can't get a scan

[hlj]

Hello - wondering if anyone can help. I had a scan at 8 weeks as I had an ectopic last year and they wanted to check it was in the right place. We saw a heartbeat which was great and they seemed fine with that. I'm booked in for an anomoly scan at 22wks (June)and they've said I can't go for another before that, but that seems like an agonising eternity to wait. I've called private clinics but they won't do a scan unless I have all the tests which I don't want. Has anyone else had experience of this or knows where I can get a straightforward scan at this point (13 1/2 weeks)Thanks!

Hi. Sorry to hear about your distress.
It shouldn't be a problem to just get a private scan done. I know plenty of places here in the greater Wastern London area. Where do you live? What kind of test do they want to do? If you really cannot find a test privately, I would go back to the GP and say you suffere from a stress reaction and need a reassurance. Stand up for your right, we are at your side.

Thank you so much Glimmer, that's really kind - I'm in Brighton so was trying London clinics - seems mad that you can't get what you want even when you're prepared to pay through the roof for it! I think you're right about going back to the GP though. Thanks for that.

Hi, great to hear you saw a heartbeat at the 8 week scan - but my understanding is that you are entitled to a nuchal scan at about 12 weeks - though some areas do a similar test for Downs at about 16 weeks. Either of these would be before what you seem to be being offered. Maybe worth following up - even if you're not too fussed about the nuchal scan, it would mean you get another one in between. Maybe ask your gp/ call your mw. Alternatively, do you have an early pregnancy unit near you? We have a drop in clinic at ours???

Congrats on your pregnancy!
I know that some districts don't offer 12 week scans now and the Mum has to wait until 20 weeks. I would find that unbearable but it must be especially so for you with your experience of an etopic.I agree ...go back to your Dr and say how stressed it is making you. Maybe I'm wrong but I think the only reason some places choose not to offer them is to save money -if it is causing the Mother stress she should be given one.You shouldn't have to pay for it privately. Good luck!

Hiya, they dont offer 12 wk scans where I am... so I paid for a nuchal scan privately- £100 for 15 mins . They offered to do blood test as well for extra £30, but I declined!

Ask your GP, or have a look on the internet for private clinics. BTW you might be a bit late for a nuchal scan as I think you need to have that done really between 11-13 wks...
ideal time anyway.

It is not uncommon for the 12 week nuchal scan to not be offered on the NHS unfortunately, it depends on which hospital you are going to, not just the area. However, if you are looking into coming to London from Brighton to have a private scan why you are having a hard time arranging this? When you say "all the tests done", what do you mean by this? The 12/13 week nuchal scan is just looking for specific things to check the health of the baby as is the case with any scan really. In this case they are looking at the nuchal translucency and the nasal bone amongst other things to see if there are obvious markers for downs or other chromosonal problems. They will do blood work that is combined with the results of the scan when you have it done privately and you are given your own specific statistical risk of any problems at the end of this appointment. But that is as far as any "tests" that will be done unless you opt to have CVS or amnio later on. The blood work is looking for markers that they tally with your scan results but none of this is invasive if that is what you are worried about and just standard procedure for a nuchal scan. If you don't want to know anything about the baby in the sense of any possible problems, why go for any scans at all, if you don't mind me asking? If you do want to have the nuchal scan done, the Fetal Medicine Centre in London which is located on Harley Street is one of the world's leading fetal medicine centres and they are so wonderful, I'd highly recommend them. I was very happy with my experience there. Hope this helps and good luck with everything!

Do you want to know what flavour you are having? You could always book in for a sexing scan at about 16 weeks if you don't want a neuchal scan? The Birth Company on Harley Street will do one for you.

Thank you all so much for coming back to me so quickly. I think I will go and see my GP and talk to her about it, that's really good advice . And if not try the clinics again. Really appreciate all your support though, thank you.

Sweetydarling, thank you for the suggestion - it looks lile the Birth Company do what they call a reassurance scan at 14weeks - that's exactly what I want! Thanks for the tip - I'll investigate further!

They have been really great through my scans. Very focused on giving you the info that YOU want.
Good luck!

Hi All
I had a nuchal scan today and it was fantastic. You can have them up to 14 weeks and 2 days and you don't have to have the blood test part.

I cost us 150 quid but was worth every penny, got to look at our LO for over 20 mins (compared with 3 mins for NHS scan!) and got some great pics.

We had it done at our local Nuffield Hospital, not sure if there's any down your way.

I'd highly recommend it even if you're not bothered about the screening part of it. My LO feels like a real person now, we watched it put its thumb in its mouth, stick its tongue out, generally wriggle around and it had hiccups!