Early scan - over the belly or up the...!!

[madeinthe80z]

Hi all, I want to book an early scan for this weekend for reassurance and to tell my parent all being well.

I do not want a transvaginal scan, for a number of reasons and would only want a belly one!

In your experience, how far along will I need to be to guarantee this?

I will be 8 weeks this Saturday according to LMP date, however by my calculations I reckon I'll actually be 7+4/7+5.

Thanks

I’ve had 3 pregnancies all with hyperemesis, had early scans with them all at around 7 weeks and they were all abdominal with hardly anything in bladder. They were all clear images.

My EPU did a TV scan on me at 8 weeks, belly scan at 10. They had a sign up that said TV unless past 9 weeks.

I had scans at 6,7 and 8 weeks and none were internal.

Im overweight and had a scan at 7+1 due to some bleeding, it was a TV.
I I'm the biggest prude and I hated it but was worth it to me go know the baby was okay.

Thanks everyone. It's really not the process that concerns me, if I had to do it I would, but given my history, I really don't want to have any bleeding as the reassurance scan would be pointless!! 😂
I may wait until I believe I am 8 weeks, so a week today, and make sure I have a super duper full bladder and hope for the best!

I had TV at 6 weeks this time and 8 weeks first pregnancy, I was size 12 both times. If you've never had one before, it's not nearly as invasive as you're probably thinking. I'm sure that neither went anywhere near the cervix and were only just inside. The wand thing is also smooth and rounded, and they put a condom on it, so nothing to scratch, etc. like with a smear.

That's good to know actually @Changingagain
So it doesn't actually go all the way up?! Will it touch the cervix do you think? I don't get the bleeding every time we DTD (particularly in my fertile window, when my cervix is nice and high and soft) so maybe it wouldn't be the worse thing. Having said that, it's a private scan and no medical reason for me to have it so I think I should still wait maybe...

I’ve had TV one before (not for babies, something else) and the probe has a bulb type bit on the end which is not as big as the end of a penis, maybe half at very most, and only that bit goes in. It’s honestly fine. I little cold from the lube but that’s the worst bit.

I am a slightly porky size 14/16 and have had an abdominal scan when I thought I was 7+ weeks but she then dated me at 6+5. I had a very full bladder which she said helped, but there was no difficulty at all and no mention of a TV.

I meant to say that she picked up a heartbeat via abdominal scan too :)

I had a transvaginal scan at my 12 week scan. The baby wasn't cooperating and was in a weird position so after 30 minutes of abdominal scanning she switched to TV to get a better look at the heart chambers. I had had a previous scan at 10 weeks that was just abdominal though.

Hi @madeinthe80z I have a (treated, see below) cervical ectropion and had TV scan at 4+3wks (it was already planned as part of fertility investigation, wasn't expecting to see anything and didn't!) But no bleeding as a result. They don't go very far up so no where near as uncomfortable as smear, no speculum just probe, I would say 1/2 to 2/3 up at a guess. I did then have some bleeding at 6wks and had a scan at EPU at 6+3, had a LOT of water (congratulated on how full bladder was, #soproud...) and they could see tiny heartbeat on the abdo scan, so no need for TV.
Re the ectropion itself: 2 things - I have had some small episodes of brown bleeding throughout Pg (currently 25 wks), and as the pill previously affected mine, I strongly suspect all the pg hormonal changes are effecting the cervix and that is why. So just to advise in case you have similar.
And also, you'll want to wait now of course til after baby but try and get it sorted. I was so frustrated with all the bleeding, either post sex or just anytime randomly, and no amount of pill changes etc over about 3 years or so were helping. nhs final response was have a coil... wasn't keen on that idea and went private, got sorted with cauterisation. Not the most pleasant thing but relatively quick and not that bad. Found that being on the pill brought it back so had procedure again and no problems/bleeding since (over 5 years ago now I think). Just will never go back on the pill. Not sure on cost as had work health insurance at the time but I would have paid myself for this result!
Anyway sorry for long msg but I hope is useful.

I had a TV at 6 weeks and it was much better than a smear, by a million times! The wand is smooth and I guess you can tell the sonographer about your problem to make sure they are gentle.

I bleed after smears but no bleeding at all after the TV scan :) Best of luck if you decide to have it and also if you decide to wait a few more weeks! (I'd wait till week 10 if you absolutely do not want a TV, and that's only 3 weeks away so not long at all)

I’m a 14 and my 6 week (thought I was 8 weeks n I was already bleeding) scan was done abdominally, that’s probably not a word , at the epu and again a week later. Had a visible heartbeat on the bean both times but didn’t get to hear a heartbeat until my 16week appointment. If it’s private I dare say you could just state you don’t want a tv scan for personal reasons. It’s not a medical appointment where they need to see anything.
My bleeding was from bloody thrush which I only discovered after bleeding for 2 weeks n a total random suggestion from going through forum posts, no itching or any thrush symptoms, it’s been on n off the whole pregnancy but doesn’t cause bleeding now just bh like cramps.

Thanks @starlight I did have it cauterised once, which was silly considering I was on the pill and didn't come off it so obviously it came back! Didn't know that much about it then. Since I've come off the pill I've felt a lot better with it but will see how it goes. Thanks for the advice, very helpful! 😊

Well I'm booked in this morning so fingers crossed we get a view from the sunroof. Can't sleep I'm so nervous 😥

I had 4 private scans last year and all of those were TV. Between week 9-10 was when they could see enough to do it just abdominally. But before 9 weeks it’s more likely it was be internal. Sorry!

All was fine, great view on the abdominal ultrasound and not quite 8 weeks 😊

Ahh fantastic! You’ll be amazed at how much your little one has developed at your 12 week scan