Curious to know other people’s opinions on Private Scans?

[SkylinesTurnstiles]

Hi All,

Just nosy really, random thoughts whilst waking my dogs... what is everyone’s thoughts on paying for private scans?

• Do you see then and a priceless reassurance? Part of pregnancy?

• Or are you in the other camp of that they are a waste of money and these places as being owned by people who just see pound signs?

• Or just of the opinion of what will be will and happy with the 2 NHS scans?

Just to note: I am having a scan at 8 weeks in 2 weeks time. It will cost be £79 but I think it will be worth the peace of mind as this is my first ever pregnancy and it look a while to conceive.

Don’t wish to start an argument with anyone. Like I say, just curious to hear other people’s thoughts. :)

I think an 8 week scan is fine to put your mind at rest. I got one on the nhs at that stage as I was ivf. But ones later on to get 3D imaging without health reasons or concerns nah.

Had a private scan in both pregnancies at around 9/10 weeks. Had a previous mmc in first pregnancy and needed reassurance that all was ok.

I had one at 7 weeks for reassurance, totally worth it as I was going out of my mind with worry. Didn't get any more after that. Couldn't see the point in going for a sex scan as could ask at the 20 week scan. Didn't want a late-on 3 or 4d scan as tbh I think they look creepy as hell.

I had an early scan at 7+4 with my eldest. All was ok.

Had an early scan with another pregnancy at 7 weeks. All looked ok. Had some slight bleeding so had another scan and baby had died at 9+3. I didn’t have an early scan with my last baby and I haven’t had one with this baby so far either.

I'm having a private one at 18 weeks purely because my husband can attend that one. The last scan he saw there was unfortunately no heartbeat so it would be nice for him to have a good memory of a scan, plus we can find out the gender together.

I had a scan at 8 weeks for reassurance. I wasn't going to but then they were doing an offer so it was only £40 and my mum ended up paying for it. I'd had a loss previously so it really helped me put my mind at ease. It was wonderful being able to see the little ones heartbeat as well. Really magical. Worth every single penny (even though I didn't pay for it!!)

I personally wasn't interested in any other scans though, like the 'gender scan' they do, or the 3D/4D scans they do. I just wanted it for piece of mind.

Personally I don't think anyone should be having any procedure which isn't clinically indicated, especially when pregnant.

I'm a bit dubious of them. Mainly as within the last 5 years places offering them seem to have just appeared everywhere.

I know someone who went for one and was pretty much told she had miscarries. Same person then booked in at EPU who were able to find a heart beat a couple of days later and it turned out that the private place had scanned too early. At the time the hospital said they pretty much ignored anything that was "found" at a private scan x

I would be sceptical of them as they have no medical weight so could add unnecessary worry.

I had thought about getting a 3D scan but glad I never bothered, I couldn’t justify the cost and spent the money on formula and nappies instead.

I had one at 8 weeks for reassurance..ive just had my 20 weeks scan but I think I'll have another at about 30 weeks.. I feel a bit anxious this pregnancy and don't think I could handle another 20 weeks wait with barely any midwife appointments and checks.

I had one at 8 weeks with second pregnancy for reassurance after losing first pregnancy at 10 weeks. It was worth it for me just to know there was a heartbeat and that chances of miscarriage were therefore way down.

Wouldn't be interested in one for anything else or at any other gestation. I wouldn't trust them to be assessing any issues etc.

I paid for a 16 week gender scan and a 4d scan at 27 weeks. Personally found them worth it :) but they can be pricey.

I get horrific anxiety so the gender scan broke up the wait between the 12 and 20 week scans and gave me reassurance baby was still okay with the bonus of finding out if boy or girl so I could distract myself by making little personalised stuff with babies name on and daft stuff like that

And then the 4d scan was the same for breaking up the time after the 20 week scan with the bonus of getting to see his little face which made it feel even more real and exciting for me personally!

I haven't had a private scan myself, but I am friends with someone who used to work for a private scanning company. She had no medical training, so I think that is something to keep in mind. Can they identify if something is wrong with the fetus? What happens if they get it wrong? Don't get me wrong, I absolutely see the benefit in the scans, I can see that they would be reassuring in between scans on the NHS, but I still feel unsure about them.

I had one at 8weeks both times. Apart from the (many!) positive pregnancy tests I had no other symptoms at all. I booked to reassure myself I was actually pregnant!

