Would you have this early scan in my situation? Advice please.

[Chanel05]

A bit of background...
I had a mmc last April. I'd had a scan at 6 weeks that showed the heartbeat, all fine. At 8 weeks I went for another scan as I had a horrible feeling and it turned out that I'd had a mmc. I hadn't lost any symptoms at all, still tired, nauseous, sore etc. I didn't have my surgical management until 12 weeks and in that whole time I still suffered pregnancy symptoms.

Fast forward to now and I'm 10+2 today. I had an early scan at 7+1 and saw heartbeat, all fine. I had a full panic attack before the scan as I was very triggered by my previous experience (it hit me emotionally very hard and I had to have therapy).

I'm 17 days away from my NHS scan and I'm finding myself awake at night with the anxiety of having another mmc. When I get up to use the toilet I'm awake for at least an hour most nights lost in my thoughts.

I know that actually it's more likely everything will be okay but I'm terrified that if I have an early scan again in a couple of days that they will say the pregnancy is over and I don't know how to deal with those feelings. Of course everything could be fine and I'll know that in all likelihood, my 12 week scan will probably be okay.

So what would you do in this situation? Hold out for the scan of have another before?

I would pay for another private scan if I was you, no need to suffer from all that anxiety if your mind can be put at ease x

I’m so sorry OP that must have been very hard for you and must make you very anxious now. I guess you need to weigh up which is going to make you more anxious overall- going for a scan now and hopefully everything will be fine but having that possibility of having to confront some pretty hard feelings now if it isnt, or waiting until your 12 week scan not knowing, and having the constant worry about that. I suppose it’s a would you rather be potentially reassured quickly, or happy to wait incase it is bad news... only you can answer that. All my fingers and toes are crossed for you and hopefully you will have no problems this time and everything will be absolutely fine. The odds are in your favour x

We had lots of losses including 3 MMC. Once a pregnancy ‘stuck’ and we had a positive 8 week scan, I bought my own doppler. Learnt how to use it and reassured myself whenever I needed to. Though it probably wasn’t entirely healthy I basically checked for a heartbeat twice a day from about 8 weeks until I could feel movement. I know it’s not recommended as many can’t use it properly but I never had to get double- checked cause I couldn’t find the heartbeat. Lots of interesting noises in there, and then so wonderful, every time to hear the little galloping heartbeat of the LO in there! It’s a worrying time if you have had losses before. I get it. Best of luck

I’d have another scan too. Anxiety takes such a toll on your body x

I would pay for a private scan too. Peace of mind.

I would have a private scan. My pregnancy was IVF, so I was very anxious. I had an nhs scan at 7 weeks. Then a private one around 9 weeks. And it was the best thing I could have done to help ease my mind for that time. I was still nervous throughout, and then had a lot of scans, but I don’t regret any of them.
All the best.

If you can afford another scan then get one:) Or a home doppler as pp said. I think you may get one cheaper from facebook buy and sell pages or ebay maybe:)

My first pregnancy ended in a MC at 8 weeks (baby only 5.6 weeks). My second pregnancy I had a scan at 8 weeks, all OK; feeling of doom ignored at 9.5 weeks, MMC found at 12 weeks (baby 9.5 weeks).

Third pregnancy - scan at 7 weeks. All fine. Sitting at work at 10 weeks - feeling of doom again. Range private scan place 5 minute walk from the office, took cancellation they'd just had. Didn't even tell DH! All fine, very wriggly baby doing backflips. The peace of mind got me to my NHS scan 17 days later (and DD is now nearly 15 months)

If I could afford it, I would have one at 9 and then maybe 10 1/2 or something! Just for peace of mind. Good luck with whatever you decide and all my fingers and toes are crossed for you x

Where I've had my private scans they do bundles, so I've had four so far and have my NHS one on monday, my mum thinks I'm crazy but it reassures me and that's the important thing. If you can afford to do it then do it! Good luck in whatever you decide OP xxx

I wouldn’t personally have a private scan. If you have had one before you will know there’s a large screen in front of the bed that’s difficult to look away from so if it’s bad news you’ll be faced with it and won’t be able to look away easily.

I had two MMC’s in a row a couple of years back so I totally understand your anxiety. I had a healthy DS afterwards but was terrified something would go wrong throughout the whole pregnancy, it never really went away. I then had a chemical pregnancy and am pregnant again now and again I’m constantly anxious. It’s just one of those things after miscarriage, I think the anxiety is always there . It’s worse with missed miscarriage because it happens silently with no symptoms which is the worst thing.

Thank you for all of your opinions! And sorry to read of so many losses .

I was definitely not expecting the overwhelming response of have a scan. I've decided to book one though and it's on Sunday.

I've managed to change the appointment for this afternoon. Absolutely terrified but relieved that I won't have another night of stress.

Good luck for this afternoon OP.

I had 2 early scans at 6+1 and 8+2, my anxiety was through the roof and I couldn't personally have waited till 12 weeks.

There's a lot of info online that the chances of MC after seeing a healthy foetus/hearing a strong heartbeat after 8 weeks is massively reduced so that was really important for me. Of course there is still a risk so it doesn't give you any guarantees but it helped calm me down a lot.

It didn't last long though and i was still super anxious leading up to my dating scan, convinced I'd had a MMC, but I think i would have been even worse without that early scan.

Good luck for this afternoon @Chanel05

If you tell them you're nervous and why, they may do what my scan people did - checked on the monitor first before flicking the giant screen on.

Good luck OP. I hope it’s magical! X

Hello all just back from my scan. I'm so pleased to say that baby is doing really well, strong heartbeat !

Amazing!

Fantastic! That's brilliant news.

Great news 😁

Great news!

Oh OP I can completely understand as this has happened to me - the anxiety in them first 12 weeks was horrendous. I had already lost one and my second pregnancy was a MMC, saw a heartbeat at 7 weeks to get to my 12 weeks scan and be told the news. I was like you symptom checking, checking for anything when I went to the toilet etc. I felt like my body lied to me the last time so it could at any point do it again.

I spoke woth the EPU at my local hospital who offered me reassurance scans. They were amazing to be honest settling my anxiety really well. They would be my first call.

I personally would avoid a home Doppler as you could pick up your own heart beat instead of the babies, which would be false reassurance. I've not heard of any expert recommending them.

I'm now 24 weeks, the anxiety has settled but the midwives have offered me a group session as I still get the anxiety (not to the same extent) the NHS are there to help. Fingers and toes crossed for you