Do I need a dating scan?

[ElephantGrey101]

I have just found out that I am pregnant and it was a complete surprise because I am on the pill. I filled out the form to register with the midwife at my GP’s surgery and I had to put a question mark for date of last period as I have no idea.

They said the midwife will contact me about a booking appointment but I don’t know how far along I am.

You can tell the midwife when you have the booking appointment and they'll offer you one/you can ask for one

So I just get the normal scan at 12 weeks like everyone else and they guess when to have it.

The midwife doesn’t see you til better 8 and 9 weeks. So how will they know when to give you the appointment? I know I am possibly overthinking things.

Could you book a private scan?

the midwife will send you for a dating scan before your 12 week scan to figure out how far along you are

Book a private scan? If you’re near a big city you’ll probably be able to get in this afternoon.

How did you come to take a pregnancy test? What prompted you? I mean, taking one because you've gained a stone and think you can feel movements is very different to taking it because you can't remember if you had a break through bleed last month.

You could try a digital test. If it says 1-2 or 2-3 that might be helpful but a 3+ won't tell you anything.

Might be worth a private scan in a couple of weeks for peace of mind

I think I am possibly very early. I took one because I am feeling incredibly sick.

@ElephantGrey101 I had a similar issue, I don’t get regular periods and I had no idea how far along I was. The midwife at my booking appointment just listened to my symptoms, essentially made a guess and then I got my scan date. At my scan I was 9 weeks so I’ve to go back for my 12 week one. I hope it all goes ok for you!

If you've marked on the form that you don't know when your last period was then the midwife will phone soon for your booking appointment. You can explain to her then about being on the pill etc and she'll book your dating scan (or refer you for one if they don't book themselves and you'll get a letter sent out). They'll most likely book one soon to get an idea of dates.

If the scan doesn't show much then it could be too early so they'll wait 2 weeks and rescan to see if things have progressed

Ok that is very helpful. Thank you.

When I didn't know how pregnant I was the doctor said they would book me an earlier dating scan but never happened, cos I lived in a very busy area for maternity I guess. I just got the 12 week one.

Well, I mean I just got the one, and it turned out I was close to 12 weeks at the time, I think a bit over.

I would book a private scan tbh.
Can get one booked pretty quick

I have booked a private scan because it might take a long time to get one and I might miss my window.

I was in a similar situation earlier this year. I hadn't had a period since october and took a test middle January which was positive. I filled in a self referral to the midwife for a booking app and they got me in a week later. She thought I could be 9-10 weeks along so booked me a scan for 2 weeks time. During this time I booked a private scan and found out I was only 5 weeks and then at my dating scan (12 week scan) I was 8 weeks 2 days. They then booked me in for another 12 week scan for when I would've been 12 weeks but turned out I was measuring 13 weeks 1 day.

Were you on the mini pill or combined pill, OP? Did you get breakthrough bleeds? Any missed pills or episodes of vomiting recently?

Hi sorry to jump on your post but it wouldn't let me make one of my own I was just wondering if anyone could help me figure out how far along I am... I took cheap tests on the 27th of April and they all came back positive with faint lines then on the 30th of April I took a clear blue digital that said 1-2 weeks the next day I started bleeding with lower back pain and cramps I phoned up the maternity ward and was told to test again in 2 weeks to see if I was still pregnant obviously I couldn't wait so I tested 2 days later with cheapies and got a negative the day after it was the same I ended up taking about 6 and they where all negative I was bleeding for 5 days aswell not heavy but anyway I thought I had a chemical and never bothered testing again skip to the 5th of June I still hadn't had a period so I took a cheap test and it came up really dark straight away so the same day I took a digital and it said 3+ weeks so my question is am I still pregnant from the last time or have I ovulated early and conceived again? I know I won't really know until I get a scan but I just wanted other people's opinions, sorry for the long post I was trying to get everything in lol x

It's impossible for anyone here to know. It could be another pregnancy or it could be the first pregnancy still (although I wouldn't have thought so if the tests were negative for a while)

If you had unprotected sex after those negative tests then you could be pregnant again but only a scan will tell you how far you are x

I know I've got a private scan booked just so that I can know for sure but just wanted to see if anybody had something similar happen or what other people thought, I have had unprotected sex after the first time but I didn't think i would have got a 3+ exactly 5 weeks after I started bleeding if I had conceived that month x