Did you or would you fo private for an early scan

[RMarieClaire]

TTC #1 since May and I am now 6+2 according to doctor, 5 according to my Ovia app and when I ovulated. Hoorah! Apart from sore boobs and a late period, I have no symptoms yet.

The 12 week scan feels so far away, we're thinking about paying for an 8 week scan. Just to check if all ok - ie there's something in there. Interested to know if other people have done it?

Full disclosure, I suffer from anxiety, insomnia and have a history of OCD - all of which I'm arranging counselling for. I'm finding the fear of miscarriage is making it hard to relax into the pregnancy, which is a shame as otherwise I know I'd be ecstatic. I'm hoping having an early scan will help alleviate fears a bit and make it feel more real.

I've had early private scans with my last two pregnancies when I were around 8 weeks, as I'd suffered two miscarriages prior to these pregnancies.

For me, having these scans was important as they gave me reassurance and helped ease my anxiety.

I'd say, if you think having one would help you, then go for it. Xx

We paid for 2 early scans; at 8 and 10 weeks, and I would HIGHLY recommend getting one. My 12 week scan is today and there is no way I could have waited this long. We got some lovely clear pictures at both too and seeing the heartbeat was so reassuring. Definetly get one if you're worried.

I also had one around 8 weeks in both my pregnancies - both times I had bleeding early on and wanted to check everything was ok. I’d personally rather know sooner rather than later in case of an issue and once you’ve seen a heartbeat the chances of bad news at the 12 week scan are much less!

I’d also really recommend the book Expecting Better by Emily Oster. It talks about the actual risks of all sorts of things during pregnancy and I found it really reassuring x

Yes I had a private scan because I'd had a miscarriage previously. I was around 8 weeks and it really helped with my anxiety, plus I found out I was having twins earlier! 

Mine is an IVF baby so I had early scans to confirm the pregnancy and so the clinic could discharge me.

I found it really helpful to see the heartbeat and know things were going ok, especially as I had early bleeding and had convinced myself we had lost it.

I had a private scan at 8 weeks and was glad I did, I couldn't relax into my pregnancy until I knew something was really 'there' and there was a heartbeat.

After 12 wks the risk of miscarriage drops considerably which is why they do the scan then and people share the news around then. It depends if the cost of a scan is worth the reassurance. I don’t think there’s any medical value to them- so it wouldn’t change the outcome of the 12 wk scan.

Have you thought investing in some classes to manage your anxiety during pregnancy rather than the scan? You can’t ever 100% know baby’s okay in there and that’s not going to go away with a scan. (I found the hypnobirth stuff helped me with pregnancy anxiety ).

I’ve had 2 consequtive miscarriages and I’m now 10+4. I haven’t had an early scan, I was meant to be getting referred for one but they haven’t been in touch. I’m actually really not too bothered about one now. My 12 week scan is in less than 2 weeks so I’m crossing off the days and hoping for no dramas in between!

Yep due to previous Mmc. Would absolutely do it again.

Yep, both times. Definitely helped bridge the gap to 12 week scan. If you can afford it why not ?

I was offered an early scan in the EPU - DD was a MAP surprise baby so for a while we were unsure of dates and I have blood condition which meant I needed to start clexane at 12 weeks to reduce risk of MC. Hopefully DC2 (If we have one) will end up actually being planned so I don't think I'd be necessarily fit the criteria of 'needing' an early scan on the NHS again. Apart from the important dating aspect it just was wonderful to see our little wriggle bean so I know I would absolutely pay for a private one in the future just for reassurance

I would say think about how much reassurance you will get from an early scan. I'm quite an anxious person and was very tempted to go for an early scan but I decided that while it would be reassuring at the time I wasn't sure if it would calm my anxiety in the days and weeks afterwards leading up to 12 weeks.

Are you a person who can see a heartbeat and then relax or are you a person who will see it and then panic more than something will go wrong? Only you can really know. Some people find it really helpful and others find it increases their anxiety again later.

Either way, I would say the thing I have found most helpful is reminding myself that in most cases everything is fine. Also as I've had no bleeding or pain reminding myself I have no evidence anything is going wrong so it likely isn't.

