Early scan is it worth it

[angel0071987]

So I'm 7 weeks pregnant. Have experienced bleeding. I have rung the early pregnancy unit and they refuse to see me taking a just wait and see approach. The bleeding started lightly (just when wiping) and no pain and during the day/night increased (to heavy period like) overnight I got back cramps for a couple of hours. In the morning there was no pain anymore but bleeding continues not as heavy as it has been but not light either. Again I rang the epu explaining things and they refuse to see me.
Do you think it's worth paying for an early scan? I just want to know. Given the fact I don't have pain anymore I'm wondering wether I have actually m/c or not. Just want to know as I know many people have bleeding and go on to have healthy babies.
Thoughts please?

If an early scan would put you at ease go for it. They would be able to see something as I had a scan at 5 weeks and 7 weeks due to bleeding and they saw heartbeat both times. Good luck hope everything works out for you x

I would go for a private scan. In my area you wouldn't get a scan until 12 weeks (and it would actually be 13 weeks by the time they get you in) and I would want to know asap. As long as you can afford it that is.

Oh angel how worrying for you.

I had a bleed with DD early on, went straight to see my GP and was referred for a scan at the nearest EPU, think we had to wait two weeks or so but all was fine and baby was shown at 7+4 weeks with a strong heartbeat.

Those two weeks of waiting were hell, I just wanted to know either way and looking back, I think I’d probably have opted to pay for a private scan. Your peace of mind is worth a lot.

If you can afford it, then I would suggest booking a private scam, your peace of mind is worth a lot.

I've been in a similar position, although my early scan was already booked for 10 + 5 as my NHS scan wasn't happening until 13 + 6 and we wanted to know before a particular date.

I started spotting/bleeding a few days before the scan. I spoke to my midwife and she said that the EPU wouldn't see me any sooner than the private scan I already had booked and to go ahead with that.

I found out at the private scan that I had miscarried at 6 weeks ish. Handing over my card to pay the final balance on the card in front of a full waiting room of excited people looking at scan pictures or waiting for scans was a pretty shitty feeling to be honest. Although the woman scanning me had herself been lovely she was paid to do the scan only and there wasn't any kind of aftercare or any process in place at the scan place (a big national chain) for you to have somewhere quiet to go afterwards.

The final shit icing on the shit cake was a few hours later I got an automated text message from the company saying that they hoped I had enjoyed meeting our baby today and would I like to book in for a gender scan at 16 weeks.

One angry and emotional email later I got a very quick, personal and nice apology from the company, but honestly it was altogether not a very nice experience made worse by the private scan.

On the other hand though when I did actually physically miscarry about 24 hours later I was very glad to have had a bit of warning that it was going to happen.

I resisted temptation to have any private scans with my subsequent two pregnancies (DC1 currently 15mo and DC2 due in 6 weeks ) but that's mainly because the angry email I sent the company at the time effectively said I would never darken their doorstep again, and I was too principled to go back on that

pasta I’m heartbroken reading that, so sorry you had to go through it

But so happy that you’ve got a lovel DC an one on the way xxx

Ahh no need to be heartbroken for me I'm very matter of fact about it all and other than a bit of a rough week or two afterwards it's not something I personally dwell on.

I just know before that happened to me I would also be encouraging someone to get a private scan for reassurance without a thought of what then actually happens if it is bad news. The NHS has a duty of aftercare for you to an extent (although i think that's often pretty lacking too) but these private places don't and once you have paid your money and had your scan you are waved off with your scan pictures showing an empty sac and your bank balance significantly lighter and that's it. You then have to start ringing midwives/GP etc yourself to get the miscarriage ball rolling and that's rubbish. They are a business after all though and you are getting what you pay for whether it is good news or bad news.

I'm sorry you are being left to deal with the uncertainty on your own.

I've also had a similar experience to pasta. An inconclusive scan at the FMU, and I then had to self refer to the EPU the following day for another scan, then wait another two weeks as per protocol for a final scan before I could have an ERPC. Paying that much money for shitty news is not fun, and there is no aftercare.

I would first try visiting your GP and asking if they can refer you to the EPU. I did this with my second pregnancy, as I'd previously had a MMC (discovered when I self referred to an EPU because of a 'feeling' no bleeding or anything), and the anxiety that I would have another was preventing me from functioning.

