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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

First time mum - 4 weeks + 1 . Early scan 6 weeks?

32 replies

GaaaaarlicBread · 26/12/2019 08:23

Hi
First pregnancy here . I’m about 4+1 . Baby due 2nd September GP said.
I saw the Dr the other day when I found out and she seemed happy for me to just refer myself to maternity in mid Jan .
Generally really healthy , I don’t smoke or drink and I’m a healthy weight but I do have epilepsy (controlled). On two very safe drugs , been taking 5mg folic acid and pregnacare 2 months prior to conceiving and will continue to take .
Thinking about paying for a private scan at 6 weeks just to ease my anxiety . Does anyone recommend it ? Did it help you ? Just not sure if I can wait til week 10!
Thanks x

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Soontobe60 · 26/12/2019 08:25

What are you anxious about?

Original poster
GaaaaarlicBread · 26/12/2019 08:28

@soontobe60 I really don’t know . I just want Reassurance that there’s a heart beat but I have no reason to think there won’t be as everything is fine . Am I just being silly ?

OP posts:
Chanel05 · 26/12/2019 08:46

They can be lovely. I had one at 6 weeks and saw the heartbeat, all good. However, I had one at 8+5 and the heartbeat had stopped and the midwife confirmed a mmc. A scan in the early days is a snapshot of a moment in time so just keep that in mind. Once I'd had the first it was great until I felt my symptoms go suddenly and wanted another, cue anxiety.

FebMama2Be · 26/12/2019 08:49

Your not being silly in the slightest. Plenty of women have private scans, I did and probably went abit over board with them before my 12 week scan but that was due to previous MMC. If I were to give you any advice though, I would say hold it out for another week and go when you are 7 weeks as you are more likely to see a heartbeat

Good luck !

goingtoneedabiggercar · 26/12/2019 08:53

I had my early scan at 8 weeks so that I should definitely see a heartbeat, if everything was ok. I was very anxious throughout my entire pregnancy and found them helpful. Congratulations.

SinkGirl · 26/12/2019 08:57

At 6 weeks you may not be able to see much of anything, I remember how hard that wait was from finding out to the 12 week scan, but I decided against it as I knew that just because things were okay at a scan, that would only reassure me for five minutes as things could then change between then and the 12 week scan. I’m glad I didn’t as it turned out I was having twins and I would have been terrified of losing one of them as it’s so common.

It is an awful anxious wait, if you feel it would make you feel better then go for it, but I fear it wouldn’t make you feel better for very long.

Soontobe60 · 26/12/2019 08:58

You're not being silly, but if there's no reason for an early scan, then I'd wait for the routine ones. You've got a long road ahead before baby arrives, so trying to keep your anxiety levels low now is important.
Such an early scan may not even pick up a heartbeat, and then you'll really be anxious. Many posts on here are about not picking up heartbeats but then end with a healthy baby.

Original poster
GaaaaarlicBread · 26/12/2019 09:16

Thanks everyone ! I’ll talk to DH but probably ride it out until 12 weeks , any tips on how to switch off in the meantime ?? I can’t believe how slow it’s going and I only found out a few days ago !! Not told anyone which makes it harder x

OP posts:
thosethreewords · 26/12/2019 09:33

@itsemily congratulations! I had a few early scans - 7+4 and 9+5.
I will say I didn't feel reassured by the 7+4 one (after that day) but did at 9+5. I didn't have my first NHS scan til 13+6 and so the 9+5 one was helpful for me.

itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted · 26/12/2019 09:35

6 weeks is too early - you only need to be a couple of days out with measurements/late implantation and no heartbeat will be visible and you'll stress out more

I would though have one around 8 weeks - only because I found out I'd had a missed miscarriage at my 12 week scan when no heartbeat was found

Original poster
GaaaaarlicBread · 26/12/2019 09:48

I will see what my epilepsy nurse says when I see her on the 7th jan , she might refer me on that day so if I can hold off and have one at 10 weeks I might feel better .
Miscarriage is just my worse fear, the unknown , but I’m sure it’ll all be ok.
@itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted sorry for your loss 💕😔

OP posts:
girlygirl98 · 26/12/2019 09:51

6 weeks is a bit early and raises more questions than answers normally. I've been spotting on and off since I got my bfp so I had one at 5 weeks and at 7 weeks. 5 weeks could only see the sac and no heartbeat. The 7 week one id stopped spotting and we saw the heartbeat but she had to do internal and she was a bit heavy handed and I ended up really sore with more spotting afterwards so it just made me anxious again. Wait till 8 weeks if you must have a scan

