Private scan at 8 weeks. Silly?

[EmbarrassingMama]

Having been told I wouldn’t conceive without IVF, I was thrilled to find out I was pregnant about 3 weeks ago (having just paid an obscene amount of cash to start IVF!).

Because I was very high risk for an ectopic pregnancy (having had one previously and having partially blocked tubes), I was asked to go for a scan at 5w. The scan went will and everything was in the right place, not ectopic. The Dr could see a sac but no yolk so requested I go back at 6w for another scan. I waited and went back at 6w and saw the sac, yolk and a heartbeat! The heartrate wasn’t measured but the Dr was happy, and so was I.

I now have a scan at 12w4d (I’m currently 7w4d) and feel really anxious about the wait. I haven’t had any pain or bleeding but I also don’t have very many symptoms. I feel slightly put off some foods but haven’t been sick at all and wouldn’t really say I have nausea.

Would it be bonkers to go for another scan next week? I’d pay privately of course, not on the NHS. My husband thinks I’m going to want to have a scan every week, but I know that seeing a heartbeat at 8 weeks is a really good sign, and think I might feel a little more relaxed. What do you think?

Just go for one. If you're going to stress and worry it's surely worth the £60 or whatever.

Congratulations!

Go for it!

Go for it! I’m having one at 8 weeks next week 🤞

I had a scan at 5/6 weeks (epu for spotting), then 8 weeks, then 10 weeks, 12 week (nhs dating), 20 week (anomaly scan), 28/32/36 week (growth scans), and I think another later growth scan maybe somewhere around 38-40?
I also experienced reduced movements at 34 weeks so they kept me in hospital and as there was a question mark over whether to deliver they kept scanning to check the blood flow of the cord etc - so had maybe 3 scans within 48 hours.

The only concrete evidence for the effect of multiple scans on the baby was a higher incidence of left handedness - and at 18 months it looks like we do indeed have a lefty.

Currently pregnant again and feeling like I have nerves of steel as I have managed to hold out until an 8 week scan booked for next weekend. (I keep checking the website to see if they have had a cancellation for this weekend )

Go for it!! I had a scan at 8 weeks and at 11 weeks (due to spotting) they both really reassured me

Oh I also had one around 22 weeks as whilst the 20 week scan went great in terms of finding a healthy baby the pictures were shit - the sonographer didn’t even have the heart to charge us. (At this point I wasn’t aware that I would be having growth scans so didn’t think I’d see the baby until it was born).

It is a painful wait but my experience is that extra scans early are not as reassuring as you hope they'll be.

I went for a private scan with my last at 8+3, saw a hb, the only movement was the flickering of the hb. I still felt uneasy about the pregnancy and I miscarried a week later.
This one I decided to wait for my dating scan, was an excruciating long wait. Baby was very active and measuring 4 days ahead which put me in to the 2nd trimester, I'm glad I waited. I had my anomaly scan booked for 7 weeks after dating. Now this one I can't wait so long, I've booked a private well-being and gender scan for half way between. I can't wait to see how much baby has grown by then.

@Radglags that's a weird one with the link to being left handed.
Our twins had loads of scans but of course equal amount each... one is a righty and the other a lefty.

Do it.

I became pregnant after a stressful pregnancy with complications the previous year. We decided to pay for a scan at 8 weeks and didn't regret it at all. Seeing that beautiful little blob with a flickering heartbeat was worth every penny. I still love that blurry scan picture 4 years later.

Good luck with your pregnancy op.

I had one at eight weeks. I had two MCs before my DS so know what it's like to have early scans and be told there are problems. I went at 8 weeks knowing it could be bad news or I could get a snap shot of how things were at that point (with the knowledge that I could still MC). As long as you can acknowledge to yourself that even with a heartbeat things can still go wrong (and be happy to wait until the 12 week scan) then go for it.

I had loads! I couldn't actually believe I was pregnant so couldn't wait for the 12 weeks scan....despite the 28 tests I did!

I had one at about 4/5 wks where nothing showed, was told probably miscarried but went back at 7 weeks and all was great, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 20 weeks then every 4 weeks after that due to GD and other stuff.

Any yes my DD is a lefty!

If it makes you feel better go for it. You're right that after 8 weeks the chances of a successful pregnancy go up significantly. If you think there might be a little smidgen of truth in what DH is saying you could wait until 9 or 10 weeks and break up the wait to 12 weeks more? Every week your baby gets bigger and stronger and your pregnancy is even more likely to succeed.

I've had a loss after a "successful" early scan so don't get much reassurance from scans - I still didn't feel reassured after my 20wk scan! But that's genuinely very rare and for most people those early scans are lovely. You just get a disproportionate number of people like me on Mumsnet!

8 weeks is much better than going at 5/6 weeks, which I'd recommend against as it can worry people a lot more as there might a slight mix up with dates and there's not a heartbeat yet. I do worry about people who feed their anxiety with continuous scans but if you think it'll calm you and make you feel more positive go for it.

I spent the first 12 weeks of my first pregnancy very anxious and convinced my first scan would be a MMC. I thought about getting private scans at 8 weeks and talked myself out of it, thinking I was being irrational or over anxious. If I’m lucky enough to conceive again, I will 100% be having a private early scan for reassurance.

Go for it!

Thanks everyone for the support and advice.

I think I will go for it and book a scan for Monday or Tuesday.

Thank you!