Can’t decide whether to get an early scan - your experiences?

[Sussex34]

By way of some context my first pregnancy resulted in MMC and I then went on to have a successful 2nd pregnancy, DD is now 1. However, as an already anxious person pregnancy was extremely stressful for me and I didn’t enjoy it at all 😪I am now pregnant again and have booked an early scan next Tuesday which will be just under 7 weeks. Since booking it I’ve now read lots of people saying they had miscarriages after TV scans and they are not safe. I have no idea what to do! Private scans gave me reassurance in my last pregnancy but im worried if I go to this one im going to be equally as worried! Have you had an early scan and it all worked out? X

I had early scans at my IVF clinic at 5 weeks, 7 and 9. All TV.
Everything was absolutely fine.

I had a scan at 6 weeks, it gave me great reassurance to see that little heart beating away. I haven’t heard about the risk of miscarriage, I had two TV scans, one after a bleed. Again, I needed that reassurance to confirm all was ok.

Surely if TV scans weren't safe they wouldn't perform them?

I had two TV scans with my first and one or two with my second and all turned out fine. x

I went for a scan at 10 weeks right before telling my immediate family. I wanted to make sure there was a healthy heartbeat as, apparently, that means risk of early miscarriage is majorly reduced.

From my research, babys heart doesn't start beating until around 6 weeks. So I decided I wanted to wait until at least week 8, just in case I had dates a bit off, to make sure I would hear a heart beat. I was afraid that any earlier would mean there might be no heartbeat due to it not being formed yet and this would have put me into a horrible panic for possibly no reason.

There has been no proof that ultrasounds cause any increased risk of miscarriages so I think it is safe to do and can help a lot with anxiety. Just try to not go too early in case you cause yourself more stress than relief.

I hope your pregnancy goes amazing!

Thank you so much for your replies!

@EMC2022 I did the same with my 1st - as we’d had the MMC I wanted to leave it later so I was sure there would be a heartbeat by then

@georgarina I know - and my logical mind is telling me that but it’s mad how you can lose all perspective in pregnancy! 😓

@DangerouslyBored @HSKAT that is so so reassuring, thank you 😊

Early scans were a must for me.

Ivf clinic scan at 6+4 and 8wks
Then had private ones at 9 and 11 all TV

For me I've had regular scans throughout. Keeps my anxiety at bay

But everyone is different x

I had a trans vaginal scan at 8 weeks and I'm now 26 weeks. I found it reassuring.

@strawberrysummer19 Thank you for your reply! Were you able to see the heartbeat at 6+4?

If you can hold out I would recommend waiting until 8 weeks as if you see a heartbeat at 8 weeks your chances of something going wrong are very low, something like 3%. That's what I did and I found it very reassuring.

Two pregnancies now and tv early scans both times. First - 7 and 9 weeks. Second - 7 (and 10).

gave me reassurance. Never heard about tv being risky - can’t honestly imagine it - it’s not uncomfortable at alln

I had an early scan in my first pregnancy but it didn't reassure me at all. It was a successful pregnancy and she is now 2.5! But the whole scan was just a big waste of money. So in my second pregnancy, I waited a very long wait for the 12 week one and it was all fine.

At the end of the day, the scan can only tell you how things are at that moment in time however if you can afford it and it helps you, then do it.

I saw a heartbeat at 6 +2 ❤️

TV scan with NHS.

They wouldn't be allowed to scan this way if it wasn't safe.

Personally I wanted to wait til I was closer to 8 weeks for full certainty after previous losses. I had an abdominal scan at 7+6 and saw the heartbeat and healthy baby so TV isn't always necessary. I had another scan at 9+2 and they also opted to try abdominal scan before TV. X

I had TV scans at both 6+3 and 7+3 and all was totally fine. No bleeding, detected heartbeat at 6+3 which was reassuring. Go for it.