Other people have posted the helpful mantra, 'today I am pregnant and I'm happy about that'. Taking each day and trying not to panic about possibilities in the future is a good skill if you can learn it. I'm still working on that one but it's getting better! 11 weeks today and still almost 2 weeks to go until my first scan.

Good luck and hope all is well whatever you decide.

I had one at nine weeks and found it helpful BUT do remember that there is a chance it might not be good news. If the scan shows a problem then you will have to self-refer back to the NHS for further care and a private ultrasound clinic is not always the best place to hear bad news. There have been posts on here in the past from people who have had bad experiences in this situation.

For me I decided the reassurance was worth the risk, and if it was bad news then I’d rather know sooner than later.

We went for a private scan at eight weeks partially because of the possibility of bad news. I would have rather heard it at the private location than through the NHS. I haven’t had much nausea and wasn’t convinced there was anything in there!

We were very lucky in that it was good news and we could see a heartbeat. There is still a possibility of miscarriage of course, but I have felt much more at ease. I think what a previous poster said is true, it depends on the type of person you are. You might find that the scan only reassures you for that day.

I had an nhs one at 8ish weeks with my first, I had hyperemesis so it was done routinely at the hospital once you have been admitted for rehydration. I think they said it was to check for ectopic or twins as both more likely if you have hyperemesis. With my 2nd, I managed the sickness much better luckily so I didn't get an nhs early scan. I was quite keen for a private one but it seemed a lot of money so we just kept putting it off and before we knew it, it was almost time for the nhs 12 week scan and so wasn't worth paying privately. We managed fine with the wait, but I did have a 12 month old keeping me busy!

I had an ivf scan at 7 weeks, then had a private scan at 10 weeks as needed to tell the senior management at my company.

They were amazing - so reassuring and helped me feel it was real! Plus I found the sonographer really reassuring and she spent lots of time on the scans so we saw lots of baby.

I did. My first child (3rd pregnancy) was an IVF pregnancy so I’d had scans at 7 and 9 weeks. My second child was the result of a natural pregnancy and when I found out said I was going to wait until 12 weeks. I lasted until 7+2 .

It is reassuring.

Yes we had one at 9 weeks this time round, it was lovely. I was also really glad we did because I ended up being admitted to hospital at 10weeks really poorly and was able to confidently say in A&E that I was 10weeks with a singleton in the right place when every doctor initially was treating my symptoms as an eptopic pregnancy.

yes

8 weeks.,,

had a previous miscarriage...then this one i had a bleed at 6 weeks. so had a scan at 8 weeks -

now 6.5 months and wanting a 3/4d scan to see the little monkey who has caused me daily stress :)

Had one at 7 weeks and have booked one next week when I’ll be 10 weeks. Definitely worth every penny for peace of mind. It’s such a long wait to 12 weeks - if you’re worried just do it.

I had a private scan yesterday at 6+1, I would definitely recommend it. We had been trying for nearly a year and I had had some
spotting so I was so worried that things were not going well. The the scan was so reassuring and I got to see the first glimpse of my baby's heartbeat (the sonographer called it a sparkle), it was wonderful! I think if you can afford it go for it, it certainly reassured me and my dh.

I have just booked one for this Friday I will be 7 and 5 days if my dates are correct, I am doing it for a clear idea on date and because twins are in my family so would like to know all ok. Every one is different but I think it's a brilliant way to reassure women for so many different reasons! We're very luck to be able to do this and not wait desperately for the 12 week scan!
Congratulations btw! X

We had one at 8 weeks and another at 11+3 as my dating scan wasn't until I was 13+2. I also suffer pretty terribly with anxiety. It was a lovely place, with a very chilled out vibe, and we got some amazing pictures. I would recommend it to anyone!

Thanks all. We're definitely going to go for it. Looking at doing it when I'll be either 8+6 or 7+4, depending on whether I take the doctors date or my ovulation date (I ovulated on CD23, so according to first day of last period would be much further along).

FX for good news. I know it by no means we're out of the woods yet, but it should hopefully mean it feels real!

I was really anxious when I found out I'm pregnant and I worry a lot about the health of my baby. I had a private early scan with Harmony test and it was the best decision I've made. I saw my little one at week 9 and listened to the heartbeat. It was true miracle and made me feel relaxed and happy. If you worry a lot about the baby I would recommend the early scan. Otherwise you have to wait ages for the NHS appointments. X