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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Ultrasound Direct / Baby Bond Early Scan experiences please!

17 replies

expectinglittlebear · 26/05/2021 13:48

Hey everyone!

I have just found out we are expecting a little one in January 2022. I am currently 4+3.

I am debating whether to book in an early scan with Ultrasound Direct/Baby Bond for between 7-8 weeks.

Couple of reasons, firstly as it is my first baby and I want to have some sort of reassurance (I know nothing is guaranteed, and the 12wk NHS scan will be the most reliable), but also because we will be on holiday with my parents from 18th June for a week and I KNOW I won't be able to not drink without them suspecting anything! It is also fathers day that weekend, and I would love to be able to break the news to my parents then - I just want some sort of reassurance first.

So, yeah, has anybody had an Ultrasound Direct/Baby Bond early scan between 7-8 weeks, and what were your experiences?

Thanks in advance!

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Anon9990 · 26/05/2021 13:58

I had a scan at 6+5 at ultrasound direct. Was a lovely experience even if it didn’t even slightly resemble a baby... we saw the heartbeat etc and left feeling reassured for a while ❤️ If I were to get pregnant again (my baby is currently 15 weeks) then I would do it again.
Should add that at this stage it was a trans vaginal scan x

Tgilaura · 26/05/2021 14:03

Ultrasound direct are amazing!
I didn’t go to them so early on, but they have sonographers who also seem to generally work in the NHS so they know what they are talking about.
I will say that I had an early scan previously, and sometimes they can be more anxiety inducing than anything, often there’s not much to see and if you’re measuring behind it can be worrying. I unfortunately had the experience of seeing a heartbeat and then miscarried the next week, I think it was harder to come to terms with because I saw a heartbeat and thought all was well.
Just to be devils advocate!

PinkPurpleParade · 26/05/2021 14:05

I had mine with Ultrasound Direct at 7+1 and it was lovely. We saw our little blob, the yolk sac and a strong heartbeat would absolutely recommend if you need some reassurance.

JackJack84 · 26/05/2021 14:30

I had a scan at Ultrasound Direct at 8 weeks & it was a wonderful experience. The scan room was really comfortable & relaxed & the sonographer took her time to get lots of lovely photos & videos. I came away feeling so reassured & happy. So much so I'm booked in again for a scan at 16 weeks!

Peaplant20 · 26/05/2021 14:32

I’ve had scans at window to the womb and ultrasound direct. All great experiences but I would say the facilities at ultrasound direct were nicer! Felt a bit cleaner and newer but that could just be the specific places I went to. Staff were really great at both x

Ajahd · 26/05/2021 14:33

I had a scan with Ultrasound Direct at around. 7/8 weeks. I had started bleeding on the Friday evening and the Early Pregnancy Unit couldn't see me until the next week. I booked in a scan for the Saturday and they were able to reassure me as she could see a heartbeat.

I had quite a few emergency scans due to heavy bleeds and the Ultrasound Direct scan was the clearest, despite being earlier! They use newer equipment than the NHS so you get a clearer view. Around the same time, the NHS had to scan vaginally to get a good view.

Congratulations on your pregnancy, its such an exciting time. Enjoy it, I hope the first trimester isn't too tough on you! No matter what though, it's entirely worth it. I say that while getting sleepy cuddles from my angry teething 8 month old ❤️

periwinkle86 · 26/05/2021 16:31

I had one just yesterday! I thought I was 8+1 but they actually dated me 7+3. For this reason I would leave it until you’re at least 8 weeks so that if your dates are a bit out you’re not going so early that the sonographer might not be able to see things clearly - I imagine that would be really stressful.

It was a great experience and really nice to have the reassurance that all is well at this stage, though obviously we’re trying not to get too excited still at this early point.

CTR1000 · 26/05/2021 16:53

Ultrasound direct scanned me at 8+3, and thought they were excellent. Saw a wee blob with a heartbeat and a yolk sac. In and out in 10 mins.

I was pretty apprehensive as I’d read some bad reviews, but I think the problems tend to come when the news sadly isn’t so good and there aren’t clear pathways for what to do next.

Chelyanne · 26/05/2021 16:53

They're pretty good in general. We've used them twice, one gender at 16wk and an early reasurancecat 8+3.

