Has anyone stuck to the 2 NHS (12 and 20 weeks) scans only?

[moomin35]

I am a first time mum to be and it seems to me like everyone pays for extra scans (4d etc) over and above the 2 free NHS ones. Although I would love any chance of another scan they seem a lot of money to pay. What did you all do and do you think I'm mad not to pay for more?

I don't think I'd even know how to get a private scan. There's only one hospital in my city and it's
NHS.

I had three NHS scans as my first scan was too early for them to do my nuchal so had to go back.
Didn't feel the need to have a 3d/4s scan.

I only know one person in RL who shelled out for an extra scan. I think the 3D scans look freaky and really, I do think they are a waste of money (unless you have concerns for health reasons and the NHS aren't giving you more regular scans).

But if you want to do it, go for it. Each to her own!

With DS only the 2 NHS scans.
Next pregnancy, 2 early scans due to spotting, both on NHS, found to have MMC at 13 week scan.
DD1 NHS scan at 13 weeks plus we paid for a private NT scan as not offered on NHS other than the hospital who found the MMC and we didn't want to go back there. At 20 week scan found to have Placenta Praevia so scan booked at 34 weeks to check. Admitted with bleeding at 33.5 weeks and scanned on plan at 34 weeks.

DD2, NHS scans at 13 and 20 weeks, Placenta Praevia identified. Admitted at 24 weeks, 26 weeks, 31 weeks and 33 weeks. I think I was scanned on about 3 admissions, plus scan at 34 weeks to check if placenta moved, sent (as inpatient) to be scanned by a specialist in another hospital. MRI to look for placenta acreta. Final scan on morning of EMCS so the surgeon could see what he was dealing with.

The only one we paid for was a nuchal translucency one for DD1.

At our 20wk scan, the sonographer switched over to 3D part way through (we didn't request it but don't live in the UK) and me & DH agreed it was super creepy! We were just waiting for them to switch it back! hth

I planned to have just the 12 and 20 week scans as the 3/4D ones freak DP out .

In fact I developed diabetes and had 28, 30, 32, 34, 36 and 38 week growth scans too. The 28 week one was amazing, there was still enough room to see the baby and the detail you could see was fantastic. I could see his hair swishing about in the amniotic fluid and could tell he had my chin. My sister came with me and looked like this all the way through it.

I had the scans the hospital said I needed. 12 and 20 week ones and several growth scans.

My friend is a sonographer and said she didn't feel comfortable with 'vanity' scanning which put me off. I also find them freaky so it's no great shame.

You get a few scans if you are having twins, which is a bonus. We had NHS scans at 12, 13 (NT scan), 20, 24, 28, 32, 34 (babies came) but was going to be scanned weekly from 34 weeks.

Had a private sexing scan at 16 weeks.

I'm only having 2 there are other things I would prefer to spend the money on once baby is here!

Nhs hospitals do offer private scans and if you want one then don't be put off...If this was my only pregnancy I may feel differently? (Fingers crossed it won't be!)

notso similarly I have a friend who is a sonographer who thinks you should have as few scans as possible to minimise risks. I've just had 2 NHS ones in both pregnancies.

I had the two NHS ones to check for abnormalities then had another 2 at 36 and 38 weeks as DD was breech. This time round I've had to have one at 6 weeks as suspected ectopic a EPU then will just b having the routine ones again. I don't like the 3D/ 4D ones - they freak me out! Plus, I don't like knowing what the baby's going to look like before he/ she pops out!

In 3 pregnancies I paid for one scan as NHS scan wasn't offered until 14 weeks due to cock up, I was bleeding and post-mc and so anxious it seemed worth it. DS was fine.

Other than that I had one extra for a small problem identifies with DS1 but in my first 2 pregnancies our area didn't do the dating scan, only the abnormality one (so DS2 was only scanned once).

So in 3 pg I had 6 scans, 1 paid for. Most people I know stick to the NHS ones.

I had lots of scans- only nhs ones though. Think 6 or 7 with DS.

I'm only having NHS ones and I could never afford extra private ones (or, tbh, see the point in having them).

I wonder how any people who pay for private scans have had bad experiences? I only had an 8 week scan because last time I had a mmc and this was the only way I could cope with the wait. I wouldn't turn down a 10 week scan either. I am very anxious and well aware that my anxiety is not great for my baby.

If I had had a straight forward pregnancy I'm sure I would have been fine with the two regular scans.

I was planning on just having the nhs scans like we had with dd. However, I got told that my beloved Granda has terminal cancer and it is unlikely he will be around by the time this baby arrives. We are now going to have a private scan and get a DVD so he can see the baby.

I had loads of scans with my first. And paid for a 4d one. I'd had 3 mc before that pregnancy so I was so scared something would go wrong. This time I'm just sticking to the nhs ones. I just don't feel the need to have the 4d one this time.

I'm having my 20 week scan in a couple of weeks. I won't be having any more. I can feel it moving now so I wouldn't feel I need another scan unless there was a problem.

I only had the two scans with all my pregnancies and that was good enough for me. It was stressful as it was getting the scans, I didn't fancy going out of my way paying over the odds to see the baby again each time.

Where I'm from you get a third ultrasound around 30. weeks, I've actually decided to pay for one around that time - but then the whole check-up process involving pregnancy is quite different.

Sorry, I meant I only had the NHS scans that were offered to me (plus early scanning due to bleeding with my first and second pregnancies). It is a very anxious time for many new mums, not a time where things always go right either. I know very well from personal experience. Sadly I think this is often forgotten about. It is anxiety provoking enough going for the scan with the NHS without going through the trauma of it privately IYSWIM.

Well I've paid each time; not for extra or 'vanity' scans but for better quality. My eldest 2 are 10&8. There was no nuchal scan offered on the NHS then so instead of having an NHS 12wk scan we had it done privately. With my 3rd, they'd started offering a nuchal but all they did was measure the nuchal fold. No bloods, no looking at the flow through the heart etc. So not a full and clear nuchal scan as recommended by the FMC and offered by the prof himself on the NHS at kings. So again, we had it done privately.

Having had them, I have to say they were well worth the money.

I only had the 12 week and 20 weeks scans with both my sons, and will now I'm pregnant again. Whilst I love the scans - especially the 12 week one - and love knowing that everything is fine, I hardly look at the screen at the 20 week scan in case I accidentally see (or don't see) boys bits. We didn't want to know the sex with either of our pregnancies and wont again with this one. I wouldn't want any extra scans.

We paid for an early scan at 9 weeks as we had a mc the month before I conceived DS and I needed the reassurance everything was ok. We then just had the NHS scans after that, I wanted to leave knowing the sex and what the baby looked like until the day the baby arrived.

This time around (6 weeks at the moment so early days still) we will just have the 12 and 20 week scans unless we need more for medical resons. We are still deciding if we would like to know the sex this time around.

with DD i had the 2 scans only, at 12 and 20 weeks.
but with next one i will go more frequently, just becuase i'm such a worrier, and i'm now nearly 40 and everyone goes on about how much more risky it is.
i googled "private pregnancy scan" and the town i live in and it came up with a clinic which does a scan for £65. which i am happy to pay for peace of mind. i am such a worrier.