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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Anyone else not had a scan until 12 weeks?

46 replies

SpongeCake23 · 07/03/2018 20:44

Just that.
Lots of people seem to have reassurance and dating scans. I'm planning on waiting until my 12 week one. It seems ages away! I'm 8+6.

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BarryTheKestrel · 08/03/2018 07:44

I'm 8+6 today and my first scan is in 3 weeks at 11+6 (very lucky to get in before the Easter Bank holiday). In my last pregnancy I had a lot of extra scans near the end for growth reassurance but nothing before 12 weeks.

This time I intend on having a private scan around 16/17 weeks so that when I tell my 3 year old I'm pregnant I can tell her if she's having a brother or sister. Otherwise I wouldn't bother.

SciFiRocker · 08/03/2018 08:01

I had one at 7 weeks with my DS but only because I was in a lot of pain.
I thought 12 weeks was normal.

Makingworkwork · 08/03/2018 08:04

I had an early scan on the NHS with both pregnancy due to bleeding. The first one was sadly a MC. In fact I had loads more scan with that pregnancy than my toddler as I retained products. Lots of scans on the NHS are because the medically professionals suspect their could potentially be a problem.

Okaynowimconfused · 08/03/2018 08:08

Mine is at 14wks - seems ages away!

I believe most wait until the dating scan unless you are experiencing something worrying - such as my friend who had quite a big bleed. (She and baby were fine btw).

MiniDoofa · 08/03/2018 08:13

One and only routine scan at 18 weeks here.

demirose87 · 08/03/2018 08:18

I've had four pregnancies and always waited till the 12 week scan, apart from the third baby where I had a scan at 6 weeks as had bleeding.
I was going to have a private scan with my last baby as I was very worried about MMC and had a bad feeling about things, but I realised that even if I had an early scan that showed a heartbeat, it wasn't definite that everything would still be ok at 12 weeks. Everything was absolutely fine.

pickleface · 08/03/2018 08:24

My first scans were at 14 weeks. Standard in the party of London I was in.

Peanut91 · 08/03/2018 08:47

I am currently 9 weeks and I had an early scan last week. This was because I had a serious accident very early on so the midwife wanted to check all was as it should be.

Otherwise I would have waited until 12 week scan

strawberrysparkle · 08/03/2018 09:03

The thing about private scans is that although they are tempting everything can look fine one day and not be the next at that stage making them expensive and actually a bit pointless.

Pregnancy is a long old scary slog.

shoesbagsandbabies · 08/03/2018 09:10

There does seem to be a trend for lots of reassurance and private scans now I was talking to my friend about it only last week.

I've had extra scans both times but all on the NHS as medically required. First time I had seven scans, first because my dates were wrong, second was the actual 12 week scan, third was because the quad test showed a funny level of hormone so I had an additional scan at 16 weeks, plus the the normal 20 week one. I then had three growth scans over the next 20 weeks to check baby was ok as they were concerned she was small. She was born perfectly healthy at nearly 9lbs so all unnecessary really but I always follow medical advice - better safe than sorry!

This pregnancy I had a scan at 10 weeks because I'd had some bleeding, and my 12 week one too. I'm not planning anymore than the standard 20 and 36 week ones (everyone has a 36 week growth scan here) but will have any that are deemed necessary.

I don't get the constant private/reassurance scanning, especially before 12 weeks. It must be bloody hideous to have losses and I have the utmost sympathy for those who experience it - and I can understand why these women use these services. However I see so many posts from women who haven't had any issues and seem be having almost weekly scans. It's the same as when people take pregnancy tests every few days in the first few weeks. What a waste of money! Assume all is ok unless you have symptoms that make you think otherwise - scanning and testing will have no difference on the outcome!

LisaSimpsonsbff · 08/03/2018 09:43

The thing about private scans is that although they are tempting everything can look fine one day and not be the next at that stage making them expensive and actually a bit pointless.

I never really get this logic. That's just as true of the 12 week scan. People seem to think that the risk of miscarriage is some sort of absolute thing that stays constant and then magically drops at exactly 12 weeks. It isn't. It slowly decreases every day of your pregnancy - so seeing a heartbeat at all means you know it's much less likely (most miscarriages a heartbeat will never be identified), it still being there at 8 weeks still less, 10 weeks, 12 weeks, 14 weeks, etc. The heart can stop the day after a scan of course but that doesn't mean you haven't been given any useful information about the odds of a successful pregnancy. And odds aren't guarantees - but that's also just as true at 12 weeks.

ClareB83 · 08/03/2018 09:53

I agree @LisaSimpsonsbff there are certain weeks where the risks dramatically reduce and having scans after those weeks can be very reassuring eg 24 weeks for viability, 28 weeks survival rates are 90% plus.

That's why I'd go for a 9+ week scan but not bother at 5/6 weeks.

kirinm · 08/03/2018 09:55

I think a lot of women have scans due to miscarriages in the past or bleeding. If shouldn't feel like a competition of who didn't need a reassurance scan.

So far this pregnancy I've had 5 scans. One at 5 weeks, 5w4d, 10w, 12w and 13w. I'd much rather not have the recurrent miscarriage history or the bleeding and intense anxiety.

LisaSimpsonsbff · 08/03/2018 10:01

If shouldn't feel like a competition of who didn't need a reassurance scan.

Yes, that's how this thread made me feel too Kirin - an undertone of people saying 'oh I'm not like those overdramatic women who go for scans'. I had four scans in my first trimester and cried with anxiety before every one of them. Does anyone really think that anyone picks to feel like that, rather than getting to feel happy and blasé and 'oh I'm sure everything's fine'?

kirinm · 08/03/2018 10:06

@LisaSimpsonsbff yes, that's the tone I picked up. Unnecessary and a little ignorant.

kirinm · 08/03/2018 10:10

In fact, I didn't go to the EPU for reassurance. I went fully expecting to be told my baby had died. I saw most of the scans as diagnostic. Fortunately (so far), I've been proved wrong this time.

claire7930 · 08/03/2018 10:10

I had an NHS early scan at 6 weeks for medical reasons. I probably wouldn't have done otherwise but I guess it's up to the individual.

kookiecookie3 · 08/03/2018 10:13

1st I had two 6w and 7w but only due to early bleeding, so was sent to the epau.
2nd and 3rd only had the 12 week one.

anotherchangetomyname · 08/03/2018 15:51

In my area it's 12 weeks and 20. The 12 weeks one is a dating scan. Most 'reassurance' scans are private and do not reassure, or give false reassurance! I had a scan at 7 weeks due to suspected ectopic. It was NHS though.

anotherchangetomyname · 08/03/2018 15:53

I also had one at 32 weeks due to placenta previa. I have to say, more scans usually means more worry! If you didn't need them you wouldn't get them!

AndInShortIWasAfraid · 08/03/2018 16:24

I was hospitalised with hyperemesis at 7 weeks so I had a scan and I had had two miscarriages in the six months before then and one miscarriage only a few weeks before.

Generally reassurance scans are for those who've had or are having problems. It's not us trying to have multiple scans for the fun of it. I'm 37 weeks and still don't feel very reassured.

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