Early scan after previous ectopic pregnancy?

[prayingforrainbows]

I had an ectopic pregnancy 6 months ago that ended in December. I have just found out I am pregnant again and have everything crossed for a healthy pregnancy but am obviously so worried about it being another ectopic especially given the risk is higher now.

I've spoken to the midwife today and she said I won't be given an early scan at all and will have to wait until 12 weeks.

Is this procedure? I assumed they would scan around 6 weeks to rule out another ectopic. I'm feeling extremely anxious now and don't have any appointments with her until I'm 7.5 weeks along.

People I know who have had ectopic have been offered early scan on subsequent pregnancies, which I thought was standard. Can you ring the early pregnancy unit at your hospital and ask if they will see you? It might just be your midwife being unhelpful!

I had an ectopic and was scanned at 6 weeks. I would ring your local EPU directly and ask them.

Yes when I mentioned an early scan she said they don't routinely offer them purely because of an ectopic history, which I found a bit odd considering last time it was picked up within minutes at 6 weeks at the EPU.

She said only if I have symptoms will I be referred for early scan. I think I'll ring them myself at 6 weeks and see if they'll scan me, but she made me feel as though I'd have to lie and say im having symptoms for them to scan me and I'd rather not to that.

Or just have a private scan?

@Kaw10 I explained to the midwife I had paid £75 for a private scan last time and they told me there was no sign of a pregnancy anywhere, then the day after I was scanned at the EPU and within a minute the ectopic pregnancy was found.

So understandably, I would rather not have to pay £75 again.

I had an early scan with two subsequent pregnancies, after a previous ectopic. Admittedly it was a while ago now but it certainly used to be standard. I asked my gp to arrange them though, before I’d even had my initial appointment with the midwife.

I had a pregnancy in a unknown location and got scanned at 6/7 weeks with every pregnancy after this... Give the epu a call and see what they suggest as I think your midwife is incorrect to turn you down for early scanning x

I was told to ring the EPU direct when I got pregnant after an ectopic. They were really nice and scanned me at 6 weeks to make sure everything was in the right place.

@VariationsonaTheme @Mummaof2beauts thank you. Yes I plan on calling them at 6 weeks.

When I suspected something was wrong with the previous pregnancy I called the EPU and their first question was 'have you had any history of ectopic pregnancy?' So that's partly what made me think they take subsequent pregnancies quite seriously.

@prayingforrainbows

Maybe give them a call sooner so you can be booked in? I know at my local epu I'm booked in from 4 weeks for my early scans with them x

[quote prayingforrainbows]@Kaw10 I explained to the midwife I had paid £75 for a private scan last time and they told me there was no sign of a pregnancy anywhere, then the day after I was scanned at the EPU and within a minute the ectopic pregnancy was found.

So understandably, I would rather not have to pay £75 again. [/quote]
Ah, absolutely understandable! Sorry you're having problems getting a scan. I'm in Germany where it seems to be much easier.....I hope you have success with/at the EPU!

[quote Mummaof2beauts]@prayingforrainbows

Maybe give them a call sooner so you can be booked in? I know at my local epu I'm booked in from 4 weeks for my early scans with them x[/quote]
Oh ok I absolutely will contact them sooner then! Thanks for letting me know. Hope everything turned out ok for you in the end.

@Kaw10 thank you so much.

That sounds odd. Yes I was offered a scan at around 6-7 weeks to check that the pregnancy was not ectopic.

I was told by my EPU to call them immediately when I next had a positive pregnancy test - I think it is in the NICE guidelines that women who have had previous ectopics should have an early scan. I called at about 4 weeks and was booked in for 5w4d.

Good luck OP - it is such a worrying couple of weeks but fingers crossed all is well - you’ve got a very high chance that it will be.

My discharge letter following surgery for an ectopic said to get an early scan for any subsequent pregnancy.
My midwife said no, so I rang EPU, who booked me in at 6+0 (and found a sac, back at 8 weeks, got a heartbeat, then on standard NHS pathway).
With DS2, I just rang EPC straight away, and again got booked in for just after 6 weeks, and got a heartbeat

Phone them sooner rather than later, so they can schedule things better.

Thanks so much everyone for confirming what I thought. I will call them tomorrow and let them know, did you have to request a scan with the EPU or did they automatically offer/book one?

I'm so nervous.

Found this on NICE.

I completely understand your nerves.

I phoned the EPU and said, “I was treated for an ectopic pregnancy xx months ago. I have just had a positive pregnancy test and I was told to call for a scan.” They asked me how far along I thought I was and booked me in.

@NigellasMicrowave that's really helpful thank you ☺️

I had an ectopic pregnancy in 2018 and was allowed to have an early scan for a subsequent pregnancy in 2018. However I recently just got pregnant again and called the EPU asking for an early scan - they said they don’t allow them unless there are symptoms of an ectopic. I then spoke to my GP who said the practice has changed but if needed she could refer me for one. So if you have no luck it might be worth going through your GP.

Just phoned EPU. They told me to ring back when I'm 6 weeks and they'll book me in for a scan. Got everything crossed 🤞🏼

Ah ok so glad they've said to ring back @prayingforrainbows! I'm in the same boat, my ectopic ended in December and I'm 5 weeks now. I was told to ring at 5 weeks and they'll book me in for when I'm 6 weeks, so very similar to you. Wishing you all the luck with this pregnancy! Maybe mention it to the midwife because she's spreading false information!

@scoutcat I hope everything works out for you! We'll be due around a similar date how exciting, I believe I'm 4+1 today. I'll have to tell the midwife you're right, it didn't sit right with me from the start 🤷🏼‍♀️

Hi @prayingforrainbows firstly I'm so sorry to hear about your ectopic. I had an ectopic last February (caught early luckily and managed with methotrexate). I am now 24 weeks pregnant with a baby girl but I had a scan at 5+4 at EPU with this pregnancy due to the ectopic and they did not argue this and they should refer you due to the risks. Please don't be discouraged tho if you don't see much at your scan, only saw sac and yolk which made me so nervous that it wasn't progressing. Went back 2 weeks later and saw a lovely little heartbeat. Making sure that baby is in the right place is the main thing at this stage. Pregnancy after MC/ectopic is stressful enough so please make sure that you're getting the appointments you need! I also recommend going and getting a private scan if you're ever feeling anxious as it deffo helped me. Best of luck. X