Just had reassurance scan

[Currentlyclueless]

An I'm so upset, It was very rushed.

At first she said my bladder wasn't full enough so made my down a bottle of water, then tried again as soon as I finished my water and couldnt see anything and said she won't try again because she's going home.

I'm 8 weeks pregnant and very worried now that something's wrong eg ectopic, she wasn't a qualified sonographer so my mum said that will be why but I'm really worried can anyone shed light on this.

Fuctifino they've said they will fit me in Thursday for a scan but if I have issues eg bleeding to come in

My mums found out the done a one year diploma in being an ultrasound tech... It's three years in my university to be a sonographer! X

It doesn't make sense, clueless. Either they are able to do an ultrasound or they're not?

Where abouts are you? Might be a MNetter in your direction who could point you to a decent clinic. Fwiw I've been to MyUltraBaby - watford but they have clinics across N London etc - they were really good.

Was there a particular reason for needing to have a scan urgently? I don't want to pry so please don't answer if you don't feel able to. Have you got any pain? If so, where? Abdo? Shoulder tip?

They can perform scans but supposed to have another person with them who is allowed to diagnose etc ... Which they didn't it was just woman.

My sister directed me to a few in my area but non of them could fit me! I had no idea how popular it was to go for a private scan.

No particular reason just the fact I've been told since I was 16 I'm infertile and got pregnant but without any symptoms and then being told I'm high risk due to a very low BMI - I've had no pains or bleeding just the usual 'cramps' but just wanted it to feel real now it feels even less real.

If you're a medical student you will hopefully understand why it's really important to raise this with the CQC as it's completely inappropriate.
Try not to worry, I know it's easier said than done xxx

Thank you

Sorry - i didn't mean an official referral, i meant that they would recommend somewhere.

It was booked before my first mw appt unfortunately :( I know better now I suppose just need to be positive

Hi Currently, did she say she couldn't see your womb or couldn't see anything in it? I had a scan at 8.1 and they couldn't see my womb at all through an abdominal scan as i have a really tilted uterus. They had to do an internal one to see it.

I hope you are ok and that you find a better sonographer soon!

Hi Teakind
She couldn't see a thing not even my womb she was also saying 'I'm not sure if I'm pressing on your bladder'

I should have just walked out immediately after that. My anxiety over took logical thinking.

If she couldn't see your womb then it's not bad news, just no news. If she saw your womb clearly but no pregnancy sac that would be bad. Did they not explain about the full bladder thing? Drinking a bottle of water and then scanning straight away won't do much good, you'd need to wait quite a while. The woman spoke very unprofessionally to you but I can see that she may not have been able to wait around - a child to collect for example. And working alone there's no one to take over, unlike in a hospital. I was happy with the private scan I had, but then that was an NHS employed sonographer doing an extra job, iyswim. OP do you have some rl support to get you through until Thursday? Hang in there.

Yeah my mums here for me but I think I'm driving her insane ATM I suffer really badly with hypochondria have done since I was a child and I keep diagnosing myself with all sorts I need to stop she has enough on her plate. Really scared about Thursday now incase it's bad news :(

Sonographer is not a protected title in this country so anyone can call themselves a sonographer. The nhs will only employ qualified radiographers, who are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council, and have also undertaken postgraduate training in sonography.

Tori I have had 20+ pre 12 week scans over the years (recurrent miscarrier). Every single one I was either not asked to have a full bladder or actually told to urinate before!
The bladder gets in the way.
This was at every early scan in both unsuccessful and successful pregnancy- local hospitals and major teaching hospitals. Loads of different sonographers.

OP go to your EPU. This woman sounds dreadful. I hope all it well.

Epu won't see me as I'm not bleeding or in pain - id rather not take the time up because there could be someone who really needs the appointment. I'm allowed an appointment at my hospital Thursday - don't get why they're saying my low bmi can prevent anything being seen when I know that's not the case

Right

Let's look at this logically. I don't want to sound patronising, and I know you're a med student (which sometimes makes it worse!). Fwiw I'm the same - my background is infertility with a focus on patient quality and safety. But I panicked like a good 'un when I got a positive pt.

You've had one or more positive pt's. You've got no pain, no bleeding. High risk wise, your BMI is a concern. Is this as a result of a chronic condition that may affect a pregnancy?

At the moment there is absolutely nothing you can do. Not for today at least. Tomorrow you could ring round other private units to try to get a scan, but otherwise you'll need to sit tight until Thursday. With the best will in the world, even if you have a reassurance scan before then, when will it stop? Are you going to want to have a scan every week? Every day? There is nothing - nothing - that is going to completely get rid of your anxiety. How far is it going to go?

For your own sake, and I say this in the nicest possible way as someone who has gone through similar, you need to calm down. It is going to do you no good at all being so stressed. Now, there is varying evidence as to whether or not stress at this stage can affect baby, but the key point is how stress is going to affect YOU. You are going through a difficult time - the last thing you need is for your stress levels to be off the radar. There is nothing you can do at the moment and the time has come that you need to relinquish control (and I say that as the ultimate control freak!)

Yes the clinic/unit was unprofessional and yes you should complain, but in he meantime you need to try to keep your stress levels under control. Easier said than done, but you need to try xx