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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Would you recommend an early scan?

46 replies

Sunny4124 · 31/07/2015 08:35

Hi everyone,

Hope you are all well, and congratulations again on your pregnancies.

I am 8w+5 with our first pregnancy, and clueless!

We saw the NHS midwife the other day, and she booked us in for our first scan at 12w+5 (4 weeks today). It seems a looooong time to wait to know that everything is okay with the baby, I'm terrified incase something has gone wrong and we don't know!

What I'm wanting to know is: Did you ladies have an early (private) scan, pre 12 weeks, or not? And if so, how far along were you? And how much could you see? And would you recommend it? Equally, are there ladies who just waited until the 12 weeks NHS one? (maybe more patient than me!).

Trying to weigh up if it's worth it for peace of mind?!?! Any advice greatly appreciated! :-) xx

OP posts:

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Mrsbadger77 · 31/07/2015 11:35

Sorry to hi-jack thread but wherein the midlands did you get £40 scan? Cheapest I can find is £75.

LazyRohazy · 31/07/2015 11:37

I'm currently 10+1. I have a history of recurrent miscarriage, and so in this pregnancy I've had three NHS scans in the recurrent miscarriage clinic so far, with another one next week before the big 12 week scan the following week. It has kept me sane when the anxiety has been crippling.

In my last pregnancy I had a private scan at 8+5, which showed an MMC. The private clinic nearest me isn't part of one of the chains and is run by a woman who is a Fellow of Fetal Medicine at a major university, does a lot of NHS work, but has a private clinic on the side. More expensive than others mentioned (£120, although she only charged me £50 because of the bad news) but she's so well qualified I was prepared to pay it. All being well, I'll go to her for a private gender scan at 16 weeks.

In short: if you have the cash, and you take the provisos of there is still risk of miscarriage, then go for it.

Original poster

Sunny4124 · 31/07/2015 13:54

Thanks all for your advice! Think we need to give it some thought. I really want one for reassurance but my boyfriend thinks we should wait until 12 weeks. Good luck everyone with your pregnancies :-)

OP posts:

lauraa4 · 31/07/2015 13:58

junosmum I know you are only making OP aware of what your friends have experienced, but I have had private scans after 12 weeks and didn't doubt for one moment that the sonographer was any less qualified or knowledgeable than an NHS one. There is no way that they would allow sonographers to perform anomaly/NIPT scans who were not qualified and just on the fact they knew how to work a machine. The last lady I had in my private one actually worked part time as a sonographer for the NHS and part time for baby bond, as did the other sonographer at my appointment before. I have found the manor and professionalism at the private scans far better than the NHS scans, who actually when I had my miscarriage were not very supportive at all. Maybe that's just because they are doing their job and see it every day but even so.

Frolicacid · 31/07/2015 14:01

We had one at about 9 weeks and it was very reassuring. We could see little arm and feet paddles waving away, and, crucially, the heart beating. I think the stats are something like that there is over a 90% chance of things going full term if all is ok at 9 weeks.
It cost £90 and was well worth it. I suppose it depends on what you can afford and how anxious you are. We found out about the pregnancy just before Christmas and I figured the £90 would have easily been spent on booze had I not been up the duff.
Congratulations and all the best

frazzledtofun · 31/07/2015 14:09

I would just warn that sometimes scans can throw up worries that you might not have otherwise had!

I had a scan at around 7 weeks with this pregnancy after a couple of friends had MMC. I'd also read that a heartbeat at 7/8 weeks does generally mean things will be OK - although of course something can always go wrong later.

Anyway, I went for the scan and because everything is so small it can be hard for them to see properly what's going on. They could see the baby and it had a good strong heartbeat and was measuring correct for dates, but they could also see another "structure" beside the baby. I was terrified as I started thinking is it a twin that died, or a tumour or what. A colleague was duly called to come and have a look and they identified a cyst inside the umbilical cord. They explained that usually these will go away on their own but if they don't they do have the potential to cause problems - depending on how fast they grow in comparison to the baby and the cord. They also couldn't be 100% sure that's what it was because everything is so teeny tiny - we're talking just a couple of millimetres across.

Anyway, I got rescanned at 9 weeks and the cyst had gone and then my 12 week NHS scan was totally fine.

BUT I spent a few weeks being really worried about something that I would never have known about if I hadn't had the scan. Apparently cysts are quite common in the first trimester but most people don't know anything about them because they disappear before the 12 week scan.

Oh and I had my scan at the Fetal Medicine Centre on Harley Street. All the sonographers are fully qualified doctors and they are actually the same team that do the NHS prenatal scans at UCH. If you live around London or the South East and decide to go ahead I would definitely recommend going there. They are real experts and can properly interpret what they are seeing.

honeysucklejasmine · 31/07/2015 14:09

MrsBadger tummy2mummy in Leamington Spa, but they also have a clinic in Hinkley, Leics.

SinIckAll · 31/07/2015 14:27

junosmum I had an early scan with my first pregnancy at 8 weeks, saw a heartbeat and measurements were coming up small but sonographer said same as with your friend - you probably just ovulated later than you thought and everything seems ok. I had a mmc a few days later. That was NHS scan (due to bleeding), so I don't think you can say that sort of thing only happens with private scans and the staff are therefore less qualified.

OP I've just had a scan at 7+6 and saw a heartbeat. it's lovely to have the reassurance, although that does only last a few minutes! then you're waiting with anticipation for the next scan again! well that's my experience anyway, but probably down to my previous experience that you can't help but worry. odds are apparently good at this stage, as PPs have said. congrats on your bfp and good luck with the rest of your pregnancy!

EdgarAllenPoe · 31/07/2015 14:29

I haven't had any additional scans (other than 12 weeks, and later 20 weeks on NHS). I'm 17 weeks now.

