Early scan tomorrow at 8w4, will it be abdominal or internal (Southmead EPU)

[Seasidedolly]

Hi all

I'm off to Southmead Early Pregnancy Unit tomorrow for an early scan as I've had a previous MC and have 3 episodes of spotting with this pregnancy.

I know there won't really be much to see but can you hear a heartbeat at this stage? I'm not expecting to see a clear picture of a baby like at a 12 week scan, but I think a heartbeat will be the thing to reassure me the most. Fingers crossed.

Also, is it likely to be a vaginal scan or abdominal? Happy to have internal if it means getting to see the bean clearer but I'd like to be prepared in advance!

Thanks all
D x

[angeltreats]

I had a scan at 7+2 and was told that internal may be necessary, but it only needed to be abdominal in the end and we were able to see the heartbeat. The baby looked like a prawn.

I have had an internal scan though in the past for investigative purposes and just to reassure you, it's really not a big deal (and I'm someone who hates internal exams/smears), it wasn't uncomfortable or embarrassing at all, the sonographer doesn't really even need to look down there to insert the dildocam. There's really no need to worry about it.

[TheScenicRoute]

I had internal at 7 weeks and abdo at 8 weeks. X

[kitkat321]

I had an abdominal at 7 weeks - saw the heart beat and a very clear shape of a baby which wasn't expected.

Good luck with your scan - drink as much water as you can as that will help!

[Seasidedolly]

Hi all
Thank you for the advice, fingers crossed for just an abdominal but I'm more nervous about there being nothing there so as long as I see a bean and a heartbeat all will be grand :)
Also thanks for the advice re the wait at Southmead. They open at 9 so plan on getting there by 8:30 and am taking a good book for the wait!

[LIG1979]

It may also depend on how full your bladder is. I had an abdominal one at 7+1 and it was fine but then popped out to the toilet as was busting and they then tried again and you couldn't see much as the bowel obstructed the view. I was asked to drink a pint of water an hour before the scan.

[ColdTeaAgain]

They will most probably try abdominal scan first but if the image is not clear enough or you are not as far along as you thought then they will need to do an internal (transvaginal) scan to confirm gestation and viability. As PP's have said, your body type is a big factor on how clear the scan will be through your tummy. Good luck OP

[Fairypants]

I had early scan s at southmead epc and they tried abdominal first and said they may need to do internal if they couldn't see what they needed. The abdominal was fine. I could see but not hear the heartbeat.
Be prepared for a very long wait though- several hours is normal there so it's worth getting there as early in the day as possible as the queue is shorter then.
I hope all is well.

[elmo2014]

If you have an appointment, ignore that last bit of my post! I know they do appointments in the afternoon.

[elmo2014]

At Southmead, I had an abdominal scan at roughly same gestation as you. They found the heartbeat. Afterwards, they offered to examine me and found the spotting to be a cervical ectropion.

When I had my MMC (previous to that) and went to be scanned there, they started with abdominal and then progressed to internal to get a more detailed view.

I found them all to be lovely there. Good luck. I don't know if you've been there before, but it can get very busy and it's first come first serve. I wasn't seen on one occasion (a Friday) as they'd run out of time.

[ilovepowerhoop]

it can also depend how 'well padded' you are as when I was pregnant with ds they tried for an abdominal scan but as I am quite big they coudnt get a clear picture so had to do an internal one instead

[Hamsolo]

When I had one they started with an abdominal one, then did a transvaginal as they didn't get a good enough image that way. All was ok, so don't panic if they do both. We saw a clear heartbeat at about the same gestation. Hope it goes well.

[teaandbiscuitsforme]

They should start with abdominal and will just stick with that if they get a clear picture and can see the heartbeat. They will ask if you are happy to have an internal if they can't get a clear enough picture.

I had an abdominal scan at 6 and 1/2 weeks and could see blob clearly and see the heart beating so it could just be abdominal!

[flyingchick1]

They will try with an abdominal scan first and if they can't get all the information will then suggest transvaginal scan. I am 6 + 4 weeks today and had an abdominal scan, you could see the heartbeat .

[eurochick]

My 8 week EPU scan was internal. You should be able to see a heartbeat if your dates are correct.

[Bondy83]

It will probably be an internal scan. I had an internal scan at 8wk and could see the baby really clear although it was small. Good luck for tomorrow x

[dottyaboutstripes]

It would be abdominal and you should see a heartbeat. Good luck!