Early Scans?!? Yes or No?

[Rainbow714]

I finally got my BFP in December after 18months of trying with sadly a MC inbetween. Based on my LMP dates me at 8 weeks & 3 days, so my question is - is an early scan a good option? Im so nervous, anxious and just desperate to know everything is okay. Do you see much on a scan at 8 weeks? Or could it just make me worry more? Would love to hear peoples opionions please?

I had an early scan at 6 weeks and I saw a little blob lol but could hear the heartbeat so I think you should go for 1

I was in exactly the same position 10 years ago. First baby conceived no problem.

Second, my cycles went haywire, 40-60 days long for over a year. Finally got bfp then miscarried. I considered an early scan when I got pregnant again but decided what will be will be, no matter when you have a scan. It won’t change anything. So waited till the standard 12 week one.

And he’s now in year 6, so I wish the same for you xx

If you are fairly sure of your dates, you should see quite a bit. Heart beat starts around 6 weeks so you should hear that. My early scan (7+3) had recognisable head, body, arms and legs.

The only problem is if you're not as far along as you think, baby won't be as developed as you expect, which would be worrying. Usually if they can't find a heartbeat you can go back a week or so later to check again, but it would be a very stressful wait.

I had an early scan today at 6+1 due to recurrent miscarriage, NHS scan and she found the baby very quickly and found a strong heartbeat. I'll be rescanned every 2 weeks until my 12 week scan. If you need some reassurance I'm sure at 8/9 weeks they will be able to see a hell of a lot more.

Good luck!

I had one at 7 weeks due to wanting to tell family at Christmas. Everything was fine. I do think though there is always a chance you could hear bad news, so do make sure you prepare yourself for that too and take someone to support you, just incase. Good luck!

Having an early scan really put my mind at ease after suffering a miscarriage last year. Had mine in December and I measured at 7 weeks and 3 days and we saw a little blob with a heartbeat!! So reassuring, I don't think I could have waited until 12 weeks but that's just me!x

Thank you for all your replies, i defo want one to put my mind at ease probably just scared of bad news! If i wait untill the weekend to book a private scan i will be more 9 weeks so should be able to see something, i have my first booking appointment with my midwife tomorrow going to see what she suggests too. X

I ended up having one via NHS for medical reasons at about 6 weeks and saw a heart beat. I'm glad I did because the risk of miscarriage is known to be quite a bit lower if there is a healthy heart beat, so it definitely made me feel more relaxed. They should be able to see a heart beat by 9 weeks. I guess you have to go in knowing there is always the possibility of bad news, but I would think better to find out now than a few weeks further down the line. If you are quite an anxious person it might be worth being clear with yourself that this would be just one scan, to check for viability/heartbeat and not to want a scan every time you get worried about something - because you will have more worries! Good luck

I decided against it - I knew it would reassure me for all of a few minutes and then I’d be worried again until the 12 week scan.

I’m glad I waited as we were having twins and I would have just been worrying about losing one or both of them.

I had one and I found it really reassuring. At 8 weeks baby looked like a jelly baby

Thank you for all your comments, i have a private scan after work today. A mixed bag of emotions, excited nervous & scared. Fingers crossed all is okay, the place im going only offers the abdominal scan is it likely they will see the baby? Im 8 weeks and 6 days according to my last LMP. X

Good luck with your scan tonight OP. I'm in Turkey where you get more scans as standard so had one at 6 and 8 weeks. Personally, I found it very reassuring to see everything was as it should be and to hear the heartbeat.

The only thing to be prepared for is for the baby to be measuring smaller if you're not 100% sure of your dates. I thought I was about 9 days ahead of where I was, going from my LMP, but I have long cycles and ovulated late. It caused a bit of unnecessary worry at the time.

Good luck x

Thank you @sel2223 i have long cylces too so could be of slightly but hoping to see a healthy baby. My last scans when i MC were awful so slighly nervous about this one, ive had no pain or bleeding so preying all is okay! X

I had an abdominal scan at 7+2 and could see everything clearly. Loved watching their little heartbeats flutter away. Just make sure you have a nice full bladder as this will help the picture quality.

Hope all goes well. Xx

@Rainbow714 good luck! Hopefully you'll get a lovely clear picture and strong heartbeat like I did x

@sel2223 that happened to me with my long cycles. Scared me so badly. Went for my first scan thinking I was about 11 weeks, but dr told me I was measuring small (had to do a vaginal ultrasound). Went back 3 weeks later and baby is growing just fine at 8 weeks +6

OP, hope everything is ok with your scans! xx

I’m 12 weeks and have had 3 scans so far and a other new thing week. 5+6, 7+6, 11+6 and next week will be 12+5. Couldn’t really see much until 7+6, earliest scan didn’t show much at all.

Edit - I meant ‘another next week.’

I had a scan at 9 weeks with my second pregnancy. My first pregnancy had ended in miscarriage and I was incredibly anxious.
The scan was amazing! It was such a relief to see the baby and heartbeat. At 9 weeks the embryo was recognisable as a baby, albeit one carved from a small potato! 🥔

Although an early scan doesn't guarantee that the pregnancy will progress successfully, once you have seen a heartbeat at 8/9 weeks the odds of a successful pregnancy are hugely in your favour. I found that comforting. Although I was still nervous before my 12 and 20 week scans. I don't know think anything will ever be able to completely remove that worry unfortunately.

I had my scan and it was amazing! Saw & heard the heartbeat too, so glad i booked the scan now! Thank you everybody x