My view is that if something were to go wrong before the 12 week scan, there is literally nothing I or any hospital could do about it. I don't mean to sound pessimistic, that's just the reality of it. So I just tried to count the weeks until my 12 week scan (which actually at 13 weeks so I had to wait even longer). Patience is not a virtue of mine, it was hard.

Now if I had had a bleed or other worrying symptoms, I would have gotten that checked out. However a simple reassurance scan for no medical reason just didn't seem worth it to us. I'd have probably been reassured for about 2 days then started wondering if something bad had happened since. Each to their own.

Since getting beyond the 1st trimester, I feel a lot better in general, and confident there is definitely something 'in there'. I hope you will too!

Me624 · 31/07/2015 18:03

I had a private scan (£90) last week at 8+1. I wanted some reassurance because I haven't really had any symptoms. I know that things can still go wrong before 12 weeks but as others have said a hb and measuring approximately right at that stage gives very good chances of everything being ok. We've told parents but not telling anyone else until we get the ok at the 12 week one. 3 weeks to go!

Original poster

Sunny4124 · 01/08/2015 00:11

Thanks all, really good to see different points of view from your experiences! Good luck all :-)

OP posts:

AmiL123 · 01/08/2015 08:53

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IfYouWereARiverIdLearnToFloat · 01/08/2015 10:39

We were offered an early scan at 7 weeks by our midwife as we had previously miscarried. It was very reassuring to see the heartbeat & did stop me freaking out.

Original poster

Sunny4124 · 08/08/2015 07:27

Hi all,

Just to let you know, after this thread, we had an early scan yesterday! (9w+5). All really good, was wriggling its legs, saw and heard the heartbeat (155bpm) and was measuring 1 day under. So amazing to see that there IS actually a baby inside me!

Although I know it's still early, it's very reassuring to know that all looks well at this stage :-) NHS 12 wk scan in 3 weeks.

Thanks so much for all your advice :-) xx

OP posts:

Superexcited · 08/08/2015 07:37

I had a private scan at 8 weeks + 2 days. I am in the north and it cost me£40. The lady who did the scan used to work as a sonographer for the NHS.
I thought it was worth it. It was a very special moment. The risk of miscarriage after hearing a healthy heartbeat and having confirmation that the embryo is the correct size for your dates is quite low (less than 5% I think). of course even after a healthy 12 week scan nothing is 100% guaranteed.
Even if something had gone wrong after the early scan I would still be glad that I had it and got to see and hear my baby that one time and got a photo of him to treasure.
I am 30 weeks now and haven't had any further private scans - just the two routine NHS ones.

Bythedowns2 · 08/08/2015 07:41

I am contemplating this but I don't think it would help me! My first pregnancy I had a mmc scanned at 11+4 baby had died at 8+5, my daughter I was terrified but never had early scan. This pregnancy I am same and am going on holiday at 11 weeks, but very early as someone said above it really doesn't mean anything will happen later on. The NHS scans between 11-14 weeks as percentage chances of miscarry ing lessen

patienceisvirtuous · 08/08/2015 07:52

I'm a recurrent miscarrier. Just had my third mc on Monday.

In my second pg, had 7 week scan (NHS) due to some bleeding. Saw hb but baby measured small. Told pg was viable, and hb is a very positive sign. Wasn't offered another scan. Had one anyway at 9 weeks, had mmc.

Pretty much same scenario for third pg. Except at 7 week scan baby measured 4 weeks. Despite my grave concerns, was sent away with viable pg, hb good sign, see you at 12 wk scan. Got scan date at 13+ weeks. Left it to fate and didn't book private scan, mainly due to family holiday plonked in middle. Diagnosed mmc at 13+ weeks.

Because I've had 3 mcs I will now have early scans with any subsequent pgs. If I'd had no issues I don't think I would. I think I'd wait until 12 weeks.

Please remember though, most women have perfectly normal, healthy pregnancies.

zippyswife · 08/08/2015 07:55

I'm pg with dc3. I had early scans with previous pregnancies but it didn't stop me worrying until the 12 week scan and everything was seen to be ok. This time I've just waited it out- scan on Tuesday and I can't wait!! Good luck.

Runningupthathill82 · 08/08/2015 08:01

I had a private scan at 10 weeks with Babybond. The sonographer who did it was absolutely brilliant - and I was very happy when, three weeks later, he did my NHS dating scan too.

I was told that almost all Babybond scans in my area are done by practicing nhs sonographers. I guess it makes them some nice money on the side?

Cost £99, worth every penny as I could then go on holiday at 11 weeks and be able to relax far more than I would have otherwise.

SaltySeaBird · 08/08/2015 08:10

I have scans every two/ three weeks due to complications.

Four pregnancies and only one gone to term (so far, I'm pregnant at the moment).

Last time I had a scan at 6 weeks and 8 weeks - all fine, saw heartbeat both times. I miscarried the day after the 8 week scan.

I'm terrified beyond belief at present - I'm about 6 weeks.

MaddieUK · 08/08/2015 09:54

I had a private scan (£99) at 8 weeks and I thought it was totally worth it. It's my first baby and I didn't have any symptoms, so was a bit worried something was wrong. My NHS scan was planned at 13+1 so quite late as well - I didn't want to wait another 5 weeks...

At the scan we could see the embryo and its beating heart. They also saw a fibroid (nothing major/worrying). Oh, and they told us the expected due date. The statistics online say that if you see a beating heart at 8 weeks, there's a 98% (or so) chance that you will not miscarry, which really put our minds at ease.

I'm roughly 19 weeks now and I still have not had any symptoms ... but I'm not worried (much ;) anymore.

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