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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Early reassurance scan did the opposite

50 replies

ellies28 · 19/01/2018 12:07

I had a mmc last year which was found at the 12 week scan, it was an awful experience and I had a bad depression afterwards.

At the beginning of January I found out I was pregnant again and have immediately started suffering from terrible anxiety. So this week which I thought was 6 weeks I went for a private scan.
All it's done has made things worse, they couldn't see anything on the scan apart from the yolk sac, no sign of an embryo or heartbeat. I asked about an internal scan and was told it was pointless as they wouldn't see anymore.
The person doing the scan was quite patronising and I felt I couldn't ask them any questions. I'm not too happy about it as it was expensive we didn't go to the cheapest place. I have never had a private scan before, would they tell you if they suspected something was wrong.
I burst into tears as soon as I got in the car and now don't know what to think. I want another scan in 2 weeks but my husband thinks we should just wait until 12 weeks. He says to stop worrying and just let things happen.
It's not that easy though.
I have no one to talk to about it either we have not told anyone after last time.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

GoodMorning1 · 19/01/2018 15:58

MMC not MNC!

Original poster

ellies28 · 19/01/2018 16:22

Thanks everyone for the replies. I go through spells of feeling a bit better then getting really anxious again.
I think the fact they wouldn't do an internal scan made it worse, it was as if there was no point. We were made to feel stupid for even being there. I wouldn't go back there even for a free scan. I realise now it was too soon and we should have waited until after 8 weeks.
I'm going to see how I feel over the next few weeks. I still have the symptoms. I'm seeing the midwife next week, I hope she is someone you can talk to.
I realised after the mmc that I hadn't had any symptoms for quite a few weeks before but didn't know at the time that meant something was wrong.
Thanks again it has made me feel better to talk about it.

OP posts:

GoodMorning1 · 19/01/2018 16:35

Hope all goes well. It's so hard being pregnant after a miscarriage.

Dozer · 19/01/2018 18:19

The midwife won’t be able to provide much info and symptoms (or no symptoms) doesn’t necessarily indicate anything either: to know whether all is well you’ll need another early scan or to wait for the NHS one. Hope all is well for you and that time passes quickly!

Original poster

ellies28 · 21/01/2018 23:28

Well it's not been a good weekend, it's all still going round my head constantly. I'm still puzzled by the whole thing as from what I have read online at 6 weeks they can only see things with an internal scan. The fact returning for a re scan was never mentioned is strange too. The company is a private medical provider who does all kinds of scans not just pregnancy ones and work for the NHS.
Googling makes you realise there are so many people going through the same thing though. Hope everyone is okay.

OP posts:

Peppardew · 21/01/2018 23:41

Congratulations on your pregnancy. I was offered a reassurance scan by my GP with pregnancy following MMC. No hassle at all, she just referred me to the early pregnancy unit at the hospital. I think our local unit was actually self-referring could have just called up myself as it turns out. Unless things have changed, there was a real attitude from everyone of wanting to reassure following a loss, the sonographer even gave me a hug after we saw the heartbeat! It was an internal scan at that stage, I'm afraid can't remember how pregnant but I think about 8 weeks.

CL1982 · 21/01/2018 23:45

Oh no :( that's weird they didn't do an internal. Tbh they only picked our bubs up that early using an internal....nothing showed on an external scan.

Can you ask for a rescan on that basis? They should 100% have offered you one.

PrimeraVez · 22/01/2018 04:59

Early pregnancy is scary enough as it is, but pregnancy after loss is really hard. I've been through it and I felt like I was holding my breath for the first 12 weeks. I remember feeling physically sick with nerves ahead of very single 'reassurance' scan.

I know it's crap advice but unfortunately, all you can do is wait. I know that every day feels like an eternity, but it really is out of your hands at this point.

I would try and push for an internal scan in a week. I'm incredibly surprised you weren't offered a transvaginal ultrasound (I didn't start having external scans until 16 weeks with my latest pregnancy) In a week you should be able to tell if there has been any significant growth/progress. I have my fingers tightly crossed for you.

flumpybear · 22/01/2018 05:07

I had a scan at 6 weeks, no foetal pole or anything ... he's nearly 6 now

Try to remain calm it sounds like things are working, you may just be a little earlier than you realise ... I didn't believe it when the consultant obstetrician said this to be as she did the scan due to many miscarriages because I knew my dates and husband had been away most of the month before so I couldn't be only 5+1 as she was suggesting, but I must have been and DS was born at 39+6 at 8lb15oz .... good luck

Pixiedust2017 · 22/01/2018 05:10

Hi there, I had my first scan around 6 weeks. I was point blank told by the radiologist there was nothing there, and was then asked if I'd even had a positive pregnancy test, (even though referred there by Dr) and then promptly told I was not pregnant. My 5 week old dd is now lying on top of me quite positively in existence... Try not to panic as pp have said it is probably too early to tell. :-) wishing you the best! :-)

Fia256 · 22/01/2018 06:44

Hi, I had an early scan on Friday at 6+5 but on the NHS. The lady doing the scan said she would do both external and internal. She did it over my tummy first, and when she left to let me get changed for the internal I had a sneak peak at the screen and could see the sac but just the slightest blur at the bottom of it so I was already panicking and assuming the worst. She then came back in, did the scan internally and the difference was amazing!! She turned the screen round once confirmed and showed us a clear little bean with a heart beating away.