I know that EPUs vary from trust to trust, but if you are based in London by any chance, try the Whittington EPU in Archway or UCLH.

I hope it works out ok for you.

I did at 7+2. Best £50 I ever spent for the peace of mind.

I had one at 7 weeks was like a little blob best way to describe lol but they could see heartbeat etc had one at 5 weeks too and they could see heartbeat on that also xx

Yes go for one.

I’ve done training on a ultrasound machine and you would find your little jelly bean easily at that stage - and hear a strong heart beat. They are normally the cheapest scan at around £30

I would think through what you want to have happen if it's bad news. Like others said, the private clinics don't really handle that and they don't talk you through your options or anything, they just suggest you phone EPU.

I had a missed miscarriage diagnosed at a private scan. I then phoned EPU, but EPU said they didn't take the private scan clinics very seriously, they'd want to scan me themselves but I'd have to wait a week. And then after that, wait another week to see if it had miraculously grown, because they wouldn't compare their measurements to the private clinic's. And then book in for surgical management which had about a week-long waiting period, etc etc. Wasn't a fun wait.

They are normally the cheapest scan at around £30

I noticed that around me early scans were actually a lot more expensive than later (mostly sold as 'gender') ones. Which seems very cynical, because early ones are quicker for them to do, but they're more often booked by desperate people, and so people who are likely to pay whatever asked.

OP, I think I'd try giving your GP a call tomorrow, just in case that will persuade EPU to see you - in my area you can't self-refer to EPU, but they would see you under those circumstances with a GP referral.

I also agree that a private scanning place isn't necessarily really set up for the real possibility of bad news rather than a happy, fun experience. I had one in my current pregnancy, which was thankfully good news, but they really didn't seem to know how to deal with someone who thought they would hear bad news - they knew I'd had three previous miscarriages and so it was pretty obvious why I was there, but the woman said to me - loudly, in front of the waiting room - 'cheer up, what do you look so scared for?' and started going on about our photo options - all before we'd had confirmation that there was still a fetus there.

lisa did you tell them on booking why you were having a reassurance scan?

All private scanning places have to be regulated by the CQC and in which you have to have a procedure of how to deal with certain circumstances.

There is nothing much they can do apart from dealing with it sensitively and professionally and pointing you towards the early pregnancy unit. They could also ring ahead and inform them of your findings.

I had a miscarriage at 6 weeks and then when I got pregnant again I went for a scan at 7 (currently 19 weeks). The relief I felt after was amazing. To see that blinking heartbeat just put you at ease.

@Loulou85x

Just a tiny bean but with a heartbeat!

Yes definitely worth it. It settled my nerves a bit as is had to previous miscarriages (8&11wks) Felt better after seeing my blob and the heart beat! Go for it. 🍀

Oooooops😱I should use preview! That should've read - as I'd had two previous miscarriages! 😱

Sorry for what your going through OP. I know it's different in different areas but can you not go to the gp and get a referral for a early scan. I had to do that but I had a previous ectopic and was worried as I had some pains in my ovary.

Totally worth it.

I think your NHS trust need to step up. Certainly the procedure here is that they scan you immediately, then if there is a foetus but you have signs of possible miscarriage/small for dates they then make another scan appointment for you two weeks later and take it from there. Have they indicated at what point they would stop the 'wait and see' and get you in?
I"m so sorry that you're going through this and echo pp about speaking to your gp who can hopefully sort it out for you. I've had a private scan for reassurance before (healthy pg) but also gone through the miscarriage process and would not have wanted to receive that news at a private scan place.

Thanks all.
I did indeed pay £95 for a private scan. I should have been 7 weeks. After trying an adominal scab and seeing nothing she did an internal one. She saw nothing. No sac, no yolk nothing. And nothing on my ovaries either. She said I had an inverted/tilted uterus and it may have been hiding or my dates may be wrong or a m/c. She told me I had to call the epu again.
So I did in their clinic and battled on the phone explaining I'd had the scan and they needed me to come in for bloods to rule out ectopic and after much persuasion they agreed for me to (finally) go in.
Clinic was empty and could hear the nurses taking and discussing me but they did a urine test +ve and HCG bloods (7500) so have to go back in 48hrs to repeat bloods to see if up or down.

Still no pain but have I think passed it. But wondering why there was no evidence of anything on the scan. Will wait and see for the bloods.