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Original poster

Confusing private scan experience - advice?

29 replies

90snostalgia2020 · 30/12/2020 19:42

Hi ladies - hoping you might be able to share some wisdom. I had a private scan yesterday at 7 weeks. Two miscarriages this year so was keen to know where I stood as early as possible. He did an abdominal scan first - saw the heartbeat, said everything looked great, congratulated me. I was beyond relieved. He said there was no need for an internal scan but could have one if I wanted - which I did. This showed that there was no heartbeat - and that the size was closer to 5/6 weeks. He said he must’ve heard my heartbeat in the first scan. I was visibly upset and confused - he told me to calm down and that everything would be fine, that it was my fault for not waiting longer to get pregnant after the last miscarriage and my dates must be wrong. I’m really upset and annoyed I didn’t speak up for myself. I was prepared to hear bad news if it went that way - but wasn’t prepared to have such a basic and upsetting error made. If I hadn’t asked for the internal scan we would’ve left thinking there was a heartbeat. I also don’t think it’s appropriate to say everything will be fine - from what I’ve read that’s not at all necessarily the case. My cycle is very regular and I’m sure of the dates. He didn’t caution me of any risk of miscarriage - which seems like a reasonable outcome from the measurements he put in the report. AIBU to think this was all very unprofessional? AIBU to be preparing myself emotionally for the possibility of another loss despite the doctor saying it would all be fine (based on what I’m not sure)? Thank you.

OP posts:
MsHedgehog · 30/12/2020 19:45

I'm afraid I can't comment on the conflicting information, but the sonographer sounds extremely unprofessional and incompetent. I'm so so sorry you had that experience during your scan and I hope you get the answers you want.

ducktales1986 · 30/12/2020 19:45

Sorry you had this experience OP and it's definitely time to put in a formal complaint to the practice.

friendlyflicka · 30/12/2020 19:53

I had a lot of miscarriages before and in between my two (who are now healthy teenagers). I know what hell early pregnancy can be. He sounds extremely unprofessional and worth a complaint if you have the energy. But the only thing that is going to reassure you is further scans that reveal growth.

After so many miscarriages, the consultant was very nice and said I could be referred in early pregnancy by my GP. I think that helped me a lot and then my midwife was sweet enough to let me come in every Friday to hear the heartbeat. I know that is not the kind of service that is going to come easily at the present time and I hope you have very good news. Really feel for you

Puddlelane123 · 30/12/2020 19:54

Gosh OP that is awful! That sounds hugely unprofessional on so many levels and I think you have been very let down by the scan company and sonographer. Awful.

At 7 weeks I have only ever had internal scans (admittedly on the nhs) and I didnt think they could see anything accurately via abdominal scanning at that stage. But how he could so confidently tell you everything was fine abdominally only to then say something quite different minutes later - no wonder you were so distressed.
Did he show you imaging from the abdominal scan??

I would definitely try to get to an NHS early pregnancy unit to hopefully get some clarification.

Really really hope that this is the baby you get to take home and am sorry for your previous losses.

physicskate · 30/12/2020 19:59

And this is why private scans get a (in some cases) deservedly poor reputation. I thought best practice was to look at a heartbeat and not listen to it. Unless you were running during the scan, the difference in heartbeat rates should have been beyond obvious!! I'm very grumpy on your behalf.

Sounds like he was mistaken and didn't know how to handle that. What a Angry

Thisisbananas3 · 30/12/2020 20:04

Sorry you had such a bad experience. I’m 7 and a half weeks and had a private scan today- it was external through the tummy. The sonographer (who is also a midwife) showed the heartbeat, you could see it moving in the video and then told me to stop breathing and did this funny line chart so you could see the heartbeat pattern... did you get anything like that? (I’m saying this on the assumption she did everything correctly...)

This does sound very unprofessional and I’m so sorry you have had such a horrid experience. I don’t think you’re being unreasonable at all.

Are you able to get a referral to an EPU for an nhs scan? Hopefully they can give you proper advice on next steps. Really hope it works out for you x

TenThousandSpoons0 · 30/12/2020 20:09

Sounds really horrible, I’m sorry you’ve had this happen. And I’m sorry to hear of your previous losses as well. It sounds like he doesn’t really know what he’s doing so I’d try to get another scan done somewhere else perhaps in a week or so. I guess if you want to share the measurements we could comment on whether there’s likely to be a good outcome - but it sounds like you know lots about this already. Fingers crossed all turns out okay, again sorry you’ve had such a terrible experience with the scan.

Samjane93 · 30/12/2020 20:11

He sounds extremely unprofessional, I'd definitely put in a formal complaint!!

I had a private scan at 8 weeks and knew that it had to be an internal scan as they made it clear from the start to make sure I was okay with that. I don't think it's possible to hear a heartbeat with an abdominal scan so early on.

If you need reassurance you could book another scan somewhere else in a couple of weeks time?
Sorry you had such a bad experience Sad

elldog6 · 30/12/2020 20:16

So sorry to hear this. Hopefully everything is fine (because let's be honest, he seems pretty incompetent so wouldn't trust him to put a pizza in the oven!) but it would definitely be worth going for a second scan elsewhere.

Were you told in advance by them that an external scan that early is not recommended? My private scan at 7 weeks highly recommended I had internal on an empty bladder because otherwise they can't really tell anything.

Seems like poor practice from them all around to be honest and you deserve better Sad

TitsOot4Xmas · 30/12/2020 20:18

AIBU to think this was all very unprofessional? AIBU to be preparing myself emotionally for the possibility of another loss despite the doctor saying it would all be fine (based on what I’m not sure)?

Highly unlikely he was a doctor.

