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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

60 replies

LadyBird2020 · 09/02/2020 19:48

I went got an early scan today - 6 weeks.
Going by the first day of my last period (23/12) I would be 7 weeks tomorrow.
However, going by the date we could have possibly conceived I would be 5 weeks and 3 days today.
At the scan, we see the gestation sack but no yolk sac. The sonographer said this was normal for a 5 week pregnancy but to call my GP tomorrow to get referred to the EPU for blood tests and to rescan on the 24th Feb.
Has anyone else had this please?
This is my first pregnancy and whilst I am trying to stay calm and have an amazing boyfriend who is doing his best to be positive, I really am worried.
Any help/ experiences greatly appreciated.

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MsChatterbox · 09/02/2020 20:46

This is exactly how I felt. That these are the weeks that really matter and no one is interested. But I think it's because physically seeing a midwife makes no difference at this stage. And the information is available to find online. The only thing you really need to do now is take vit d and folic acid and check NHS website for what foods to avoid! If you get any sickness then travel bands really helped me!

PixieDustt · 09/02/2020 20:49

Yep agree 100%

Narcheska · 09/02/2020 20:49

Hope your rescan goes well. Please try not to worry it's sooooo normal not to see Andy thing at this stage and also for your dates to seem a bit behind.

I think it's really bad they offer scans is early.
You can see something around 7/8'weeks and usually can see a heartbeat then but it's soooo common for the pregnancy to be smaller or difficult to measure. Ive has quite a few early scans due to 3 miscarriages two at or after 12 weeks and my EPU say They won't do my early scans until I'm at least 8 weeks unless pain or bleeding present because it's just too early for a scan to be useful.

Unfortunately they take the approach this early (well actually you'll find pretty much up to 24 weeks) that as there is nothing they can do if something is wrong it's not worth medical attention unless your bleeding / in pain / you the mother are in danger.

Good luck!

Original poster

LadyBird2020 · 09/02/2020 20:51

@MsChatterbox did you take a separate folic acid and Vit D? Or a combined one? I am taking folic acid at the moment but when I finally got to see a doctor she told me to wait to see the midwife before I started taking Vit D! She also told me the folic acid wasn't necessary which I thought was odd. I continued to take that on advice from friends but not taken vitaminD yet. X

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Maxamill · 09/02/2020 20:56

I don't think dating on early scans are reliable in my opinion, they're only good for peace of mind that there is something there. I went for an early scan at 6 weeks (privately) to make sure the pregnancy was viable and was told I was a lot earlier and I was lucky they could see anything. I knew I had to of been at least 6 weeks due to my period dates but they were sure I wasn't as far gone as I was.

Fast forward to 12 week scan and it turned out I was further on than I had originally calculated by a few days!

Baby was born bang on NHS predicted due date 5 weeks ago! Try and stay calm OP but do speak to your doctor if you have any worrying symptoms that appear x

Original poster

LadyBird2020 · 09/02/2020 20:56

@Narcheska I'm so sorry to hear you have had to go through the pain of miscarriages and thank you for taking the time to respond to my post.
It is nice to hear you reiterate what many people have said that it's way to early to see much.
Knowing how common this happens, it's shocking to think these practices can offer/ sell early scans...
I was so excited for the scan today (as well as nervous) and came away feeling deflated.

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Original poster

LadyBird2020 · 09/02/2020 20:58

@Maxamill thank you replying... so glad you had a healthy pregnancy and it's so nice to hear that you got the news we are all waiting for at the 12 week scan.
Definitely won't be going for an early scan ever again.
Thank you for you advice and experience x

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lauryloo · 09/02/2020 21:12

I had this. Went back a few weeks later and all good. It was just too early to see anything.

Sleepyquest · 09/02/2020 21:15

Sorry @LadyBird2020 I only just realised my comment was not at all helpful!

The reason it stressed me is because she told me I was less far ahead than I thought and kept saying 'it's really early, it's so early, I can't reassure you'
So the opposite of what I wanted. However, my baby did grow and is now 3 months old.
But I now make a point of telling people not to have them. Hope you are ok xx

Original poster

LadyBird2020 · 09/02/2020 21:15

@lauryloo that's so nice to hear, thank you :)
It's a shame that we go for these early scans to settle our minds but they end up doing the complete opposite. X

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Original poster

LadyBird2020 · 09/02/2020 21:20

@Sleepyquest that's what she kept saying to me. At the time, based on period dates, I thought I was further along than the sonographer was saying. Having calmed down a little, after a cry on the way home, me and my boyfriend looked back at the dates (I was logging everything as we were actively trying) and come to the conclusion that it may be slightly earlier than we originally thought so fingers crossed we get good news in a few weeks.
It's just heartbreaking when there are mixed messages about what to expect at these early scans and what you was expecting to see doesn't show up.
I'm so blessed to hear your pregnancy went well. I hope you are enjoying being a mum :) x

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MsChatterbox · 09/02/2020 21:43

You can get a combined one in boots! Current NHS advice is to take it so I would follow this. Folic acid not necessary after 12 weeks. However I take pregnacare which has it in so I'm still taking it now!

