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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Early scan - to go for it or have patience and wait?!

37 replies

angelix · 13/02/2019 13:51

Hi all, I'm 7+4 with my first pregnancy and I'm feeling so anxious to know everything is ok.

I have no reason to think it wont be, but have had a lot of friends who have been given bad news around the 12 weeks mark and I'm just feeling anxious and like I can't relax and enjoy this which is a shame.

I've got my booking appt in 2 weeks and then my scan on 20th March but I'm tempted to look into private scan options for reassurance before the 20th.

I'm going away for a break to relax just before my scan date in March and I'm worried that I wont be able to relax with the worry. The break was planned as something to work towards after knee surgery, before i knew I was pregnant and I'd just love to know theres a heartbeat and all ok before I go.

On the flip side though, if everything isn't ok then is it better not to know?!

I feel so torn about the best thing to do so any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.

Thanks! Ax

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Karatema · 13/02/2019 14:01

If you are worrying unnecessarily it won't do you, or baby, any good. Enquire about a private scan, if it puts your mind at rest then it'll be worth it.

Congratulations and I look forward to reading about your happy event in September/October

TheCraicDealer · 13/02/2019 14:11

I'm 7w 6d and going for one this evening- my 12w scan isn't until 19 March which still seems v far away. Unfortunately I've read so many stories from posters whose babies sadly stopped developing at 8/9/10w that I'm not sure how much reassurance I'll get from it, but going ahead anyway. Want to see how many are in there too- I'm a twin so that's always in the back of my mind!

Original poster

angelix · 13/02/2019 14:17

Wow, that's exciting that you'll have yours today! Please let us know how it goes if you don't mind?

I feel the same, I know that finding out now that everything is ok wont stop me worrying throughout the weeks in between scans, but I reckon some reassurance is better than none.

Hope all goes well for you tonight 🤞

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Original poster

angelix · 13/02/2019 14:18

Thank you. I'm certainly going to research some options in the area

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susso · 13/02/2019 14:22

An early scan gave me so much reassurance- was able to see a heartbeat, everything where it should be and basically told to stop worrying! If it will put your mind at rest then do it. Do try to relax and enjoy your experience xxx

Kescilly · 13/02/2019 14:23

I debated this before booking a scan around 8 weeks. My thinking was, there’s a high rate of miscarriage before 12 weeks so a chance of bad news at my first scan. I decided I’d rather have bad news in a private setting than with the NHS.

If it was good news, I also wanted that in a private setting, as either way we’d want more time to process things.

Yes, there’s a chance of something going wrong from 8-12 weeks. But I figured it was less of a chance than something going wrong from 4-12 weeks.

Things turned out well for us, so it’s difficult to say if I would have felt differently had I miscarried. But given my experience, I’m glad we went for the private scan. I don’t think I would have done one sooner than 8 weeks though.

HayleyHaystack · 13/02/2019 14:23

Absolutely - go for it. Early pregnancy is hard enough without worrying yourself silly. I've had 2 pregnancies and did early scans with both. My successful pregnancy (this one) I had 2 scans before the official 12 week one. 7 weeks and 9 weeks. I also had another one at 16 weeks. They are pretty reasonably priced now and available all over the country. There's not a lot of point having one before 7 weeks so you're probably good timing now. Good luck and I hope all goes well for you!

Megan2018 · 13/02/2019 14:27

I have not had an early scan because they can cause worry - if you are having one I'd go post 8 weeks.

Pre 8 weeks sometimes they can't find a heartbeat or see anything, or the measurements are way off what the dates should be and then people have an agonising wait for another re-scan a week later to see if it has progressed.

I am having NIPT at 10+3 (next week) but that's to test for abnormality rather than reassurance.

There are also plenty of people that have a positive early scan and still get to 12 weeks with MMC and had a false sense of security. It's very personal but I decided it's cause more worry to have it than not.

Kescilly · 13/02/2019 14:31

The NIPT actually caused me more worry than the early scan. They failed to get enough fetal DNA twice, which could be because of an abnormality, or could be nothing. We tried to do it for reassurance and were left feeling far worse for it.

Megan2018 · 13/02/2019 14:34

Yes I know that can happen @Kescilly
But I am still prepared to do it as we won't proceed if there are issues but I don't want to have to do an invasive test without trying NIPT first.

If we don't get a result that way though I'll have CVS. Assuming there is a heartbeat at the scan at least!

HayleyHaystack · 13/02/2019 14:51

I've had experience of an early scan with bad news and good news. The first pregnancy I had one at 8 weeks - and I was told that a miscarriage was likely. There was a heartbeat but it was very slow and measured smaller than it should have done have 8 weeks. I miscarried (naturally) 2 days later. I personally found it better knowing what was happening rather than deal with the shock. It was my first pregnancy and I didn't know any different. This time around, I had an early scan at 7 weeks and a few days, a heartbeat was present and strong. 2 weeks later I returned, again things were progressing well. I still didn't celebrate anything until after the 12 week. I also had the NIPT at 16 weeks and I was glad it included an extra scan as the road from 12 weeks to 20 weeks is long and worrying. My 20 week scan is this week. I have found it much easier with regular updates. It doesn't ease the worry of the next scan but I think anything that puts your mind at rest, even for a few days, helps your over-all wellbeing.

Kescilly · 13/02/2019 14:54

Good luck with everything @Megan2018! We ended up doing the NT screening through the NHS rather than anything invasive.

