Private scan or no?

[Tinkerbellxox]

I don't know if it's just me imagining things but I feel like I've read so many people on here are getting private scans. I'm 9 weeks and obviously feeling a bit anxious and eager to get to my 12 week scan but it seems to be dragging so much. I haven't heard anything about any appointments or scans yet but when I called up the hospital said they'd be in touch very soon.

I think I'll be able to have my partner with me (I hope) if not I'd definitely book one. But I feel like all I read is about people booking private or early scans.

It's making the waiting even harder, is it worth booking one ?
Thank you! Xx

I have thought about this but figured (for me personally) even if I had a positive scan at say 8 weeks I would still be worried about getting to the 12 week scan, so I might as well just wait for that. I can understand if you have had previous MC why it might be reassuring though.

Hi and congrats! Definitely such an anxious time, im 14 weeks but found it SO hard to get to 12 weeks without booking a private scan! Just wanted to say, I recently booked a private scan for 16 weeks and it was cancelled yesterday due to the lockdown! Of course, some places may be different but just wanted to mention it :) good luck!! Xx

My first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage at 10 weeks. 2nd time we paid for a private scan at 8 weeks for reassurance. It was massively worth it for me. Even though I knew things could still go wrong it was still really helpful in getting me to the 12 week scan.

I found out that I had a MMC on Saturday at 14 weeks and this was a 5 days before my scan date which was delayed due to covid. I have since miscarried.

I wish I had booked a private scan around 9/10 weeks as I would have known a lot sooner and knowing that my pregnancy was over earlier would be a bit less painful as I would have spent 5 weeks with symptoms thinking each week past that I was getting to the safe point.

I had one at 8 weeks, one reason being I’m impatient and the other was at the time partners couldn’t attend 12 week scans so it meant we still got that first scan together

I had a private scan at 10 weeks as I was very anxious and it really helped me mentally. I was still nervous for my 12 week scan but the private early scan definitely eased my anxiety snd made me less stressed!

You’ll be able to see the heartbeat now aswell which is even more reassuring .

The way I look at it is, stress isn’t gonna for you or baby in pregnancy so if you think it’s gonna make you feel better , go for it!

I had one in each pregnancy, my second pregnancy I had one and found out I was going to miscarry as baby was measuring at 4 weeks (no baby just yolk sac) and I should've been 8 weeks.

With my son, I had ivf so many early scans so I didn't need a private one.

I'm pregnant again, I'm 7 weeks and have a private scan booked next week. I know things can go wrong, but I'd love to see their heart beat or at least find out if things have gone wrong so I know what to expect

@NaturalStudy

I have thought about this but figured (for me personally) even if I had a positive scan at say 8 weeks I would still be worried about getting to the 12 week scan, so I might as well just wait for that. I can understand if you have had previous MC why it might be reassuring though.

I'm thinking this too ... anything could happen at anytime so I think I'll just be patient x

Thanks for all the advice and stories guys, I think because I've never had anything bad happen I don't have any reason to be overly worried. This is my first experience with pregnancy and I don't have anything to make me stress. I mean I'm not overly stressed, just a bit anxious and impatient.

It's not too far away I guess, I'm very nauseous, sore boobs, bloated etc. I think one reason I am so eager for the scan is I want it to feel real! I can't get it into my head that there's an actual baby in there lol.

I'm going to be positive - I'm very prone to finding problems and imagining the worst so trying to change that outlook for once haha xx

It's good that you have this outlook and it's personal choice. Please be aware that missed miscarriage means exactly that no drop in symptoms and completely unknown.

I have never had any pregnancy issues til last week and have a toddler. This isn't to scare you just to give you the facts about what can happen. I wish you a happy and healthy pregnancy

@Scottishskifun

It's good that you have this outlook and it's personal choice. Please be aware that missed miscarriage means exactly that no drop in symptoms and completely unknown.

I have never had any pregnancy issues til last week and have a toddler. This isn't to scare you just to give you the facts about what can happen. I wish you a happy and healthy pregnancy

This makes me a bit paranoid, but I mean ... I think I'm going to try and look on the bright side. Unless I get worryingly stressed, I think I'll wait , i can't do much about the outcome .

If I'd suffered with a miscarriage previously I think I'd definitely go for an early scan. But as things stand, I'm trying to be patient.

I can see how it's tempting and completely up to individuals but I'm put off getting one as if there is an issue then I'd rather be in the NHS hospital when I find out so they can take the next steps. I've read quite a few threads where they find out at a private scan that there's an issue and then the NHS can't fit them in for a few days or week to check it out and that would just stress me out.

Sorry that wasn't my intention just wishing to provide facts.

I never went for a early scan with my son and have a healthy 2 year old. I never knew with this pregnancy but when ready for another pregnancy I will go for one.

@MimiDaisy11

I can see how it's tempting and completely up to individuals but I'm put off getting one as if there is an issue then I'd rather be in the NHS hospital when I find out so they can take the next steps. I've read quite a few threads where they find out at a private scan that there's an issue and then the NHS can't fit them in for a few days or week to check it out and that would just stress me out.

That's a very good point thank you for pointing that out, I think I'd make myself so ill with stress if that happened to me . X

@Scottishskifun

Sorry that wasn't my intention just wishing to provide facts.

I never went for a early scan with my son and have a healthy 2 year old. I never knew with this pregnancy but when ready for another pregnancy I will go for one.

That's okay but just scrolling through these boards make me paranoid, it's not your fault :) I never assume I'm going to be the lucky one... I always assume the worst in every situation. So hearing sad stories makes me think oh no that'll happen to me. I've had a lot of bad luck with my health so I'm just hoping this is the turning point ! :) x

@Tinkerbellxox if you can afford it why not, if you could do other things with the money and can wait then do. Only reason I had one was my first pregnancy was an MC so we had one at 8 weeks, still anxious leading upto the 12 weeks but for a few days I was settled in that my baby was alive!

I did but have a history of mc. Wasn't terribly expensive.

My OH and I got one -i have really bad anxiety, have a history of twins in the family, and was very dissasociated with the pregnancy. The scan helped a lot as put my mind at ease - there were 2 arms, 2 legs, and a heartbeat.
At 10 weeks so still things could have changed or be found out at 12 and 20 weeks, but I felt reassured, and it made it feel a lot more real to me.
We called it a christmas present and enabled us to tell family on Xmas day which was nice - and put our mind at ease. Very worth the £45