An early scan showed no heartbeat - should I go for a private 'reassurance' scan?

[Aslarry]

A dilemma - I had a transvaginal scan at the EPU last Friday week (a week and half ago) because of some spotting. I thought I was 5wks and 6 days and that at that time a heartbeat would be visible. However, the gestational sac was measured at 11.7mm and the Embryo at just 3.3mm with no heartbeat was visible/present - she suggested I might have ovulated a few days later than thought so would be 'between 5 and 6 weeks'. She also said it all looked normal and I was to go back at 12 weeks. My worry is that I should have been able to see a heartbeat and that I've had a missed m/c or somesuch (I had a mc about 7 months ago). Should I just stop worrying and wait until the NHS scan or should I give in and confirm my worst fears/enormous hopes?! The doctor mentioned that scans were 'okay' as long as they served a good purpose - is satisfying my own curiousity/state of anxiety enough of a 'good purpose'?! Advice from anyone, particularly those with early scan info, would be greatly appreciated.

To wait untill twelve weeks seems unusual. Could you not go back to GP's and explain - see if you could get a NHS scan again sooner?

They really should re scan you a week after to check for the fetal heart again.
Try going back to your GP to see if they can re-refer you to EPU for a follow up scan. If they can't perhaps look to private sector say around £120 for a scan to check for fetal heart. To wait until 12 weeks really seems a long time to wait.

agree...been to EPU in both pregnancies and was scanned weekly until heartbeat seen and problems settled down

if you are 6 weeks or so,that is a long wait to find out ....i;d ask for another at the EPU ...

also, heartbeat often can;t be picked up until 7+ so might be worht waiting another good week or so.

I had early spotting
scan at around 6 weeks - had to wait until 8 weeks when seeing the heart rate was more reliable.
Hope things are ok

go private if you can afford it. have you read the other thread about this?

'really confused'... etc... it's about 4 or 5 threads down from this one..

Yes, 12 weeks seems like an age. My reluctance comes from the doctor being very firm about it being 'normal' and 12 week scan being perfectly sufficient. I feel if I go back to the EPU or my gp that I'm being alarmist and drainging NHS reserves. The doctor wasn't in anyway horrible or insensitive - I think she felt I'd gone away happy. However, I just feel concerned that I possibly should have seen a heartbeat - perhaps she is right and it was just a few days away. Not much comfort now, as I've been told that once a heartbeat is established mc chances decrease.

thanks for the later posts. My post crossed with some - I'm a supremely slow typist!

Popsycal, Lulumama - your own experiences give me a little more hope that I was on the 'cusp' of the development of the heart. Pregnancy is such a rollercoaster of joy and anxiety. I just wish I could fast forward on a couple of months.

Try to think positively that most likely you haven't seen the heartbeat because it is a bit too early, but whatever way you can , get an earlier scan than 12w.
If you were my patient, I would so refer you for another scan, and you are not wasting resources. Perfectly reasonable IMO

Aslarry...to the doc, you look like everything is going ok...spotting stopped..scan shows everythiong is normal...but to you, this is the most important thing going on in your life..and expecting you to wait anoter 6 weeks to see LO is no taking into account the way you are feeling. you need the reassurance, and it is not draining resources to ask for it.

Thanks so much for your advice and words of wisdom. I feel I've been given a vote of confidence! Keeping my fingers crossed that I'll be able to re-post with something more concrete, soon.