Fingers crossed for that heartbeat!

Wedgiecar58 · 13/02/2019 15:47

I had an early scan and I was so glad I did. I thought I was bang on 8 weeks but the sonographer put me back a couple of days, due to the measurements.

We were able to see a little heartbeat fluttering away and it just made everything all the more real. It was really lovely, especially for me as because I had hardly any symptoms - no nausea etc, I was convinced there was nothing there! But there was and it was magical to see.

We also wanted to wait to tell our parents until we'd had a scan and the 12 week scan seemed so long away! It still does tbh, I'm now 10+4 and still havent been given a date so I expect it will be more like 14 weeks we have our scan.

I had a transvaginal scan as she couldnt see much doing it abdominally (said my bladder was empty despite me drinking loads of water beforehand) but the transvaginal scan was fine, wouldnt even describe it as uncomfortable.

I would go for it if I were you :)

OldBrownShoe · 13/02/2019 15:52

It honestly depends on if it will reassure you or not.

I didn’t have one in this pregnancy. In my last one I did and saw a perfect baby with a heartbeat, but I unfortunately miscarried just before my 12 week scan. What you see at the scan is just a snapshot of that moment - there’s no guarantees.

Sunshinegirl82 · 13/02/2019 16:12

I had scans at both 7 and 10 weeks in both my pregnancies. I also had the NIPT at 10 weeks both times.

My personal view is that if something has gone wrong I would prefer to know as soon as possible. The worst case scenario for me personally was finding out at 12 weeks that something had gone wrong at 5/6 weeks but my body hadn't realised.

Nothing is a guarantee obviously but if you see a heartbeat at 7 weeks your chances of miscarriage are reduced. If you see a heartbeat (and normal development) at 10 weeks the chances of miscarriage are lower again.

I had the NIPT as early as possible to try and ensure I had the maximum number of options available to me in the event of a high risk result.

There are no right answers with these things in my view, it's a very personal choice. Best of luck with your pregnancy OP.

MeredithGrey1 · 13/02/2019 16:43

I had an early scan at just under 8 weeks with this pregnancy because a previous pregnancy turned out to be a blighted ovum, which was discovered after some bleeding around 8-9 weeks. I knew from looking into it that one blighted ovum pregnancy doesn't really increase your chance of another one, and that it was more than likely everything would be fine, but I just wanted to know, I couldn't have waited 4 or 5 more weeks for the 12 week scan. I also knew that a healthy scan at 8 weeks wouldn't guarantee anything, but seeing a heartbeat (and ruling out another blighted ovum) was definitely worth it for the reassurance it gave me.

Original poster

angelix · 14/02/2019 10:22

Thanks for all of your replies. I've found somewhere that will scan from 8 weeks so now I just need to decide if i should go this weekend when I'll be 8+2 or wait till next week instead. I'm excited and scared all at the same time x

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ladycarlotta · 14/02/2019 10:56

I had one around 9 weeks and it was really reassuring for me after previous miscarriages. They did it transvaginally and got some great pictures. Obviously it's not a given that everything will go swimmingly, but the odds of miscarriage are vastly reduced once you can see a heartbeat etc, so it did help reassure me that I'd make it to 12 weeks.

It all seems so long ago now! Baby is now 37+4 and we'll meet her soon.

Original poster

angelix · 14/02/2019 11:41

Ooh not long now, good luck!!
I know that the place I'm planning to book will only do abdominal. The fact they offer scans from 8 weeks must mean its do-able but I'm worried that my big belly will cause a problem. Not baby big, fat big 🤦‍♀️🤔

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ladycarlotta · 14/02/2019 12:29

in that case, drink a good amount of water. Not so much that you're absolutely bursting bc they'll be putting loads of pressure on your stomach, but do make sure your bladder's full. It's definitely doable abdominally, and they got some OK pictures that way for me, but it was during the heat wave and although I'd been chugging water I guess my body had needed it all as I hadn't been able to fill my bladder so they were less distinct than the vaginal ones. You'll definitely get to see something, don't worry about that! And enjoy!

Bunnybaubles · 14/02/2019 12:32

I have a fat belly 😁 and I went for a reassurance scan around 8 weeks. I did have the same worries as you, that they would struggle to see anything cause of my size. But they had no problem finding my little bean, saw the wee heartbeat and everything 😊 It was well worth the peace of mind!
I'm now 17+2 and just had a private gender reveal scan, and the image of my little baby was so clear, we were able to get a picture of her foot print 😍

Whisky2014 · 14/02/2019 12:34

I wouldnt bother. It reassures you for 5 minutes and then you want another one.
Its only good for that exact moment in time and then its over and you fret again.
Also it's just a blog. Wait until 12 weeks

spritesandunicorns · 14/02/2019 13:08

I had one with my first at 9 weeks and my second at 8 weeks. I needed the reassurance and would definitely recommend.

pinkpanther84 · 14/02/2019 13:23

I had an early scan with my second baby, at 7ish weeks. Was worth every penny for me, even thought it just looked like a little blob we could see the heartbeat, and the measurements were only a day out from what we thought. Was still scared for the 12 and 20 weeks scans but definitely gave me a lot of reassurance that there was a baby in there! Good luck x

Original poster

angelix · 14/02/2019 15:36

Thank you! I've booked for Sunday 🤞

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