

Thank you all who have given me reassurance, I will obviously continue to worry until it's in my arms (and then on, ds is 11 and I still worth about him everyday ) but I am so glad I had a scan and saw its little heart beating.

I am fully aware that anything can happen in the following weeks, but right now, I am elated.

That's lovely!! I'm so pleased and relieved for you that you had happy news. What a lovely consultant you have as well - that sort are rare, and priceless

The consultant was lovely. When I had my mmc, he told me that his wife had suffered 4 mmc before they had their son, so he really felt for women in that awful situation. He made was so nice to me when I had to wait for he hospital protocol the last time.

Today he said he would always want to reassure women who have suffered mmc in a next pregnancy, he really is a lovely doctor. He was very reassuring today and hopefully I will get him again for the next scan.