I'll be over 4 months by the time I have my 3 month scan

[jellyjem]

Just a bit of a WWYD question. I'm really dissapointed as I received my appointment letter for the 3 month scan last week and by the time I have it I'll be 17 weeks! I rang the hospital to try and get an earlier date but was told theres nothing they can do about it as they're just too busy to fit me in any earlier. I suppose because the 3 month scan will be so late I'll also miss out on the 20 week scan.

Would you pay to go private for an earlier scan or would you just wait it out? This baby is my first and we had to go through IVF to get this far so I'm really nervous something could go wrong. I had a scan at 4 weeks (which they do with IVF conceptions to make sure its not eptopic) and everything was fine then but that was a long time ago and I'm worried.

Jem x

It depends on the purpose of the 3 month scan. In my area, they routinely offer a nuchal fold scan which has to be done between 12-13 weeks, I think. In other places, the 12 week scan is just to check up and possibly date the pg. If it is the latter, then I guess you don't have any grounds to insist on an earlier scan. If you have any bleeding or cramps, you can usually contact an Early Pregnancy Unit at your local hospital who will scan to check that all is okay. But, I don't think private scans are that expensive and if it puts your mind at rest, it's probably worth it, isn't it?

Whatever you do, you definitely want to insist on having a 20 week scan -maybe see if you can book it in now if they're that busy? - as this is when they check for major anomalies and I'm not sure they would be able to check with the same degree of accuracy on a 17 week old baby.

Thanks Mumpbump, I had'nt realised that about checking for abnormalities, I'll give them another ring tomorrow (can't do it now as I'm at work).

Can anyone give me an idea know how much a private scan costs?

Jem x

Might help if you say where you are located as I imagine the cost might vary. I have a feeling someone on one of the threads I post on said about £80 to £90.

Yeah I suppose it will vary a lot, I live in Sandwell, West Midlands.

private nuchal fold scan around £100 usually

Thanks Tutter - I'll have to try and talk DH into paying for a private scan to put my mind at rest.

The NHS have been no help to me at all, we had to pay thousands to have the IVF in the first place as there was no provision in my borough and now we'll have to pay for the scans too.

The 10/12 weeks scan is a dating scan iirc. Also checks for basics like a heart beat etc,
20 week scan is an anomaly scan where they are more thorough. From what I can rememebr they can't see an awful lot at the dating scan-perhaps they feel that as you had a scan at 4 weeks that's dated the pregnancy

i imagine you'll have the 20 week anomoly scan on the nhs - haven't heard of any health authorities failing to offer that

this should be the only one you have to fork out for

Hello Jem! It's crap isn't it? This huge all consuming thing is happening to you and it feels like to the NHS you are a tiny insignificant speck. And the time seems to pass so slowly. To be honest, I would try and wait it out if I were you. If you feel that something isn't right - eg. cramps, or losing blood,you can go straight to the antenatal clinic and they would scan you. I suggest that you spend the money on something fabulous for yourself and try not to worry,I know it's easier said than done. In my area, they only offer one scan - at 20 weeks - and during mine with DD2, the (trainee) sonographer asked her supervisor to come and check it as "I can only find one leg"!!! - not so reassuring! (DD2 was born with two legs!) Whatever you decide, good luck and hugs, JJ

I would pay the money and have the scan - I did in fact. Am apauled that a 1st world country like England puts women in this position.

I'm having a private 12 week nuchal fold scan as they don't do them at watford and my gp advised me to do it if I could afford it - it will cost £140. I'm not so bothered by the nuchal fold test - I think - as the chance to check that all is going well, as I am quite paranoid after a previous mc.

17 weeks is too early for the 20 week scan the earliest they can do it is 18 weeks so I'm sure they will call yuo back again for that.

I had my 20 week scan at 17.5 weeks, and it seemed they could see everything they were looking for.

Just wanted to say that in Scotland well my area anyway, we only get a dating scan, no nuchal and no 20 week/anomaly scan. I think that is shocking especially as government guidelines recommend both! humf!