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 10/02/2020 04:42

Yes, the NHS is under pressure but it's people that go for a sniffle that are a bigger concern rather than someone like me who is concerned about the health of their unborn child and not having been through this before, I have to go with the information I have.

I would argue that your concern is due to being too early on. You haven’t had bleeding or pain so being too early in the scan is not really the NHS’s problem. If contacting your GP and asking for an NHS scan is what the private scanning company told you, shame on them. They should offer a free follow up scan as it was their fault for allowing you to be seen so early.

I had an early scan so no judgement about that. I wanted until I was 8+1 though because of how many threads like this I have read. Baby was measured at 7+4 so a little behind my dates but still visible with a visible heartbeat.

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 10/02/2020 04:43

*waited until

Original poster

LadyBird2020 · 10/02/2020 06:24

@MsChatterbox thank you for your help and advice. I will go to Boots today. :)

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Original poster

LadyBird2020 · 10/02/2020 06:25

@BeingATwatItsABingThing they did offer a rescan in 2 weeks time but said I should have blood tests in the meantime to air on the side of caution

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newlymarried2019 · 10/02/2020 07:01

@BeingATwatItsABingThing sorry to jump on the post, I had an early scan on Saturday at what should have been 8+5, they dated me at 7+2 instead... Now that doesn't make sense from going back to my dates as I tracked everything. Did you catch up at your actual dating scan? I have my booking appt today and am not sure what to tell the midwife as if I go with my LMP for my 12 week scan then I could be too early for them to do any proper testing...

newlymarried2019 · 10/02/2020 07:03

Also @LadyBird2020 I wouldn't feel bad about getting an early scan, from what I've read your story is quite common and everything will be fine when you get rescanned. I too had an early scan where my dates were earlier than the NHS website predicted but luckily we were able to see baby and a heartbeat, due to my anxiety I needed this scan (hence paying for it privately) to ease my mind about it being a viable pregnancy so I 100% understand where you're coming from. Fingers crossed for you lovely, I'm sure everything will go well for you to have a happy and healthy pregnancy x

Original poster

LadyBird2020 · 10/02/2020 07:14

@newlymarried2019 thank you so much. Yes, I paid for the early scan for the exact same reason.
Do you mind how far gone you were when you had your scan please?
Thank you, I really really hope so!x

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newlymarried2019 · 10/02/2020 08:10

@LadyBird2020 I thought I was 8+5 but he said I was measuring at 7+2 but that everything was healthy and we could see baby's heartbeat. It really has eased what worries I had about the pregnancy not being viable so that now I can just look forward to my booking in appt (this morning) and my 12 week scan whenever it comes through. Do what makes you feel better, ease your mind as its not easy living with such worries xx

Original poster

LadyBird2020 · 10/02/2020 08:29

@newlymarried2019 that's brilliant news. Hope your appt goes well today.
Maybe my scan was just too early. Thank you x

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ChipsAreLife · 10/02/2020 09:03

I was speaking to my midwife about early private scans at my booking in. She said our trust advises against them for a few reasons, they fuel anxiety as dates are often wrong, and then they put extra strain on the NHS as they have to try get early scans in, extra tests after the private scans flag 'wrong things' she said that the NHS sonographers in particular hate them!

So just try remember that it's a private scan and not your NHS one which is done at certain times due to their expertise. I would just try relax and wait for your 12 weeks if you can. If you don't have signs of bleeding or cramping then the chances are everything is going well. Good luck

Original poster

LadyBird2020 · 10/02/2020 09:11

@ChipsAreLife thank you so much for your message. That's really nice to hear. I really hope it is just a case of being too early to see anything.
I definitely wouldn't have an early scan again.
It's crazy to think it's ok for these companies to offer early scans when they can cause so much concern. X

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Shmithecat2 · 10/02/2020 09:22

@LadyBird2020

It's just so strange the first time round knowing the first 12 weeks are the 'danger zone' and you have very little contact with medical professionals.

Its because if anything does go wrong at that time, there's not much that can be done to change anything. It can't be predicted either.

Original poster

LadyBird2020 · 10/02/2020 09:30

@Shmithecat2 Yes, that's true. Just very unsettling when it's all new and I am a worrier anyway.
I guess I have wanted and wished for this for so long, like many other woman/couples, it's so scary that it is out of your control x

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