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. :)

Scans not scams

I think having an early scan is nice, however I think calling it a "reassurance scan" is totally wrong. I had a "reassurance" scan at 7 weeks, all well nice heartbeat very excited. Told a few close friends and family who also got excited.

At my 12 week scan I found out I had a MMC at 8 weeks. I think I had added upset knowing that baby had a heartbeat at 7 weeks, I had seen that heartbeat and know it was alive. I also had to go back to family and friends explaining I had a MMC which added to the heartbreak. I know a lot of it was my fault for getting over excited and telling more people than I should have done.

As my pregnancies have all been IVF, the clinic has done early scans there: for the first two pregnancies MMC were diagnosed at 9 weeks. For this one, I also went to a private clinic a couple of times just to make sure everything was ok. I know it's a snapshot, but I needed it - if I hadn't had a MMC I probably wouldn't have.

The one near me is staffed by a former NHS sonographer who wanted a bit of an easier life for a few years before retirement - I felt real confidence in her.

I had one at 28 weeks with dc4 as he had been diagnosed with a problem at the 20 week scan that I wanted to see in more detail. I found it really helpful to see him in 4d and get some photos to show my older dc how he would look when he was born. I don't think I would have one for any other reason though.

I had ivf, we had our first scan at 6 weeks. Had I not had ivf or a scan that early, I couldn't of waited until 12 weeks. I'd read so much about mmc and all kinds of scary things that I'd made myself so paranoid.

I also paid privately to find out the gender at 16 weeks, could I have waited another 4 weeks? Yep! But I didn't want to.

I have no issue, they reassured my friend who had 3 miscarriages.

I don't see the point of all the negativity towards them.

In my previous pregnancy I had an early scan at 6 weeks and then another at 8+5. At the 8+5 I found out I'd had a mmc. I was grateful that I could afford the scan and I found out when I did (not that it made the process any easier).

I'm 23+3 weeks pregnant now and I had a scan at 7+1 and 10+5. I had huge anxiety following my mmc and had those as I'd had panic attacks that I'd lost the baby. On these occasions they were well worth the money to put my mind at ease temporarily.

Second time around though I was very aware that early scans are a moment in time and anything can happen in between.

I think it's ok if you're anxious in the early days and need reassurance. However it is not a hospital so you won't necessarily get any 'care' if something is wrong. My mmc was discovered at an 11 week 'reassurance' scan at ultrasound direct and they had no advice, sympathy or care and couldn't get me out quick enough. They then sent me the images suede to my phone which really I think they should have asked me if I wanted.

I had one at 13w with my youngest at The Foetal Medicine Centre in Harley Street. It was worth every penny (£100 in those days, don't know what it is now) because

• I had a history of MC and was anxious
• my local NHS team had for some reason failed to give me an appointment for a 12 week scan despite repeated chasing
• they also did bloods on the day and the appointment included a face to face consultation to discuss the nuchal and blood test results
• counselling is offered as part of their service ( although I was lucky enough not to need it.)
• it is not for profit

This was in the days before 3D scanning, but I would (and have) recommended TFMC to anyone who has a concern.

I had one at around nine weeks for reassurance. My dad had just died, I work in a high risk environment so so many people had to know very early on and I wanted to go into the Christmas period with a bit less tension. We booked with an amazing obstetric consultant that explained what we were seeing, explained all of our risk factors and gave us all kinds of statistics. For me it was absolutely worth it at that point in my life.

I had a private scan at Lollipop (cost £60?) on Christmas Eve, when I was 7.5 weeks pregnant - we knew we’d probably have to explain why I didn’t join in with any alcohol over the festive period (!) but wanted to know that if we were telling close family, there was something to tell. The scan was also reassuring in that the sonographer advised that the pregnancy was in the right place (not ectopic) and on course for the gestational age.
I then had a private scan and NIPT (Harmony) at 10 weeks with The Birth Company. That was £450 and involved a very thorough half hour scan which pretty much also reassured that the Nuchal measurement was within normal limits at that time, and bloods. I was going on holiday a fortnight later which would have clashed with the NHS blood testing and also wanted to know as early as possible if there were any severe medical problems before I went away. I got the Harmony results back within three days so was able to go away feeling relaxed and reassured. This was invaluable to hubby and I.
I then had another private scan at The Birth Company (cost £180) at about 16 weeks so that my mum and my cousin could see the baby as the three of us are super close and I wanted to have one scan where they could come and share the experience with me. It really helped bridge the gap between the 12 and 20 week scans and gave me a lot of reassurance and some lovely video and photos to keep, as well as wonderful memories of my mum and cousin’s reactions!
I think private scans are great but they are a snapshot of time so I wouldn’t say they’ve stopped me worrying in between but used for the reasons I have, personally have been very useful for me. The more cheap and cheerful options definitely have a place and really make private scans more accessible but I prefer the more medical setting of places like The Birth Company which I imagine was just like receiving private medical care. It was obviously a lot more expensive there but we pushed the boat out as it might be a once in a lifetime experience and to me, I just felt that you don’t get this time back (being pregnant with this baby).

I had one at 16,27 and 33 weeks.
Honestly best money I've ever spent.
The 27 week was a 4D one and we took my parents and in laws along, it was a wonderful family experience.

None of the reasons mentioned in the OP. In my friendship group some people like to do a 3d scan for fun and because they're excited to see the baby again. I haven't heard anyone do one for reassurance (but they might just not have told me). I don't care that it costs money that might be wasted, surely that goes for so many things we pay for? Theater tickets? Cinema tickets? Going for a drink? These all cost money and are just done dor fun too.

I'm not for or against. If people want one they'll have it.

