When to go for a reassurance scan

[northshield]

I've had 2 mmc in the last 18 months and am now 6 weeks pregnant again. I found out about the mmc at 10 weeks and 12 weeks respectively but the babies had died early at around 5-7 weeks. I'm going out of my mind because I have no pregnancy symptoms and am worried that I've had another mmc again. I spoke to my GP who said that my local hospital will not scan until they do a dating scan at 12 weeks unless I have bleeding even with my history. think that I'll just have to pay for a private scan but when should I go. Any advice welcome.

I would suggest at about 8.5 weeks.

Will your gp do blood tests for you? 2 tests 48 hours apart to check for rising hcg levels would save the need for a scan.

Don't worry about the lack of symptoms either - I didn't have any with dd (had also had mmc before).

Yes about 8 weeks. Sorry to hear your gp/hospital is not being more helpful. My gp was happy to refer me for an early scan because of a similar history... if you can afford it I would definitely go privately to ease your mind...

Would 7 weeks be too early to reliably see a heartbeat, I'm very sure of my dates, you see.

I was told a good heartbeat at 8 weeks was an indicator that things should be ok - but that was few years ago so technology may have improved, etc?

don;t lie !

no point going too early, 7 + weeks is the time you can start expecting to see a heartbeat

i would have thought that that with your history you should not have to fight for a scan. but no point going too early.

can you contact your EPU directly?

Please do not lie and go in. Fron my experience our early pregnancy assessment unit is overrun already and it takes a long time for women to be seen because of that.

The earlier a scan is done, the less likely you are to get reassurance to be honest. Sometimes what is seen is a sac then you need to come back a week or two later to see if there is a heartbeat.

I know it is really hard but I would try and wait if you can. If you do not have any bleeding I don't think it would be unreasonable to have a scan at 8 weeks which should be able to provide reassurance.

You could contact the hospital direct if the GP is unwilling to refer you. Do you have a contact number for a midwife?

Thank you all. I spoke to the midwife too, Mears. She said the same thing as the GP and suggested a couple of places for private scans. I live in quite a well off area (but we are not)and I think that my local hospital relies on people being desperate enough and have sufficient money to pay for scans themselves. After having 2 mmc I asked her what I should do if I thought I was having another one and was told that I couldn't self-refer to the EPAU but would have to go through the GP. I'M SO WORRIED IT'S GOING TO ALL GO WRONG AGAIN.

northshield - do you have the number for EPAU? If not, phone the hospital direct and ask to be put through to speak to someone. Our unit can self refer but as I said above, there is a real problem trying to see everyone.

In your case I do not think it is unreasonable to be seen earlier than 12 weeks.

Were you under the same consultant previously? You could phone his/her secretary and ask to see them.

If you do have any signs of a miscarriage, your GP will refer you in, don't worry about that. Has your GP sent a referral letter to the consultant at the hospital to ask for you to be seen early?