Preparing for a scan at just under 6 weeks...

[tisonlymeagain]

I am having a scan tomorrow when I will be 5+4.

I have no instructions other than time and location so don't know whether this will be internal or external, or whether I need to have the traditional full bladder or not.

Can anyone enlighten me? I am erring on the side of filling it up as I can always empty it if needed...

Full bladder and likely to be an internal

I’d imagine at 5 weeks it will be a TVS scan (trans vaginal) I’d go with a full bladder as it can be emptied instantly whereas an empty bladder is hard to fill quickly!

It will be a trans vaginal scan that early on, and go with full bladder. If it's not full they get really funny about it IME of them. I can't easily fill my bladder so had difficulty and got a very cross sonographer the first time. Second time they were more relaxed about it.

Okay, thanks for the heads up all. I will fill that bladder, although to be fair it doesn't take a lot at the moment!

Slightly nervous about having an internal scan because I had a massive bleed after sex on Friday

Don't get too excited about seeing anything, it might be too early to see a heartbeat but it doesn't mean there won't be one in another week or so. Just so you're not down hearted if you don't see one yet.

Don't worry, I felt the same but they are used to it!!

Yes @Hiphopopotamous I am fully expecting there being nothing to see. My EPU don't scan under 6 weeks as a rule but my HCG came back as 14,500 so the ward Sister said the pregnancy should be visible at that level.

Don't be nervous about an internal. It's painless and imo can irritate cervix (that's what I found) but only if that's where your bleed came from and that's a harmless place to bleed from anyway

Internal scans are way more accurate at your stage

But be aware you are likely to see very little, you're very early. But I assume they are checking your bleed.

Fingers crossed for you

Yes @PrayingandHoping it's because of the bleed and also because of high HCG they think something should be visible.

You should def see something at 6 weeks, it's just a heartbeat isn't usually expected till 7 weeks

😁

I will be 5+4 (by my own calculations...as I was temping and doing OPKs) but HCG has come back at 14,500 @PrayingandHoping

I have always been told to empty my bladder for early scans. They have a bathroom joined to the scan rooms at the EPU in my local hospital

I had 2 internal scans at 7 and 9 weeks and they want an empty bladder. Full is for abdominal x

I have had a few internal early scans and was told to empty my bladder on arrival. There’s no real need for it when going internally; to err on the side of caution maybe drink some water beforehand but don’t go in about to burst - for all three of mine the nurses made me go and pee before we started. Best of luck for tomorrow x

Thank you - I'll go with some in and can empty out if needed.

Thanks all, I'm very nervous today and it's not until late afternoon.

Good luck today Op.
I had a scan at 6 weeks with my little twins and couldn't see an awful lot except what looked like two tiny kidney beans.
Mirroring advice above to go with a full bladder but expect to need to empty it out and have an internal.

I think I'll just be glad to see "something" and that it's not gone or "missing"

Thought I'd just update this thread...

I had an external and internal scan - didn't go in with a full bladder but emptied out for the internal!

Everything is in the right place - gestational sac and yolk sac were very clear but it's too early to see a definite fetal pole or embryo as I am only 5w + 4days. My cervix is firmly closed and no sign or cause of any bleeding identified. I have a re-scan booked for 11 days time when an embryo and heartbeat should be clearly identifiable as I will be 7w + 1 day then.

Feeling a bit more chilled for now!

Good to hear everything is as it should be op.

Great news lovely!

Oh good. Glad you're feeling better about it. Hope all is well from now on! Xxx