I wouldn't go for a private reassurance scan again though. Like I said above ours was at 8+3 I had to have TV due to retroverted uterus, baby was measuring 7+4 with hb, only movement was the flickering of the heart. Our twins were also 6 days behind on an early epau scan and caught up to lmp by dating scan so hoped all would be well. 4 days later I started spotting and passed baby in a perfect little ball a week after the scan, it was absolutely devastating, more so than other mc's where we'd not had scans. This baby I held out for the dating scan and glad I did because she was very wriggly and moved forward 4 days, was an excruciating wait though. I couldn't hold out for the anomaly scan so got a private gender scan with window to the womb just to see how things were half way between. I'm 28+1wk now and baby is thriving.

LCDIT · 26/05/2021 17:15

Definitely go for it. I have had lots of early scans in various places and Ultrasound Direct was by far the most clearest. I wouldn't be surprised if they are superior to the NHS ones. All sonographers are highly skilled and have / still work within the NHS.

Mayneedanextraroom · 26/05/2021 18:38

I had great experiences at ultrasound direct with my first two pregnancies until the pregnancy I lost at 9and a half weeks, (I should have been nearly 12 weeks but baby’s heart had stopped) the sonographer did not deal with the situation well at all, in hindsight I should have complained , but I was too devastated to even talk about it let alone start a complaint.

I would definitely get past 7 /8 weeks before having one only to try to stop any anxiety from having one too early and then not seeing much x

EsseKey · 26/05/2021 19:56

Hi! I also had great experience with Ultrasound direct. They have been very nice to accommodate me and my partner in the room, giving privacy to undress etc and generally made us very comfortable. In addition, unfortunately my scan at 8wk showed a underdeveloped embryo with faint heartbeat, meaning that I was going to miscarry 100% - they have been super nice and understanding, and told me I could come back every week until needed (i.e. until I actually miscarried...which took more than 2 weeks) to monitor the progression, at no additional charge.
I will definitely go back to them again because of the good service and empathy. I am planning to go again for this pregnancy at around 8wk, as I think it is a good compromise between having an early scan and waiting for the 12 weeks one (which feels like ages from now...).

Also, it has been helpful for me to know what was coming and prepare (physically and emotionally) for what was going to happen...I can't imagine how it would have been if I thought everything was fine and then I started bleeding... so based on my experience I am very favourable to early scans! X

PineappleSun · 26/05/2021 20:28

I have had two at ultrasound Direct and one at the window to the womb. Loved ultrasound Direct, calm, clean, had a sonographer who works in my delivery hospital at the first one. They also don't unbundle their packages and give you loads of photos and film to take away. I know you didn't ask but we found window to the womb far too cutesy and fluffy, didn't like it there.

happygolucky20 · 26/05/2021 21:45

Don’t do it!!! We had an awful experience with them!!! Not sure if you’re near London but we ended up having to go to the Fetal Medicine Centre on Harley Street and I could not recommend them higher!! We had a 10 week, 12 week and we are going back for a 20 week there as it was so amazingly detailed. All profits go into fetal medicine research. Highly recommend!!!

Whatshouldicallme · 26/05/2021 21:53

I had one with ultrasound direct about a month ago, it was great! Very clean and professional. It was reassuring to see the heartbeat, and that baby was the right size and in the right place. It also just helped it to feel more real.

My NHS scan is next week and I can't imagine having waited all this time for a first scan! I thought 8 weeks was a good halfway point.

bubblebath62636 · 26/05/2021 22:16

I'd go for it, but as late as you can so you can see more. We held out until 10 weeks and got an amazing transvaginal photo.

Shamoo · 27/05/2021 00:11

I know it’s not what you asked, but we went to window to the womb with my first pregnancy and I definitely would 100% recommend against it for early reassurance scans, They found no heart beat and it was not the right place or set up to be told that news. It was awful, they didn’t know how to handle it properly, everyone stared as we left (walking through cuddly toys etc.) - and afterwards I remember being so upset that they didn’t bother to ask me if I wanted the photo (I would have said yes). They just dealt with it horribly. In hindsight it was a big mistake to go, and since then we have only ever had scans in proper medical places. We went to Portland Street with this pregnancy who were amazing.

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