Totally not in favour of private scans. They’re just a snapshot anyway, they don’t tell you anything other than at the moment you want to the scan the baby was still doing ok. They don’t give any info/warning about the future. But for me, the biggest issue is that we are not 100% certain of the effects of ultrasound on developing tissue. In some circumstances, more frequent scans are medically indicated, and that’s fine, but I it’s wrong to add additional risk to pregnancy for this reason

Never had one and I'm not overly keen on the 3D imagery ones. Seems completely unnecessary. I do understand people wanting reassurance early on though.

I had many scans with mine though for different (clinical) reasons

I had one at 8 weeks, people in my family have had MMCs and I didn't want to wait until past 12 weeks to find out if that was the case for me.

I would say each to their own - can totally understand wanting some extra reassurance. Personally I wouldn't normally do it, but because my OH can't come to the NHS scan during lockdown we've booked a private one that does allow him to come and see the baby.

Personally I was happy with the NHS ones and didn't need any further reassurance. I can appreciate it may be different for women with a high risk pregnancy or previous pregnancy loss.

In my first pregnancy I went for a gender scan at 17 weeks. The sonagrapher (I don't even know if they are medically qualified) told me there was something wrong with my baby's head but refused to say anything else. I was obviously in tears all weekend before seeing a consultant on the Monday where they confirmed my baby was seriously unwell. On reflection, I would never use a private place again, as I don't think they should be able to just kick you out the door with no indication as to whether your baby will even survive or not. I sadly ended up having a termination, and received a text from the company a few months later, telling me now would be the perfect time for a 4D scan!

Forgot to say - I see less of a problem for people using them for early scans, as I assume they are able to at least diagnose a miscarriage or provide reassurance in the early stages.

They upset me. I work near one of the ultrasound scan places. It is a shop front, not a tucked away office or a medical establishment, the windows and signs are plastered in scan photos and pictures of happy smiling (heterosexual, white) couples. Slogans like meet your baby, etc. It’s bloody upsetting. I’m no snowflake honestly, babies don’t upset me in the least, nor do scan pictures from my nearest and dearest, I’m level headed in all baby related matters. But I’ve had more bad scans than good scans. Really bad ones. Bloody traumatic scans. Medical processes, in hospitals, with serious repercussions for me, for my babies.

No, I wasn’t happy with just two NHS scans, I wasn’t happy with any number of scans. Firstly, it’s a really good thing if you ‘only’ need two scans. If you want a scan for reassurance your baby’s heart is beating, I understand that, having spent countless months pregnant in perpetual states of anxiety mixed in with terror. But it only tells you the heart is beating right now. Not today, not tomorrow, not the next day and not any one of the long weeks ahead. I know all too well that can change and so do many others.

The thing that bothers me about the shop, these scans, the thing that makes me walk the long way round, the thing that makes me need to do controlled breathing exercises to pass by it (ones I am having to do now) is the presumption. The presumption that you can just peek in and everything will be fine and everything will continue to be fine. I have the same reaction to “gender” (sex) scans. I hope it is fine. I hope it is fine for everyone. But these shops are just preying on insecurities and on the bereaved, glossing over the serious reasons for scanning and the very real chance of bad news - at 10,20,30 or 40 weeks.i can understand this naivety in parents to be. But the scan places themselves cannot possibly be so naive. They must deliver bad news daily. How can they do that, and charge for it, surround these parents with shiny images of “perfect” families, and just pack them off to the NHS to piece back together?

I had one private early scan in each of my three pregnancies. Two were good news and hugely reassuring as the chance of a miscarriage after a heartbeat has been spotted at 8/9 weeks is very low. The other was bad news, diagnosing a MMC. The private clinic (babybond) were wonderful, I was referred straight to the NHS who were also wonderful.

Not planning any more pregnancies, but if one happened I would definitely have an early scan at 8/9 weeks.

I personally have no interest in a scan to find out the sex, or a 4D scan etc but don't judge those who do.

I had one in early pregnancy and had a growth scan at 28 weeks. The place I go to is classed as medical and diagnostic however, rather than just one of the places for photos! I find it very reassuring to see baby is doing well, which in turn makes me a lot more relaxed! :)

Money making scheme Imo- I do though get three scams with my nhs trust, an additional at 36wks.

I also have never understood the point of the expensive 3D picture, by the time the baby is here I’d rather have the £100 back!