Advice on early 6 week scan

[Jadek96]

Hi everyone I’m just looking for some advice. I’m 5 weeks and 1 day pregnant day. Calculating from my last period. But obviously I know this is a rough guesstimate as I may not of conceived right then. I’m wanting to book a 6 week scan next Friday as I’ll be 6 weeks and 3 days from my last period. Has anyone had any experience with these before?

Hey - I know how you feel! I held off until 7 weeks though as I wasn't 100% sure of my dates. I paid £89 for a baby bond scan and was really glad I did. You don't really see much (baby looks like a kidney bean) but it's good if you wanted reassurance!

From what I've heard the later you can wait the better - 6 weeks really is early (lots of people need rescanning, etc). I had an early scan closer to 8 weeks and it was lovely to see the heartbeat! All the best.

Agreed with waiting as long as you can, especially if unsure on dates. Many people don't find these early 'reassurance' scans at all reassuring because it's just too early to see much and in many cases, too early to see a heartbeat, which causes unnecessary anxiety of miscarriage.

Later would be better for the reasons PPs say - it’s too early. Unless you have reason for concern about ectopic pregnancy.

If you have IVF, you automatically get an early scan. No one likes to say this to you directly, but it's basically a 'proof you definitely (still) are pregnant scan' so that they can discharge you back to your GP. Because DD is IVF, we got one, and that means they talk to you a bit more about what to expect.

Honestly truly - don't go at 6 weeks. Wait until you think you are at least 7 weeks, and closer to 8 if you can. This is because you can't see a heartbeat until then, and that is really what they (and you!) want to see to get the reassurance that everything is going well.

I had one at 6 weeks and they could see the yolk sac- it looked like nothing to me but was just delighted they could see anything at all! This was offered through the fertility clinic I was with, if it hadn't been I think I would have held out til around 8 weeks as more chance of seeing the heartbeat

Hi we had a resistance scan at exactly 9 weeks and it was great, little heart beat, arm buds wiggling away could make out head end from tail end. I’d recommend waiting a little if you can just so you can see more! Good luck! X

• sorry reassurance scan not resistance! 🤣

Any reason for such an early scan? You will have to go private unless you've had previous issues. 6 weeks is very early, there will barely be anything to see, they may have to do a transvaginal scan instead

Agree with the others. If you can wait til 8 or 9 weeks, you will get a much better picture.
My 6 week scans were to ensure the pregnancy was in the correct location. With DS1, I had to go back again 2 weeks later to get a heartbeat. DS2 had a heartbeat at 6 weeks, but was a fuzzy blob.

6 weeks is very early unless you have had spotting or bleeding.

You may need a transvaginal scan in order to see anything and they may not be able to find a heart beat so early which can cause unnecessary anxiety. The baby is essentially a miniscule blob.

If you can wait until 8 weeks, you should be able to see a heartbeat (hugely reassuring) and an actual shape (not very babyish but still some that you can identify rather than needing a sonographer right to point it out to you).

If I were you, I would wait for as long as possible (says the woman who had 6 scans before the end of the first trimester - but with medical reasons!)

Thankyou all for your advice. My reasoning is I suffer with severe anxiety. I recently found out I was pregnant after I lost my baby at around 4 weeks very early a few months ago I’m so anxious everyday that I was reccoemded to go private and book an early reassurance scan just for peace of mind. Thankyou all so much for the advice. I may wait until at least 8 weeks then it’ll still be 4 weeks before my 12 week scan with the NHS x

A reassurance scan at 6 weeks is a bit premature, imho. My first pregnancy ended at 8 weeks, but it was a missed mc so I didn't know/miscarry until 11... so a scan at 6 weeks wouldn't have helped on that occasion. Unfortunately, I truly believe that us women have to go through the first trimester full of hope, yet slight anxiety, and that is just part of life! I hope it all goes well for you x

Hi I’m getting a bit worried on the basis of this thread. I am 7 weeks and booked in for a viability scan tomorrow because I am worried about abdominal pain and some spotting. Google and the clinics websites all say this is possible from 6 weeks (although possibility being scanned vaginally)

I agree to wait if you can, and I did with my first but I don’t want to spend weeks anxious like I did last time. It ruined my early pregnancy and for the sake of £70 the scan seems well worth it

Meant to say although I’m 7 weeks going on my last period I actually ovulated a week late. So I’m pretty sure the pregnancy is only 6 weeks (and 2 days!) old

I had a transvaginal scan at 6 weeks exactly (ivf) and saw the heartbeat. However, it’s not guaranteed at that gestation so much better to wait until 8 weeks. If no heartbeat seen at 8 weeks then it’s clear cut.

You should be able to see a heartbeat 6weeks +

I’ve preformed then and also had two done at 6w1day

@Thelaststand - sometimes they see it and sometimes they don't!! Especially if you aren't sure on dates. We saw hb at 6+3, but knew exactly when I'd conceived because of ivf.

A heartbeat can't be guaranteed at 6 weeks even if it is a healthy pregnancy.

Sorry you’re experiencing anxiety, remember that very well! And sorry to orangecaprisun. Hope all is well for both of you.

A too- early scan may actually increase anxiety and need to be repeated a week or two later if there is as yet no heartbeat etc. As you say, 8 weeks is still well before the “standard” first NHS scan.

Hang in there!

Loopy mine is booked and paid for, for tomorrow 🤣 but you know what, best case scenario there is a heartbeat, otherwise we’ll be no wiser than we are now.

I would wait, honestly, it will be a long six weeks before the next 12 week if you go so early.

I understand how you feel OP. I had an early scan at 6+3 and saw a heartbeat. If you feel it will help you I'd book for one around 7 weeks. Best of luck.

Thankyou all! I’ve always had anxiety since a young age, and have been on medication ever since. It’s certain situations it flares up. Such as a massive one like pregnancy. I’m certainly going to wait till 8 weeks. As if I go at 6 weeks and they can’t see much. Maybe I’ll worry more?

I suffer severely from anxiety as well OP (as well as insanely impatient) - I waited until 8 weeks and 4 days for a private scan and seeing the heartbeat and little bean wriggling around was just so lovely, and really reassuring that rate of miscarriage drops to about 3% after seeing a heartbeat at 8 weeks. I think holding out for those two extra weeks would be so worth it if you can.

I paid for a babybond scan at 7 weeks 1 day...They initially scanned abdominally and could only see the sac and a little shadow in it. They switched to an internal scan and we immediately saw a heartbeat and a little bean shape! It only measured 11mm so really tiny, so if you can wait till at least then the heartbeat is really reassuring!