First scan at 12 weeks?

[JourneyToParenthood]

Hi,

I think I am around 5 weeks into my first pregnancy. We have been TTC so I got a positive test around 2 weeks ago. I rang my GP to get an initial appointment, only to be told that my GP wasn't seeing anyone due to COVID and my care would all be with midwives.

I filled in a self referral form for my local maternity unit and I received my first scan date on 12th August. It feels so far away? I think I'll be 12 weeks by then and I won't have seen any medical professionals at all.

I have booked in for a private early scan - but just wondering if this is normal timing or if I should push for an earlier initial appointment with the midwife unit?

Thanks 😊

You'll likely see a midwife or be rang by a midwife prior to your 12 week scan to take your details and maybe if you get seen in person have your blood pressure done, be weighed and do a wee sample. It's a normal date for your first scan regardless of covid. Many people, like yourself do get a private scan for reassurance.

12 weeks is the normal NHS first scan. It’s when they’re able to carry out vital checks because the baby is big enough. You won’t get an earlier scan appointment.

There is usually a booking in appointment at around 7/8 weeks but that’s just asking questions about family health and your health, weighing you and measuring height for BMI, etc. As the baby will be so very small, there is very little medical checking they can do at this stage.

I’m confused if you’re 5 weeks and got a positive test two weeks ago. Pregnancies are dated from the first day of your last period (until the 12w scan when they’ll give you a more accurate due date) so you would have had a positive very close to your ovulation date if your cycles are pretty standard. Do you mean you’re 5 weeks since ovulation?

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

@BeingATwatItsABingThing

12 weeks is the normal NHS first scan. It’s when they’re able to carry out vital checks because the baby is big enough. You won’t get an earlier scan appointment.

There is usually a booking in appointment at around 7/8 weeks but that’s just asking questions about family health and your health, weighing you and measuring height for BMI, etc. As the baby will be so very small, there is very little medical checking they can do at this stage.

I’m confused if you’re 5 weeks and got a positive test two weeks ago. Pregnancies are dated from the first day of your last period (until the 12w scan when they’ll give you a more accurate due date) so you would have had a positive very close to your ovulation date if your cycles are pretty standard. Do you mean you’re 5 weeks since ovulation?

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

Thank you 😊. The first day of my last period was 17th May.

Ok, so you’re nearly 6 weeks. You found out very early then.

Yes you’re right, sorry - this is why I am looking forward to speaking to a professional . I have irregular cycles, so no idea when I ovulate unfortunately. I also should of mentioned that my first test was very faint 2 weeks ago on an FRED test 😊

Congratulations!! How exciting!
I also found out very recently and I’m 6 weeks.

The midwife has made contact and booked me in for an initial appointment to go through medical history, which is on 28th July! That feels so far away and we haven’t had a scan date yet but she said it’ll be 1-3 weeks after the first appointment.

May I ask where you looked to book a private scan?

Its normal, even when its not "covid" times.
I think the reason they don't do early scans is that they often can't see much and would have to redo the scan, so costing more and potentially adding to anxiety. Also if they see something wrong at an early scan there is nothing they can do anyway, so its sort of pointless. Its a nice to have for the parents, but from a medical point of view they can't use it to diagnose anything or prevent anything from happening.

Your timeline will look like this:

8-10 weeks booking appointment with midwife to go through medical history, blood pressure and blood test.

10-13 weeks first scan: to date the pregnancy and give you an estimated due date. Another blood test if you agree to NIPT screening

16 weeks: midwife appointment, midwife will attempt to listen to heartbeat with Doppler but not always possible.

18-20 weeks: anomaly scan to make sure baby is healthy. You can also find out the sex of the baby at this scan.

After this the regularity of appointments will depend on your area and your pregnancy. The anomaly scan might be your last one too 😊 unless they think you might need growth scans to monitor the baby.

Scans before the 12 week dating scan are only available on the NHS if for example: you're bleeding, have symptoms of ectopic pregnancy or have suffered multiple previous losses. They aren't routine and in fact nobody checks or confirms you are pregnant before the dating scan.

Yes that's completely normal, it's always been first scan at 12 weeks.

It's totally normal. I'm 21 weeks pregnant and my timeline has been this so far.

8 weeks booking in
11 weeks over the phone first appointment
13+5 12 week scan
16 weeks midwife appointment face to face
20 weeks 20 week scan
25 weeks midwife appointment face to face

Although I did have an early nhs scan at 6 weeks but that was due to 3 miscarriages last year x

Congrats. Depends on your area really, the higher the demand for appointments the later they seem to be. Many have bloods done with their dating scans.

I had 2 booking apps, bloods etc in person at 8+4wk and history via phone at 9+3wk. Then my scan was at 12+3wk but they moved my dates forward 4 days. Not actually seen my local midwives since as I'm under consultant led care at hospital, will see them at 35wk.

Have your private scan as late as possible. I've known so many people for whom they are not reassuring, because there is very little to see if you are early!

Seconding the advice to have a private scan as late as possible, if you have one. At least 9 weeks but ideally 10. It feels like forever to wait but it’s nothing compared to the two weeks you have to wait if they can’t see enough to confirm a viable pregnancy… the words haunt you.

But other than that, yep, totally normal. @Patapouf has laid out what I’ve been told to expect too, although a lot of Trusts don’t do the Doppler until 22 weeks now as not finding the heartbeat can be quite anxiety inducing.