PegLegTrev · 30/12/2020 20:19

You can see a heartbeat flickering on the screen - I don’t see how he could have confused it. Will your GP refer you to the early pregnancy unit?

Original poster
90snostalgia2020 · 30/12/2020 20:43

Thank you everyone. Your comments are really reassuring and kind. I’m going to speak to them to explain what happened and see what they say. It all feels so unprofessional - and this was one of the very legitimate, well respected medical clinics, so I’m just so thrown by the whole experience. I don’t think the EPU will see me given covid pressures, which I completely understand. I don’t know why I’m feeling so upset now, as I was braced for bad news anyway. I think maybe hearing those wonderful words ‘there’s a heartbeat’ after all the pain and loss, but then it being taken away a few minutes later. I should’ve stuck up for
myself and demanded a second opinion (I’m normally pretty tough), but just felt so thrown. Stupid of me.

OP posts:
PurBal · 30/12/2020 20:52

Sorry to hear this OP. I agree with @MsHedgehog, the sonographer completely incompetent. Did you have a scan at a hospital with an obstetrician or in one of these high street places for under £100 or whatever it is? If the latter, seek out the former. You need to see a specialist. Thoughts with you.

ChasingARainbow · 30/12/2020 21:13

Your experience sounds awful, I was in the same situation as you so after 2 losses went to a private clinic for an early reassurance scan. The scan was internal but showed a heart beat and dated 1 day out to what I thought, I think the clinic said if they didn't detect a heartbeat because it was too early they would offer a rescan. I wonder if your dates are a few days out and still to early for a heartbeat - it can take until 6-6.5 weeks for the heartbeat to start.
Could you call and ask to speak to the manager and explain your experience and ask for a rescan with another sonographer?
Sorry you're going through this because I know exactly how anxious you feel before and during the scan x

Thisisbananas3 · 30/12/2020 21:24

@90snostalgia2020 not stupid of you or anything, this isn’t your fault.

It may be worth calling your GP, they may still refer you. You could still call this place and explain what happened and say you want a rescan with someone different- but understand you’ve likely totally lost faith in the company.

Fingers crossed your next scan is a positive experience x

MaelyssQ · 30/12/2020 21:33

What a distressing experience for you, my heart goes out to you. I think you should speak to your GP and ask for a referral to the EPU, in view of your obstetric history. You need to know one way or another if this is the baby you'll get to take home later this year - I hope it is.

lcdododo · 30/12/2020 21:36

@PurBal

Lots of the ' high street' places are hospital obstetricians who do it as a job on the side

OP, contrary to what some PP posters have said, an external scan should very easily show a HB at 7 weeks. I had one at 5 weeks

JacobReesMogadishu · 30/12/2020 21:38

You said with the initial scan you saw a heartbeat. It’s very different seeing one than hearing one. Did he say he saw it? Did you see it? Because if it was seen it couldn’t be your heartbeat?

Imagine not surprised you’re confused. I hope everything is ok and that you can get get seen by the nhs soon. Is it a company or an individual doing this. There’s an individual near me which does scanning and he has a poor reputation.

MsHedgehog · 30/12/2020 21:47

OP, please disregard what lcdododo has said. That’s not right at all. A 7 week scan is still somewhat borderline for seeing a heart beat.

I had a scan at 8 weeks and the sonographer couldn’t see a heartbeat with an external scan. She had to do internal.

PegLegTrev · 30/12/2020 21:52

@90snostalgia2020 I’d be surprised if they don’t. I had an ectopic pregnancy in July that was initially misdiagnosed as a miscarriage. EPU said at the time that because I’d had a miscarriage I’d get an early scan in my next pregnancy,

Aprilbaby21 · 30/12/2020 22:17

Please disregard what ICDODODO has said regarding a 7 week scan. That is a load of tosh.
Ive never had an abdominal scan at 7 weeks (at multiple EPU locations and private scans). The baby is so small that the best way of measuring, detecting a heartbeat and confirming its a viable pregnancy is to scan transvaginal.

She is right that most of the sonographers that work at private scan clinics are fully trained and probably work or have worked at the NHS in the past (all of mine have).

Tbh, i would disregard anything that sonographer has told you, he sounds incompetent and very unprofessional.

If, and thats a big IF, this pregnancy isnt viable, this isnt your fault and it isnt because you got pregnant so quickly after a miscarriage.

Personally, if it was me. Id be either booking another private scan (somewhere different obvs) or visiting your local EPU (I understand with covid restrictions, however, ive never had a problem in seeing anyone but i guess it depends on your area)

Good luck OP, keep us updated.

lcdododo · 30/12/2020 22:36

@MsHedgehog

I had daily scans from 4 weeks. I lived in a hospital from then until 27 weeks into my pregnancy. So yeah, I know a fair bit about how the scans work and when they can see what.

Thisisbananas3 · 30/12/2020 22:42

Just to add- my scan today was 7 weeks 3 days and the heartbeat was clearly visible through an abdominal scan.

I suppose what is visible is different for everyone- but this is what confused me initially in OP’s post- sonographer could see a heartbeat on abdominal but then nothing on the internal and said he must have heard hers? Can you hear a heartbeat at this point? All very confusing and distressing.

As PP’s have I’ve said I’d try and go elsewhere and try to ignore this sonographer who seems pretty clueless!

WeavingWandering · 30/12/2020 22:58

At my (emergency!) early scan - I got told that abdominal scans at early stages really depends on the weight of the mum. If they don’t have much to scan through, it should work but otherwise they would do an internal.

lcdododo · 30/12/2020 23:03

@WeavingWandering

At my (emergency!) early scan - I got told that abdominal scans at early stages really depends on the weight of the mum. If they don’t have much to scan through, it should work but otherwise they would do an internal.
That would make sense as I was tiny and HB was clear at 5 weeks
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