I really don't understand why these private clinics offer scans so early but not do them internally!

Bibijayne · 22/01/2018 11:46

Oh gosh. I'm in the same boat. Had an early scan - though they did do transvaginal - on Saturday. Should have been 6w + 4. But they said the tiny sac they could see would be 2-3 weeks. Thinking about it, that makes no sense as nothing would be visible that early. been an emotional wreck all weekend.

Sunshinegirl82 · 22/01/2018 13:12

I paid for a private scan at around 6 weeks 5 days. The lady warned me that we were right on the cusp of being able to see a heartbeat so not to panic if there wasn't one. She tried externally first but couldn't see anything. Internally she was able to locate the sack and baby with the heartbeat. If she'd stuck to external there would have been nothing to see.

Try not to panic, it sounds like you were unlucky with the person who performed the scan. If you decide to go for another early scan I would ring round and ask their policy on internal/external scans and I'd try and wait until you are at least 7+ weeks by your dates as then you've got the best chance of being sure to see something.

Good luck.

Original poster

ellies28 · 22/01/2018 15:35

I know how you feel bibijayne, it's really worrying, are you having a rescan. I wasn't even offered one.
I've had awful nausea since last Friday, hoping it's a good sign but I know symptoms mean nothing.
Hope we get some good news, the waiting is the worst part.

OP posts:

Dawn1992 · 22/01/2018 16:47

I had a reassurance scan 2 weeks ago and they couldn't see anything apart from a tiny black dot went back on Thursday for another scan (both internal) and baby is now visible. I had a MC in May last year. I feel your pain after the first scan I was a mess. If contact your epu though. Im back this week as we may see heartbeat. I'd not stress yourself out to much which is easier said than done I know but it's probably just too early ❤ hugs.

Caspiana · 22/01/2018 16:51

Good luck OP. I’m sorry that the clinic dealt with such an important issue so insensitively. As others have said, if you were about 6 weeks there

Caspiana · 22/01/2018 16:51

*is every chance it is just too early

Bibijayne · 22/01/2018 18:45

@ellies28 yeah. They offered me a free rescan in two weeks. Feeling nauseous today too. Hoping that's good news?

harrietm87 · 22/01/2018 19:01

@ellies28 I can't believe they didn't offer you either an internal scan or at least a rescan. There is no way they could ever have found a heartbeat, even if it was there, (and it would be entirely normal if it wasn't just yet) without doing an internal scan. I think you should ask for your money back.

See if you can get another at 8 weeks and that will give you a clearer picture. Seeing a gestational sac and yolk sac is in keeping with a 6 week pregnancy and by 8 weeks a heartbeat should be there too (it is possible to see a heartbeat at 6 weeks sometimes but not always, and as I said you would definitely need an internal scan for that). I've had 3 mcs and the last one was a mmc, so I understand your anxiety and know lots about early scans! I'm 29 weeks now with my 4th pregnancy and all is well.

StarWarsFanatic · 23/01/2018 04:21

If One to One midwives are available in your area, have you considered using them? I have known people who have used them and they have provided scans on a more regular basis for reassurance.

Poppiesway1 · 23/01/2018 05:28

I work for a private scan company. My employer doesn’t offer tv scans (doesn’t even have a tv probe - the probe is expensive and cleaning it afterwards and they’re not able to provide adequate cleaning for them after use)
This does cause issues when we have ladies who think they’re slightly different dates to which they are. However to my employer it’s a business to make money (don’t think they actually care about the people - it’s all money orientated) not an nhs scan where we would rescan you again in a week to check.
At least with baby bond / Ultrasound direct the owner of the national company is a Sonographer herself and worked for the nhs so is more for the patient (although obviously makes money from buisness but totally patient oriented)
(some times at six weeks you can see a fetal pole with heart beat and yolk sac - but if optimum conditions ie, your slim, well filled bladder and womb is in the perfect position to see. If your slightly larger build, tilted womb, underlined bladder then it’s too hard to see without a TV scan, and even sometimes with a TV scan it cannot be visualised)

Addy2 · 23/01/2018 05:30

In my opinion they shouldn't really offer to do them so early

^ This. I'm sure it'll be fine, OP- as other posters have said, it's very common with six week scans. They should have offered to rescan later- did you use baby bond?

Original poster

ellies28 · 07/02/2018 14:55

Just an update, I had another scan and everything is fine. We saw the baby and heartbeat which was so lovely. I was out by about 4/5 days so must have not even been 6 weeks at the first scan.

I know it's still early days so not telling anyone yet. I'm still very anxious but I think I always will be.
Hope everyone is okay.

OP posts:

Bubbinsmakesthree · 07/02/2018 15:04

Fabulous news OP! All the best for the rest of your pregnancy

Naomilj · 07/02/2018 16:07

I OP, I think you had your scan too early.
I had a scan at 6 weeks and they could only see the yolk sac, the sonographer said I could have been a a couple of days short of 6 weeks.
Had another at 8 weeks and they saw a heartbeat, I’m now 38 weeks pregnant.

I’m so sorry about your anxiety. I know it probably doesn’t help but please try and rest assured that what you experienced at your scan means nothing negative.

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