How many scans have you had?

[carboverload]

I'm 10 weeks today and tomorrow will be my 7th NHS scan. Everything is fine and baby so far healthy but I'm unsure why I've had so many scans. They started when I had very light pink implantation bleeding just when I wiped ONCE and they've just kept booking me in for more. Is this normal? How many have you all had by 10 weeks?
My booking appointment isn't even until later this week.

Hi @carboverload I’ve had 4 but I think am unusual I had one at 5+5 due to one sided pain was to small to see so brought back at 7 weeks for that. Then at 10 weeks had a little bleed and EPU couldn’t see me for 4 days so I had a private next day and nhs one 4 days later. Have they give any reason why ?

I had twins born at 34 weeks and had a total of 7 NHS scans and one private scan. My first was at 13 weeks.

I had one a 6w1d - hx of recurrent miscarriage so they confirmed a heartbeat and started me on progesterone and aspirin. I then had fortnightly scans at 8w1d and 10w1d.
My next one is the dating scan, which will be at 12w5d. As far as I know I'm on a standard schedule from now.

Hello! Thanks for your reply.. Was everything okay with your pregnancy? They've given me no reason and they've made it clear there's absolutely nothing wrong so I'm super confused! I'd only expect this many scans if I'd bled later like you and the one sided pain to rule out ectopic etc. I've never had mc or anything and only been pregnant once and child is healthy 6 year old who I had no bad pregnancy problems with

None. Three pregnancies and only 2 NHS scans with each - 12 and 20 weeks. Though I fortunately haven't had any reason to have more. That does seem a lot though for a tiny amount of pink one time. You'd assume if all was fine on the first couple of scans and no bleeding since the first episode they'd stop.

Do you think there's something they're not telling me? Or would they have to?

Have they said why?

I had eight losses, then with Dd who carried to term I was scanned weekly from eight weeks to twenty weeks then fortnightly. Even with all those loses they wouldn't scan before eight weeks.

With my first I had 3 scans, 12 week, 20 week and 33 weeks just before he was born as I had serious complications
Due to my first pregnancy I had 7 scans with my second. I would have had 9 or 10 but he was also delivered prematurely.
I'd ask at your next midwife appt or scan as to why they are scanning you so much

I had in the excess of 25 I think, but I had a very complicated pregnancy. You should definitely query it?

@carboverload oh god no sorry! I meant to add on the end of my post - if they have said all is well then I wouldn't be worried about it. It's probably just different trusts have different protocols. Worth asking anyway what the plan going forward is.

If you’re worried or have questions about your care, please ask your midwife, they are there to help

They would have to tell you if they had specific worries

I've only had 1 private which picked up something not good. NHS are booking me in for surgery without even having seen it themselves yet!

I had my first at 11w, the dating scan around 13w, anomaly scan at 20w and an extra GAP scan at 30w (I'd had covid). I've been offered two more due to my age but have declined them unless there is an issue with growth etc. You don't have to have any scans! I'd ask why you're being booked for so many and if there's no credible reason, just say no x

A private one that was at about 6.5 - 7 weeks just because I couldn't believe i was finally pregnant

NHS scan at 11.5 weeks due to (a tiny amount of) spotting
Usual NHS scan at 12.5 weeks
NHS anomaly scan at 20 weeks
NHS growth scan at 22 weeks

Due to have further growth scans at 32 and 36 weeks too due to starting my pregnancy at a higher BMI

With my last pregnancy I had 4 by 16 weeks. Then 20 week scan. I was then called in due to previously having a small baby (he was 7lb born, I don’t class that as small!) despite ds actually being a really good size and no further complications they still wouldn’t leave me alone and I had to go in every 2 weeks for follow up scans. They put me under a consultant even though the scans were fine so there went my plans for a nice water birth at the midwife led unit. I think in total I had about 12 scans. Btw he was born on his due date weighing over 8lbs
Such a fuss and waste of nhs resources for absolutely nothing, he was perfectly fine

@Anon0707

With my last pregnancy I had 4 by 16 weeks. Then 20 week scan. I was then called in due to previously having a small baby (he was 7lb born, I don’t class that as small!) despite ds actually being a really good size and no further complications they still wouldn’t leave me alone and I had to go in every 2 weeks for follow up scans. They put me under a consultant even though the scans were fine so there went my plans for a nice water birth at the midwife led unit. I think in total I had about 12 scans. Btw he was born on his due date weighing over 8lbs Such a fuss and waste of nhs resources for absolutely nothing, he was perfectly fine

I.understand the need to be cautious but I don't get why they don't act on the results of the extra tests / scans. This time around, I'm only having one growth scan, unless there is an issue with fundal height. They want me to have three because of my age. And I'm also opting for a homebirth with a pool. My last baby was born at 36+6 and they wouldn't let me use the pool because he was a day early. I've since been told you can have and decline to have what you want in most circumstances so I intend to exercise that where possible abs sensible!

In early pregnancy with DS1 I had 2 before 12 weeks due to a small amount of bleeding on one occasion like you describe. It was only 2 rather than 1 because my dates were slightly out and they didn’t find a heartbeat on the first scan.

This pregnancy I had one at 6 weeks due to previous ectopic. Loads since the second trimester but that’s due to other complications.

Have you looked at the scan reports? Might something have got lost in translation? So, for example, if they found a small bleed/clot in the womb at the first early scan but perhaps they didn’t explain that clearly at the time and everyone since has just assumed that you know they are checking that is resolving?

Or is there anything in your history that isn’t directly pregnancy related, like a chronic condition, that might make them take a belt and braces approach?

I would certainly ask at the next scan.

That sounds excessive. I've had 4 so far at 14 weeks - 3 early reassurance scans due to previous miscarriages and then my 12-week scan. They've stopped all extra scans now so I'm waiting for the 20-week scan now. I've also booked a private scan at 16-17 weeks just because I feel the wait between 12 and 20 weeks is so long!

Early private scan at 8 weeks.
NHS 12 week scan.
NHS 20 week scan.
Private 4d scan at 28 weeks.
Then LOTS of scans after 34 weeks due to umbilical cord issues (scans twice weekly).
It does seem like quite a lot of scans so early on OP, however they don’t do them without good reason so look as it as a bonus to get to see your baby more often (I highly doubt they’re keeping anything from you so don’t worry!)
Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy x

I’ve had nine so far; I’m 14+1 and had had three previous miscarriages so I was being seen by the RMC initially, then I booked a private NIPT so had two more associated with that. I'll probably have another private one at 16 weeks then just the 20 week one after that, assuming it doesn't throw up any issues.

I’m grateful to have had such good care, but part of me does wish I could just have had the "normal" pregnancy experience - it's been really medicalised so far and I haven't been able to relax or accept it's going well.