Personally I don't agree with them. They allow women to pay for scans when they know full well your unlikely to see much on there and this just increases anxiety. This then leads to referrals to early pregnancy units which are already very busy so unnecessarily giving the nhs work to do when if the lady had just waited they would have seen a healthy baby at 12 weeks.
Plus I personally and I know a lot others have gone past The point of 8 weeks etc when a lot of people have these scans and still had a miscarriage anyway so i personally would rather wait until the risk of miscarriage goes down and just wait for the 12 week scan, this is just my opinion though

We had a private scan at 16 weeks yesterday, we were in there for 10mins tops and it cost £59, but it was worth every penny. I felt the environment at my 12 week NHS scan was a bit frosty (might have just been the last I had), I was shaking with nerves and had to go alone because of Covid-19. At the private scan, my husband was allowed to attend and he honestly hasn’t stopped smiling since. He feels so much more involved and connected to baby. We were show hands, feet, gender, brain, heart, digestive system and measurements taken and we were given his growth centile. None of that was communicated to me at NHS scan, and as very anxious first time parents, pregnant at a horrible time with the virus, it did us the world of good and I would definitely recommend

i had a private scan at 7/8w to confirm it had implanted in the right place, this is good for peace of mind.

I've had 3 private scans during 2 pregnancies and at 2 of them the baby had died around a week earlier - at about 8 weeks each time. I booked the scans due to slight bleeding and symtpoms that suddenly disappeared. I'm glad I found out that things weren't OK before the 12 week scans and the EPU wouldn't have seen me either time (I did ask the MW the second time and she said they'd only see me if I had very heavy and ongoing bleeding).

On balance I think they can be useful and I'd have one again but if you're getting one for early reassurance, you need to be very sure of your dates and best to wait till 8 weeks+.

Utter waste of money.

I don’t see how or why anyone could have an issue really. If you don’t like them then don’t have one. They provide a service to people who want to pay for it- end of.

I had an 8 week scan and a 16 week gender scan. I had a bloomin miserable pregnancy and seeing my DS was a rare piece of joy amongst 9 months of vomit!

We had one with a Harmony test, which isn't available on NHS (at least not at our trust).

It wasn't bad news exactly (turned out ok in the end thankfully) but not great news either and was very well handled.

We also had a growth scan later on as I wanted to check everything was ok due to the concerns raised early to mid pregnancy.

The places we went to used NHS sonographers and were very professional. Their booking forms all have a disclaimer stating that scans should be used judiciously although no evidence shows any risk of harm caused by ultrasound.

Many countries outside of the UK do them as standard so I think it's as much to do with cost to the nhs as it is to how much they are medically necessary.
I had 2 early scans outside the UK....the first around 6 weeks to rule out ectopic and the second 2 weeks later to check growth/progression.
I found them very reassuring and wouldn't have wanted to wait to 12 weeks.

I had one at 9 weeks as wanted reassurance. I had another to find out the gender as well, as our local hospital don't tell you.

I think that if you can afford it and it gives you peace of mind then go for it. It was well worth the money for me ( about £45 per each appointment)

I wasn't really aware that they were an option particularly early on until I came on here. A friend had a 4D scan later in pregnancy to find out the sex as they couldn't tell at her 20 week scan but that was the only exposure to private scans I had.
This is my first pregnancy and I think I would have been more apprehensive in the early stages if I knew I could pay to have an early scan. The idea of booking it would have been on my mind and would make me focus on the what ifs more. My family have had a notable history of early pregnancy losses so for me it wouldn't be real until the 12 week scan either way, any glimmer of hope would have made me more anxious.

I think it comes down doing what will keep you calm and ignoring everyone else.

The only one I can really understand is an early scan even though I’m not really sure if it should be considered “reassurance” as all it’s telling you everything is okay for that snapshot of time whilst they scan you so it wouldn’t really have eased my mind.

Most people I know that had a 16 week sex scan felt they needed to have it reconfirmed at 20 weeks to feel confident so finding out four weeks earlier seemed a bit pointless really, I actually know a handful of people that have been told the incorrect sex at 16 weeks although I know this mistake can be made with the anomaly scan also.

I really really dislike the 4D scans, I just think they’re creepy, I think a lot of it is a marketing ploy, things like the videos you can buy and teddy heart beats etc, I bet the majority of people never ever watch their scan video again once they’ve had the baby. For me, scans were a medical appointment so I felt like if I needed to have any extras then it would be at the say of the midwife/ consultant! In the ended up having 2 extra growth scans, I never really enjoyed scans tbh they always gave me anxiety!

My sister found out at her 12 week scan that she'd lost the baby at around 6 weeks - it probably didn't establish a heartbeat and her body just carried on as if things were okay. What happened after that still haunts me. Thankfully she's happy with her almost-1-year old now. But I'm 5+6 with my first and for the sake of £79 have booked a scan at 7+3, just to be able to check the heartbeat. I'm a slightly older mum, too, at 36 and the private clinic is within walking distance from mine, so I think it's an 'each to their own' and one of those things where you have to judge if it will make you feel safer and happier. For me, keeping my anxiety levels low for those extra weeks is well worth £79 but I honestly believe every person needs to approach their pregnancy without worrying what others think. You do you and congratulations OP, it took me a while to conceive too. Have a wonderful pregnancy

I don’t see how or why anyone could have an issue really try reading the thread then

Like others I had one in my first pregnancy due to Christmas/new year period and wanting to tell people.

It was a miscarriage, and the private scan places don't have the facilities to deal with people who have just been told they have a miscarriage so you are just shipped off out of the door after paying for your pictures showing you a blob of something that isn't going to be a baby, past all the happy excited couples and families looking through their non dead baby pictures.

Then a few weeks down the line when you are starting to feel less shit again you get a text inviting you back for a 'gender scan'.

and you can't see why anyone would have an issue with them CountryCasual?