Scan at 8 weeks- abdominal or transvaginal

[Pogmella]

Hi,

I’ve booked for an early scan when I will be 8+1 all being well. It’s with Window to the womb and their website says it will be transvaginal but I had a 6 week scan with my first 5 years ago and that was abdominal.

I was wondering if anyone had had one recently and if they’ll at least give abdominal a go first or whether I should be prepared for them to dive right in...

I went when I thought i was 7+5 but baby only measured 6+1. That one started off as abdominal but then they did transvaginal to get a better look and double check measurements.
2 weeks later I went back and baby measured 8+2. That one was just abdominal.

Both were absolutely fine by the way and I'm now 32 weeks.

Thanks @sel2223. We’re seeing DP’s parents who usually live abroad at 9 weeks but then not again until 20 weeks and we’d like to tell them in person. Hoping to just check viability, hence the scan.

I had one this time last year with my son at window to the womb and it was a TV scan. I was 7+5 x

They follow NHS guidance which is TV if less than 10 weeks x

I had a private scan at 8 weeks. They tried abdominal first but couldn’t see anything so had to be transvaginal

Last year I had TV scans at 7 and 9 weeks.

I had an abdominal scan at 7+2 but that was with ultrasound direct rather than window to the womb. They might try abdominal first and then transvaginal if they can’t see anything?

I went at 7+5 with WTTW, it was TV.
I had an abdominal with my son 3 years ago at 8 weeks somewhere else.
But apparently it's WTTW policy under 10 weeks.
They did try abdominal, but said it wasn't clear enough.

I had one done with window in the womb last week I was 8 weeks it had to b trans vaginal guidance from nhs says anyone under 10 weeks will have it done rather then an ultrasound

Thanks all- really helpful to know what to expect. I might ask if they’ll attempt abdominal first but the receptionist said they were pretty busy at the moment so I wonder if they’ll be inclined to hurry things along. I’ve never had any private healthcare before so not sure what the vibe will be.

I had one at 8 weeks and requested abdominal. They were happy to try that first but said if nothing would do TV. Fortunately could get a clear picture and heartbeat on abdominal, even so early.

My experience with scans (private and NHS EPU) is that they will always try abdominal first. Although transvaginal isn't dangerous it's obviously more intimate so if they can do it abdominally it makes sense. Success so early can depend on lots of things, position of womb etc. With this pregnancy (now 16 weeks) I had an early scan at the EPU and was only 6+1 and they saw womb, baby and heartbeat immediately and clearly with abdominal.

I had an early scan as was still breastfeeding with no proper return of my cycle so had no idea how far along I was. They did abdominal, baby was measuring 6+1 and I didn't need a TV x

I had one at the EPU at 7+2 and they did a tummy one first and saw the baby but then she also did a TV to get a better look.

I had an 8 week scan with WTTW at the end of last year (similar to you, due to see family and wanted to check viability so we could announce face to face) and they just went straight to TV rather than abdo. I’m sure if I’d pushed and said can I go abdo first they’d have tried, but I was nervous about the disappointment of not seeing anything so was happy to go straight to TV - it wasn’t bad at all and we got to see baby straight away

Window to Womb is a franchise so every clinic may differ.
Best practice is TV but some will take your money for abdominal below the appropriate gestation for abdominal.

If they are telling you they can get a decent image abdominally at 7 weeks, I’d find another clinic.

I had a private scan at 9 weeks at WTTW and they initially tried abdominal but then did internal for better quality image. It's nothing to worry about (if you're nervous) - nothing like a smear which I expected.

@CherryPavlova no they haven’t said anything- I just know I had an NHS abdominal one at 6+5 last time with no issue.

@April1990 I think that is what I’m worried about. They don’t use a speculum then?

@Pogmella

I know it's what I was worried about most and it annoyed me when everyone said it's not a big deal if you're planning on having a baby! You'll experience much more than that!

The room is really dimly lit and they ask you to remove your trousers in a corner of the room and give you a towel to wrap around your lower half. You lie on the bed and they do insert a probe with jelly on (cold!) but it literally is inserted only slightly in! I was shocked at how easy and comfortable it was. I promise you there is nothing to worry about and it wasn't uncomfortable, embarrassing or painful in the slightest! From that moment on I relaxed and was distracted by little bouncing bean on the screen!

I'm now 31 weeks pregnant and have labour to worry about!! Ha ha!

Thanks @April1990 ! I used to be really uncomfortable around clinicians (My appendix burst when I was 7 and I was in hospital a long time). Smear tests in particular have been really challenging, I’ve had to rebook appointments as I was too tense before With my last birth I had a home birth and requested no internal examinations- it was lovely, all over in 5 hrs and such a great experience! I’m almost more nervous this time because I’m sure this time will be tougher just because I was probably incredibly lucky last time.

Though since giving birth I am a lot more chill around clinicians, I think it definitely helped me rebuild some trust as they very much let me take charge. Hopefully this will be another positive experience and hearing it doesn’t go in that much is really helpful- thank you!

With DD1 we had an early scan at the EPU that was TV (as we weren't sure on dates at all - she turned out to be 9w) had a private scan for current pregancy scheduled for when baby should have been 7+3 so was expecting it to be TV again but they started with an abdominal and could actually see baby straight away quite clearly (remarkable really as I am really chubby around my middle!) So they didn't need to do the TV

I had a scan at window to the womb. They offered me either TV or abdominal. She said TV is better images but said if I'd rather they could start with abdominal and see if it got clear enough images. Think it depends on various things like angle of your uterus and weight etc

@Pogmella I can totally understand your fear as I normally hate the TV scans, too. I suffer from vaginismus so any sort of internal examination can be pretty uncomfortable/painful for me.

When I went for my scan at 6 weeks (which unfortunately confirmed a MC) I actually ended up asking the doctor if I could do the initial insertion myself - it’s like a small dilator and I felt more comfortable doing it myself. She was completely cool with it and even said that quite a lot of women prefer to do the initial bit themselves. Something to consider! Good luck x

@primrosechill sorry about your MC. That’s a great idea about inserting it myself- I think I’d be totally fine with that, thank you. Also means I won’t need a full bladder which due to the clinic location and some local roadworks I was thinking might get a bit exciting as this time around my bladder appears to be being rather more squeezed...