How often can you get a scan?

[hazelhoo23]

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

There is some question about the safety of frequent scans and currently it's only recommended to have extra scans if there's actually a medical need as this balances out. I don't think it's a big risk - up until recently in Germany where I live you'd get a scan at every appointment which is every 4 weeks until it gets to 2-weekly and then weekly in the later stages. Though they have now stopped this also. But it's not a good idea to go every week in the early stages if you don't need to. It probably won't cause any harm, but I would still not do it just in case. Maybe one at 8-9 weeks so the mid point?

Controversial, but something I found helpful in my anxiety filled pregnancy with DS2 (following 2x MC) was a home doppler. Before you jump on me, I only used it in the very early days when nothing could have been done anyway. I understood that I was only giving myself reassurance that the pregnancy had not ended (and that it might be false reassurance, although I got quite good at differentiating baby/placenta/cord/my heartbeat). I got rid of it as soon as I could feel movement as I did not want to be using it in place of seeking advice. I found this helpful with these boundaries in place. Some people find it makes them more anxious.

I had a scan at 4 weeks 5 days privately as I had two “chemical pregnancies” and had some spotting. That Consultant prescribed progesterone and aspirin and I would not have got the progesterone on the NHS so was glad I went. I can’t say if that meant I continued the pregnancy but it makes me feel like it might have. I also had an NHS scan at 7 weeks 5 days as I was going to as my GP had referred me but didn’t realise as I’d expressed my anxiety a few weeks before and heard nothing. I then got a private scan at 11 weeks as I stopped feeling symptoms, since then I have just had 12 and 20 week scans through the NHS.

I think there have been some good tips about reframing your thinking to say I’m not being scanned because everything is going well.

Worry in pregnancy is normal. I would say have a scan if you do want reassurance but so true it doesn’t reassure for that long and then you do think maybe I should get another one when you feel unsure. Once you have more contact with midwives and the hospital I think that helps as it makes you feel like you’re on their radar and they can give you those words of experience and that I found that reassuring. I decided I have to accept that or I’ll go mad though still a bit mad some of the time! 😝

I don’t think a scan can cause harm to the baby as if there are complications in pregnancy you would be scanned loads.

Wishing you all the best.

I wouldn't even depend on getting reassurance scans from the NHS. They wouldn't scan or even 48h test my HCG to confirm miscarriage. I had to go private.

It would be better to take the money you would have spent on the scans and put it towards some counselling or therapy to help you to cope with your anxiety. Anxiety is a slippery little bastard and will simply latch on to the next thing. Having strategies to cope with it will be better for both you and your baby in the long term.