Private early scan - is it worth it?

[Isithappening]

DH has suggested we book an early private scan to put our minds at rest and clarify the dates.
I have read that a heartbeat detected on scan at 8 weeks means the pregnancy is 98% likely to continue so I would feel comfortable announcing the news if we have a scan and everything looks okay. We haven't even told our children about the pregnancy yet and we gave been several years TTC so we are very excited and very anxious.
The scan will cost £95, which I kind of think could be spent on something we will need for the baby (we got rid of all baby items many years ago).
Has anybody else had one and did they think it was worth the money?
Would I be mad to spend £95 on something which would be free four weeks later?

didals They almost certainly wouldn't do that at my local EPU - they're already pretty rammed as it is with women who have issues like bleeding, cramping etc. They'd definitely send you away at mine.

I think Op if you have a private scan at around 7 to 8 weeks it will tide you over reassurance wise until the 12 week one. Hopefully give you piece of mind.

Didals the only way you could get scanned at our epu would be either if you had genuine concerns or by lying! Have experience of the former and could 't do the latter. Everyone's anxious in first trimester surely, imagine if word got round that the epu was routinely scanning anxious mums, they'd never get to see the mums with genuine concerns!

I'd go for it - I had an early scan at 7 weeks after a previous early loss - I was a nervous wreck the day of the scan, but then we saw our little bean with a heartbeat for the first time and it was amazing. My DP, who is normally not keen on unnecessary spending said it was well worth the £100.

I'm now 25 weeks - for me the reassurance of a scan or hearing the heartbeat with a midwife seems to last about 4 weeks - then I start worrying again! So for me, every 'milestone' that helps reassure me and break up the time is totally worth it - I might have a 3D scan sometime around 30 weeks too...

By all means have the early scan to give YOU peace of mind but my advice is just because you have a heartbeat at 8 weeks don't assume you can tell the world and be ok.

I had a heartbeat at 8 weeks and fell into the 2% whose pregnancies fail. My baby died a week later, and it was my 3rd mc in a row. So for me, that hb was a huge thing but still didn't matter.

Admittedly it is rare and of course tell people if you wish. But if you are worried about telling people then really I can't stress enough to wait for 12 wk scan and then you can tell everyone.

Good luck

I had a scan at 7 weeks and all ok then my next one at nearly 13 weeks and I had had a missed miscarriage

I would probably have one at 8 weeks but would be just as anxious after.

I've just had private reassurance scan at 16 weeks, worth every penny. Only paid for 15 min app (£59) but was worth triple that. Was amazing.

10 mins is more than enough, it really only takes a couple of minutes to know if there is any kind of issue by 8 weeks (I've had many early scans). I don't see any point in paying twice as much for any more time, its just not necessary.

I had a private scan at 8 and at 11 weeks. The one at 8 was to put my mind at rest - HB was lovely but other posters are right in that it doesn't actually get rid of all the anxiety - still was at 11 wk scan (when I got the NIPT test done) and at 13wk (NHS) and at the 16wk midwife HB check. I didn't feel much better about telling people until 12, anyway.

However, it was still good - I'd go with the £50 choice though. No point in spending more.

I had one today at 8 + 3. £95. I booked it ages ago but actually I started bleeding yesterday so was pleased it was booked.

Baby is fine! Heard the heartbeat and have announced the pregnancy to our friends and family. For me, it was totally worth it but it really is a personal decision.

I have contacted the clinic and they said that I can just book a few days before for a weekday appointment so I will ring them when I am almost 8 weeks.
I am surprised that so many people have said they had a scan at 8 weeks and everything was okay but then they miscarried before the 12 week scan. It makes me wonder if the stats of 98% are incorrect.

That stat means one in 50, thats quite a few. And this is a self selecting sample, in that those of us with bad experiences are far more likely to click on this post in the first place, and even more likely to answer it.
Although I've read the percentage as 95%, which is still great odds for you, but it would mean that one in 20 would have had a positive early scan and a bad outcome.
I suspect its actually somewhere in between, but that still gives you very good odds of a good outcome with a good scan at 8 weeks.

I had a private scan last week at 8+6. It was considerably cheaper than yours, but still worth every penny. I have had 2 previous mcs and despite that and considerable family history of still birth/mc and twins, my epu were not going to offer me early scanning ( I also work at the hospital).
A HB at 8-9 weeks gives similar odds to after a positive scan at 12 so if you did want to tell people afterwards it wouldn't be dissimilar to waiting to 12weeks. The only reason this is usually done is because that is the first time the heartbeat is seen by the majority of people.
My sincere condolences to those above who lost their babies even after early scanning.

Yes but shop around if money is tight. Ours cost £40 for driving 10 miles past the closest place.

Lots of places have offers on regularly and charge more for weekend appointments.

I had a private scan first time round, and they found I had a blighted ovun, we then had to hand over the cash. It was heartbreaking and these private clinics aren't set up for bad news, full of baby pictures. This time I waited til 12 weeks, it wasn't easy but my scan was magical. I told myself if I had bleeding or cramps I would go to the EPU. I didn't want to pay £100 to be told bad news again. And also a hb at 8 weeks doesn't guarantee anything, although it is rare. I am now 15 weeks and still terrified. Up to you and your DH though xxx

At my EPU Thursday afternoon is the allocated slot for reassurance scans - these are meant for ladies that have had miscarriages and stillbirth (I'd imagine anyway - I have had both so I qualified). Just thought I'd mention the existence of this fabulous NHS service!

I doubt OP would qualify, these services are usually very over-subscribed. I know where I am you can't get reassurance scans until you have had 3 in a row m/c (I had to wait until after my 4th as I had a successful pregnancy in between 2) or a confirmed via testing condition that warrants a high risk++ rating.

We are going with the £50 scan. It's only two miles from the £95 one and is much nearer to DH place of work so we will go during his lunch hour to avoid questions being asked by nosey colleagues. we are waiting until 8 weeks though.
I would not try to get one on the NHS unless there was specific problem symptoms like there was during my first pregnancy. Also in my area if you have an early scan at 8-11 weeks you don't get a 12 week scan.

^^ you don't get a 12 week one If early scan is carried out by NHS obviously.

This was mine at 8wks 4days, it did reassue me at the time, but then after a couple of weeks I was worried about the 12 week scan. Mine was also £50

We paid £99 for a scan at 7 weeks and it was worth every penny. The nhs wouldn't do an early scan despite a previous loss

I had some spotting at 8 weeks and went to EPU who gave me a scan. Everything was fine though

I personally wouldn't. A scan, even at 8 weeks can only tell you that everything is okay 'now'

I had two early scans in my last pregnancy. One at 8w and one at 9w I had another scan at 10w which showed the heart had stopped beating a day after my last scan.

I am now 6 weeks pregnant again and could have an early scan if I wanted to due to recent history. I don't want one until I'm 12 weeks. I'm too skeptical. It's utterly heart breaking to see a heartbeat and think everything will be fine to have it snatched away again.

In any case I wish the very best of luck whatever you do. Congratulations

Things can still go wrong in pregnancy even at 8 weeks if you see a heartbeat, there's still a chance the pregnancy may not continue in two weeks' time, for example.

The reassurance scan is not like a crystal ball, it cannot see into the future. You just have to hope all will stay well. Fingers crossed.

I had my dating scan last week at just over 12 weeks, all was well then, but I am still worried and will worry until I have a baby to hold in my arms. No amount of scanning will make it any better an outcome.