Can the maternity unit scan at this time of night?

[ThorsMistress]

Hi all.

I sound like a broken record!

I’m still getting cramps and lower back pain, have been spotting since yesterday morning and had spotting last week too. I’m really trying not to panic but if I called my maternity unit could they scan at this time?

It’s likely you’d have to wait until tomorrow but you can only call and ask? If you’be already been scanned for spotting before they might not agree to scan again.

The maternity unit I went to had portable scanners that they'd use on labour ward (where you'd go if you called in with an issue)

I haven’t been scanned yet

Not unless you were well over 20 weeks. An early pregnancy scan- no, sadly not because harsh as it may sound there wouldn’t be anything they could/would do for you.

How many weeks are you? Is this early pregnancy or late?

In early pregnancy you're with EPU, not maternity unit. You could by all means give them a call and see if they will answer. However:

If you've already had a scan to rule out ectopic placement then unfortunately you're likely to get nothing - there is nothing that they can do for early loss anyway so unless they're determining whether it's a risk to you, they'll normally tell you to sit tight unless you bleed through a pad in an hour or experience severe pain (in which case, go to A&E!)

If you haven't had a scan yet this pregnancy then you should be okay to contact EPU until the morning but this is likely not urgent enough to go in tonight - sorry - I know it feels like the most urgent thing in the world when it's a wanted pregnancy.

If you're past 24 weeks - call maternity unit at any time. They're open 24/7 because of women going into labour.

Thank you all. I think I’m about 6 weeks. Will give my midwife a call tomorrow and see what she says

How do you have a midwife at 6 weeks?

Hi,

The maternity unit won’t scan you at this early stage. Your GP/midwife will need to refer you to your hospitals Early Pregnancy Unit who would book you in for the next available scan which is usually a few days wait. It’s not guaranteed you will get a scan but your midwife should be able to help you. Good luck x

Where I am there is no access to maternity unit til after 20 weeks. The EPU needs a Dr to refer you and here it is onky open 9-5 type hours. Nor will they scan necessarily.
It is really hard as some places scan and some say as there is nothing they can do so early they do not necessarily scan.

If it helps I found lots of pain in my first pregnancy and spotted all he way through. If I went later on to the maternity unit with spotting all I got was an internal examination.

The EPU won’t scan you during the night unfortunately. I had a big bleed at 12 weeks with my eldest and upon examination a doctor said I was having a miscarriage. On that occasion, I was scanned the next monrning. With my youngest, I had a smaller bleed at 9 weeks and I had to wait 3 days for a scan. Second time round, I had a private scan as they could do it the same day. It cost me £100 but gave me peace of mind.

@BertieBotts I called my doctor when I found out I was pregnant and a few days later a midwife called me and booked me in to see her.

I don’t remember this happening with DS so it’s all new and worrying

Oh right, you must be in the right part of the postcode lottery! It sounds like the best thing to do but I expect she will tell you that only EPU will deal with pregnancies this early.

Try not to worry, spotting isn't necessarily a cause for concern, a larger bleed would be. Just take it one day at a time.