Original poster
GaaaaarlicBread · 26/12/2019 10:17

@girlygirl98 thank you I’m glad all’s ok with you now. I’ll try and relax until I see my nurse . You think it’s going to be really exciting but then you get the BFP and it’s just a waiting game ! Longest wait of my life I’m sure x

OP posts:
Doxylover30 · 27/12/2019 14:06

I have epilepsy and have taken meds for it for the last 5 years and did so throughout my pregnancy and had the folic acid too. I have a perfectly healthy 2 month old baby boy. I had never been so worried about anything in my life and I am a very laid back person. There was the constant thought of my baby having birth defects from the meds, even though I knew there was a very very small risk of this and the folic acid helped to counteract this, I had a front lying placenta too so I could barely feel my baby move but he was absolutely fine. Personally I would wait until your 12 weeks scan and not go for an earlier one, yes your mind will go into overdrive wondering if everything is ok but it will be worse going for an early scan, by somebody who is not medically trained to do this, and not seeing what you want. Your epilepsy nurse will discuss your meds with you and may tell you that you will be going for more scans. We had the 12 week and 20 week as normal then one at 29 weeks and then every 3 weeks after just to check on the growth. You will be fine and yes you will worry like all pregnant mus do, this is my first child too but I would hold off on the early scan for now x

manicmij · 27/12/2019 14:22

A scan so early is just for a moment in time. All can change even within a few minutes following. Your anxiety will not be helping you. What will you be like at later scans when carried out for diagnostic purposes. You perhaps need to seek someone who can help alleviate your anxiety or you will not enjoy your pregnancy.

cmc123x · 27/12/2019 14:23

What medication are you ladies with epilepsy on as I've just found out I'm pregnant and also take tablets for mine?

Original poster
GaaaaarlicBread · 27/12/2019 14:51

@cmc123x I am on 100mg lamotrigine and 500mg keppra

Congrats xx

OP posts:
cmc123x · 27/12/2019 15:02

@itsemily

cmc123x · 27/12/2019 15:03

@itsemily congratulations to you too. I'm on the same medication as you, is this your first pregnancy? X

cmc123x · 27/12/2019 15:05

@itsemily sorry I should say just the lamotrigine that is. New to all this so apologies for all the messages 😂

37TTCLeeds · 27/12/2019 15:05

Congratulations @itsemily we have the same due date!

Just rang my GP and they booked me in to see Midwife late January with nothing in between.

Is it your first? It is mine...

zarah21 · 27/12/2019 15:17

I thought about it but didn't bother in the end. There's not much to see at 6 weeks, just a blob of sorts and I read, a lot of early scans become internal scans whi h I would not have wanted. If the wait is just to 10 weeks, I would wait. My first scan was 13 weeks so I had longer to go, but it was worth it in the end. As another poster points out, so much can happen after 6 weeks, I wouldn't do it. X

Trixie121 · 27/12/2019 15:32

@itsemilyitsemily Congratulations on your pregnancy. I also have controlled epilepsy so I know how worrying this can be. I had a child 3 years ago and had a text book pregnancy and healthy child. I continued to take my epilepsy meds during my pregnancy. I am currently 6 weeks pregnant and have already had a scan due to bleeding and a previous miscarage at 10 weeks. I will need to have another scan next week to see if there is a heart as one could not be detected at the previous scan. I don't recommend having a scan before 7/8 weeks as this often leaves you with more questions than answers. I wish you the best of luck in your pregnancy.

Original poster
GaaaaarlicBread · 27/12/2019 15:38

@cmc123x Yes first one and I’m so anxious but happy . My gp has told me to self refer so I’m so confused and don’t even know where to start .
@37TTCLeeds yes first pregnancy , congratulations to you too!

@Trixie121 my husband and I decided to book in for one for when I’m just over 8 weeks as I’ve made him anxious by being anxious ! Then I’ll be seen at 10 weeks so hopefully it won’t seem too bad . It’s an awful feeling being anxious though when all I want to do is enjoy it !

OP posts:
goingtoneedabiggercar · 27/12/2019 19:58

@itsemily I would second telling your midwife how anxious you feel. My midwife dismissed mine and it's causing further issues now. If you can speak to someone sooner I think it would be helpful .