10 week scan, external or internal?

[lozpants]

I've booked a private 10 week scan as we plan to announce it sooner than the 12 week mark and want some reassurance that everything's okay. We found out 2 days after my missed period so everything seems to be dragging a bit!

Anyways, I was wondering if anyone had any experience from a 10 week scan, did you have an abdominal or vaginal one? If abdominal, was it clear or still a little blob? I'll be 10 weeks exactly on the day of my scan. Thanks x

Abdominal, baby very clear and very baby like. I've got quite a fat tummy so I was very impressed!

@October2020 ooooh that excites me!! Me too lol, fingers crossed. Thank you and congrats

The clinic should have give you instructions to follow prior to attending, often empty bladder 2hrs before appointment, then drink 500ml-1 litre over the next hr etc. Did they say arrive with a full bladder? If the view external isn't clear, they may ask you to empty your bladder and do it internal.

Does it matter either way? Internal will give a clearer view, but depends how precise they are being and if the external one provides all the measurements. Also depends what type of scan you are paying for?

Abdominal, and I was surprised how much she looked like a real baby that early

@Elouera they've said to come with a full bladder and that we'll empty it if the abdominal one doesn't work yes, but as this is my first pregnancy naturally I'm quite worried/uncomfortable about the idea of an internal one and wondered what other people's experiences were. Obviously I'll have the internal one if I have to but it's not my preferred.

@YouCantBeSadHoldingACupcake ooh brilliant! Thank you I hope that's the case with mine!

Having done IVF I have had MANY dates with Wanda (the internal scanner!) and honestly it is absolutely fine. Nothing at all like a smear test. Not at all uncomfortable. I'm sure you will be fine with abdominal scan but please don't worry about an internal one if needed!

@lozpants - exciting about your scan

I had an internal one at an NHS EPU at 9 weeks. They didn't offer an option of an external scan and we had a clear picture of the baby.

I was fine with having an internal one as I just wanted to know that baby was OK

Hope you enjoy seeing your baby for the first time!

Forgot to add, internal was a bit uncomfortable, but overall fine. It's not the most dignified of experiences, but the doctors will be doing hundreds of them so it doesn't need to be a big deal for anyone

@October2020 @sunshinefordays thank you both so much that's really reassuring and helpful!

Why do you want to announce early? You do realise there are specific medical reasons why people wait till 12 weeks - it’s not just random? It marks a difference in the likelihood of a successful pregnancy.

I wish you all the very best. But take your time.

@WorkingItOutAsIGo that wasn't the question my parents and close friends knew from the day we fertilised this child in a test tube. They knew within hours of us taking a positive test. There is no right or wrong to telling people.

EPU thought I was 6 weeks, external scan. Turns out I was 7 weeks, but either way they didn’t have a problem finding tiny little peanut baby x

I had an internal scan at just over 9 weeks. You could see little bean on screen with abdominal but it was sooo much clearer and detailed with internal.

I know I was worried about it but it was completely painless. Nothing like a smear test which can be a little uncomfortable. The probe only goes in slightly.

I had an internal one at 6 weeks (thought I was further on but baby measured smaller than expected) then an abdominal at the follow up 2 weeks later when baby measured 8 weeks.

Both were absolutely fine. I hadn't expected the internal one but didn't find it uncomfortable in the slightest.

If you're worried it'll hurt, i honestly find getting a smear worse. If it's embarrassment, just remind yourself you're actually going to give birth so lots of people are going to see your vagina by the end of this, it's really not worth being shy over....all your dignity is going to go out the window lol.

For both my pregnancies I had abdominal scans from 9.5 weeks .

With Window to Womb , who I go through , they do abdominal from 10 weeks onwards ( although both times I was 9.5 weeks and they tried abdominal and managed to get a clear scan ).

I’ve had the internal one a few times too and it wasn’t awkward or painful in the slightest so if they do need to do one then honestly don’t worry in the slightest .

I had an abdominal at 8 weeks and 5 days , made sure my bladder was very full and got a clear picture.

@WorkingItOutAsIGo we want to announce it to our parents before I start my new job in June as that is when I'll be around the 12 week mark, not that I needed to clarify to anyone. Thanks though..

@EssElsiee @April1990 @sel2223 @MichelleOR84 @1990shopefulftm thanks so much everyone that's really helpful and reassuring!

My scan is also with window to the womb so sounds promising. Feel a lot better with the internal scan now if I do have to have one thank you all!

No, you didn’t need to clarify; but I was responding to your words that you wanted some reassurance that everything was ok with some information I thought might be helpful to a first time mother.

i had a private scan at 8+4 weeks with window to the womb, i am overweight and expected to have to do an internal one but they did an abdominal with no issues and we got pretty clear pics of our two little beans! so hopefully at 10 weeks you should be totally fine to have an abdominal scan. :)

I had an internal scan at 6+6 with window to the womb and it was absolutely fine - I didn't find it uncomfortable or anything and I was completely covered with paper, I'm pretty sure the sonographer didn't even look 'down there' for more than a second to put the scanner in!
I then had an abdominal scan at exactly 10 weeks, this is what baby looked like and was seen straight away

Best of luck! X

I have a scan at 10 weeks and I have a big belly and found it straight away and pretty clear on abdominal scan. Might get better internal picture.

I had a scan when I had a missed miscarriage and they did both just to make sure. They actually saw more abdominally on me. The internal one is no big deal tbh.
Once you get to the labour date you will forget to be bothered as everyone is up there. Sorry if TMI. . X

I had an abdominal scan at 9 weeks when I was admitted to hospital for the second time due to hyperemesis. It was really clear and I’m by no means slim.