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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

How often can you get a scan?

29 replies

hazelhoo23 · 02/07/2022 15:59

Hey! I’m just curious as to how often you can get a scan done in early pregnancy? I had a scan last Wednesday at 6weeks 4days which was good and we got to see a heartbeat! This is my second pregnancy after a mmc in 2020 so I’m incredibly anxious. Is it too soon to get a scan next week? I just want to make sure it’s still progressing as it should and I don’t think I could wait until 12 weeks!!

Thanks x

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LeafHunter · 02/07/2022 16:03

Are you talking about private scans or nhs?

Flackattack · 02/07/2022 16:04

As often as you want if you pay for it. If there are no medical needs 12 and 20 weeks.

HSKAT · 02/07/2022 16:06

I had a fair few;
Weeks 5,7,9 at IVF clinic
10 private
12 NHS
16 private
20 NHS
26 private
32 private

mummyh2016 · 02/07/2022 16:13

Private you can have as many as you like. NHS you're unlikely to have any more than 12 weeks and 20 weeks unless there is a medical need.

Twizbe · 02/07/2022 16:14

Private as often as you want and can afford

BUT this will not help your anxiety. It might calm it for a day, but as you're already experiencing it comes right back.

Also what will you do if the scan next week changes your dates slightly? Will it make you spiral even though dating at this early stage is really hard?

You'd be better off speaking to your midwife and being referred to the maternal mental health teams who can work with you around the anxiety and try to calm it at source.

Original poster
hazelhoo23 · 02/07/2022 16:18

Thanks for the speedy replies!

Yea they would be private so could become quite costly. I was just wondering if there was any safety concerns involved I guess.

@Twizbe you’re probably right with it not helping anxiety at all! I need to find a way of distracting myself and taking each day as it comes x

OP posts:
Twizbe · 02/07/2022 16:20

Yep. Have a look for some maternal anxiety resources and anything you can do to practice at home.

The first trimester is hard because ultimately it's a waiting game and there is nothing you can do to change the outcome that will happen.

Babyghirl · 02/07/2022 16:35

@hazelhoo23
I have had 4 with the epu because of 4 miscarriages before, had my 12 week scan last week where I wss 13+6, and I work in a hospital and girls in ultrasound I have known 20 years runs the scanner over my tummy at least once a week. You can have as many as u want.

RagzRebooted · 02/07/2022 16:37

It's not like xrays so no danger to the baby as far as I know, but as PP have said it won't help your anxiety.

Jaaxe · 02/07/2022 17:10

As others have said, private you can pay for as many as you want but having a scan isn’t going to change the outcome, it may ease your anxiety a little for that day but then you could go back to worrying till your next scan.

NHS will only scan you if there is a medical need. You will get the standard scans at 12 and 20 weeks then more if it’s deemed necessary.

As far as I am aware ultrasounds are extremely safe.

Twizbe · 02/07/2022 17:13

You could try reframing your thinking on this.

Instead of thinking 'I want a scan because something might be wrong' try 'the NHS aren't scanning me because there is nothing wrong'

OurChristmasMiracle · 02/07/2022 17:23

I’ve had 2 missed miscarriages. With my first I only had my 12 week scan, with my second I had an early scan and all looked good but unfortunately i still also lost that baby.

I can completely understand your anxiety and I thought about early scans multiple times with my current pregnancy but as gently as possible- you can scan every day, every hour if you wanted to but it won’t change the outcome.

Chanel05 · 02/07/2022 18:06

Congratulations!

Some private scan clinics won't let you have an appointment unless there has been a minimum of 14 day since the last scan.

I've had scans in my first trimester during my pregnancies at around 7 and 10 weeks.

I understand the true terror - my first pregnancy was a mmc. My second resulted in my dd and I was constantly anxious. I'm 15+2 with baby 2 and was much more relaxed in the first trimester this time. Having 0 scans or weekly scans in the first trimester won't change the outcome. Be kind to yourself. Today you are pregnant.

worriedandannoyed · 02/07/2022 20:29

I think you can only have a scan every two weeks because of the radiation x

Flederjo · 02/07/2022 20:48

worriedandannoyed · 02/07/2022 20:29

I think you can only have a scan every two weeks because of the radiation x

An ultrasound doesn't use ionising radiation 😉

USaYwHatNow · 02/07/2022 20:48

@worriedandannoyed no its not because of radiation. Its to do with dates and discrepancies. OP I wouldn't have scans more frequently than every two weeks. I'm a midwife and have been in the same boat as you, wanting weekly scans to make myself feel better. In the end I had a scan every 3 weeks to put my mind at ease and was a mixture of NHS and private

welshladywhois40 · 02/07/2022 22:33

I see where you are coming from. Do you think that you will feel better after 12 weeks?

To get me to the 12 week stage I hd a private scan at 8 weeks and then again at 12 weeks.

After 12 weeks I coped to 20 weeks and luckily was treated as high risk so had plenty of scans post week 25.

It's super hard if you have lost a baby.

cdba88 · 02/07/2022 22:38

I think you need to address your anxiety before your baby is born rather than wasting money on scans you don't need.

Steviecfc · 02/07/2022 22:41

When I was pregnant, I was told that in early pregnancy you should wait 2 weeks in between scans.

Steviecfc · 02/07/2022 22:41

When I was pregnant, I was told that in early pregnancy you should wait 2 weeks in between scans.

Steviecfc · 02/07/2022 22:42

When I was pregnant, I was told that in early pregnancy you should wait 2 weeks in between scans.

RoaryR · 02/07/2022 22:45

I was told to wait 2 weeks in between scans, and couldn't really find anything online to tell me I shouldn't have them when I wanted to. I had private scans at 6 week (internal), 8 week (external), 11 week (external) and nhs scan at 13 weeks.

Stag82 · 02/07/2022 22:50

I had a scan at 7 weeks at EPAU after some bleeding then private at 9 and nhs 12 and 20. Got growth scans at 28, 32 and 36 as expecting a big baby.

strawberrysummer19 · 03/07/2022 08:07

I've had a lot due to anxiety and for me I've felt it's got me though

3 Scans at 6wks, 9wks 11 - private at ivf clinic
Nhs - 12wks (which fell on 13wks)
Private gender scan 17 wks
Nhs 20 wks
Then growth scans nhs 32,34, 36 and 38wks

I've also have a scan booked next week at 37wks

I was also told 2 weeks but I believe that's for consistency and growth but if there's any medical worries then it will be weekly, as since last week I'm having weekly scans until I deliver

It's because my amniotic fluid was on the 'low side of normal' and I had 2 days where I thought I was leaking (confirmed I wasn't) so the triage spoke to my consultant and agreed to change the scans to weekly, to air on the side of caution. I'm more than happy with this and must admit I've been more anxious I think due to years of ttc, Ivf, older mum and just feel for me the scans do keep me reassured and using 'everything is fine' and the reassurance from the professionals keeps me going

X

Moancup · 03/07/2022 08:11

Frequent scans by the NHS aren’t for reassurance. They are offered when something might be wrong or has gone wrong. I echo the poster above who said you need to reframe - you’re not being offered scans as nothing is wrong! This is a good thing. I’m third trimester and having weekly scans and really wish it wasn’t necessary.

I honestly think in early pregnancy people would be better spending scan money on therapy and I think the industry needs more regulation.