any central London reassurance scan recommendations?

[jaykay987]

Hello

I'm still in the very early stages (4w+5) but am thinking I would like to get a reassurance scan in a few weeks time.

Does anyone have any recommendations for central London?

How was it? Approx how much? How far gone were you when you went?

Thanks very much!

I got one at the birth company on Harley st. Was £100 with the sonographer (double that for the consultant but if its just for heartbeat etc consultant not necessary). Have had reassurance scans for both DCs there. It's very quick, and they give you a report and pictures. You should wait till 7 weeks though otherwise it could be too early to find heartbeat xx

Oh and I was 7 weeks and 5 days with DC 2 and 9 weeks and 3 days with DC1. X

The Fetal Medicine Centre on Harley Street is great. It's the clinic run by Professor Nicholaides (sp?) who developed the Nuchal scan. I've had 12 and 20 week scans there but am sure they also do reassurance scans. As said up thread though, you might not see a heartbeat before 7 weeks and that can cause a lot of worry so try wait until after that time. Although an early scan can at least tell you if there is a sac and it's in the right place, there's something awful about then waiting another couple of weeks for another scan to see if there is a heartbeat.

We've used the Fetal Medicine Centre on both of ours for early pregnancy reassurance scans. Also used Birth Company for 3d scan with DC1. Very happy with both. This may or may not interest you but we took part in Down Syndrome testing research at FMC which gave us a definitive result rather than doing the NHS nuchal. It was £160 but the test needs to be done by 10 weeks, then you get a follow up 12 week scan. It's a lot more expensive if you get it done later than 10 weeks and not part of the research.

We've used The Birth Company and the Fetal Medicine Centre in the past, v happy with both!

Congratulations - depends on your history but because of a history of MC I could walk and just wait in the EPU in UCLH. You sometimes wait for a few hours others a few minutes. Even if you go for a private scan its good to know about the UCLH EPU (early pregnancy unit) I think they basically say if you walk in and say I am worried about this or that pain or even bleeding they just tell you to wait like in casualty. Must admit one of my mc I had good scans at 6-7 weeks then mc at 10 weeks. Apparently it had stopped developing at 8 weeks (which is a crucial stage due to embryo changing to fetus) or something like that. So I would try and have one around 8 weeks if I was you. God early pregnancy is so horrid - morning sickness and uncertainty.

You could go to an EPU and say you've had a bit of bleeding maybe? Not sure how moral that is (given stretched resources etc), but in my last pregnancy which followed a few miscarriages, I did go to the UCH EPU and had a few scans before 12 weeks whenever I was worried about spotting or cramping or whatever.

thanks very much for your responses. I don't have any reason (previous mc etc) but it's our first and so are just really anxious. I also have thyroid issues and so think a scan before 12 weeks might settle me a little bit.

gooseygirl when did you do that? is that the harmony test? I thought that "offer" might've expired. Id love to do that if there's a possibility.

Yes that's it Jaykay, it was the Harmony test! We had a reassurance scan there at 8 weeks, Harmony at 10 weeks, follow up scan and Harmony results at 12 weeks. If memory serves me I think The Birth Company might be either in the same building or a couple of doors down. All the prices are on the websites (although I think you might need to ring up for more info on the harmony test costs - we had ours done last May/June, not sure if they're still doing the research?)

The offer ended at the end of August - I literally scraped in on the last day, no joke. Well timed there, ovulation! I think the maca powder brought it forward by a few days and saved me £400 in the process.

Definitely recommend the FMC. They really are the best - every person scanning you is a research doctor so if things don't look completely textbook you know you can trust the information you get.

I have a history of refucuernt miscarriage and thyroid problems and id say probably the best thing you can do is also ask for a TSH/ t4 test now pregnant as some people need their dose of thyroid meds changing. Although tbh thyroid isn't always a huge issue in 6 pregnancies, one successful I haven't needed my dose changing in early pregnancy at all.

thanks very much for your comments freeelancegirl

Doctor sent me for my bloods this morning to check thyroid. so hopefully they'll sort it quickly if needed.

In case anyone is interested a reassurance scan and harmony test taken between 10w and 10+6 followed by a 12 week scan and harmony results (2appointments in total) are currently on a package offer of 400.
(At fmc)