Early scan?

[littlepeanuthopes]

Hello,
Just wondered if anyone recommends getting an early scan. I just found out I'm 4 weeks and my NHS midwife appointment isn't until 10 weeks and 1st scan until 12 weeks! Not sure how ill manage to wait 2 months to get the scan and find out if things are going well because every day that passes, I feel more and more attached to little peanut! Any advise would be hugely appreciated. Thank you! X

I would 100% recommend an early scan. I had one at 7w5d. Wouldn’t recommend going much before then. Baby was literally a blob but we saw the heartbeat. It was amazing and so reassuring. I don’t know how I would have coped waiting for the 12 week scan (which could actually be booked up to when you are 13-14 weeks)

Ditto to @OrcaBlondie ’s comment.
I’m very anxious in general and we had one at what they thought was 6+2 (now est 5+6) and 6+5 and going back tomorrow for 8+5.
Heartbeat is very reassuring but be aware if it’s too early you don’t always see it like our first scan.

That was our first scan (5+6 ish)

I'm going to be the old grouch but I had an early scan, saw a heart beat and then had a miscarriage two days later so I have no idea what I'd do this time around. Maybe wait until my 12 week one?

I think it's worth it as long as you remember it's not guarantee and you don't get dependent on scans to manage your anxiety. By 8-9 weeks, if you see a normal heartbeat then then this miscarriage risk really drops. I felt it was worth getting this reassurance a bit sooner than the 12 week scan (which in my case was nearly at 14 weeks) because the odds of a successful pregnancy are almost as good from a 9 week scan as a 12 week scan but you've got an extra month of feeling less worried. You've got to remember that it doesn't give you certainty but then you can never have certainty in pregnancy.

If you are interested in statistics, this is a good article expectingscience.com/2015/08/26/lies-damned-lies-and-miscarriage-statistics/

I've had early scans with both my pregnancies, I agree with previous posts about waiting a while. I purposely waited until after 8 weeks due to the drop in MC rates after that. As someone else has said, it isn't a guarantee but I did find it very reassuring.

I had early scans with my third pregnancy, saw a heartbeat one week and it had stopped two weeks later.

With my fourth pregnancy, I had scans at 6 & 9 weeks. It was hugely reassuring. I then had another at 14 weeks, 21 weeks and then every other week from 28 weeks as she was a big baby. I even had an MRI scan when I had my appendix out.

I personally would have early scans, even though they can't guarantee things, it was a great reassurance to me and I'd prefer to find out earlier if things had gone wrong than at the 12 week scan.

Oh @Bobshhh i am so sorry 💐

Those who have had early scans, may I ask about the process? Is this possible on the NHS or have you approached a private hospital?

I had a private scan at 8 weeks (longest 4 week wait of my life!) And another one at 10+3 weeks. My NHS scan wasn't until 13+4 so I really couldn't wait! I think waiting until 8 weeks if you can is a good idea as I think risk drops then. I had them both done at one of those Window to the womb places.

Mine were all NHS. With my third pregnancy I had a bleed, I had three scans, first was too early, second was to check viability, third was to check heartbeat was ok (it wasn't).

With my daughter, they did a viability scan at 6&9 weeks due to my previous two losses.

I went to Window to the Womb which is private

This probably sounds really stupid but without a scan how do you know for sure you’re pregnant?

I worry about the tests not being right especially as I had a miscarriage.

It's personal but I would defo recommend. My 1st pregnancy I waited for 12 weeks and I'd miscarried at 7, it was awful. 2nd time I had a private scan at 8 weeks and i'd miscarried again, still awful obviously but at least I didn't go another month thinking everything was fine, and the private scanner was very lovely and caring. 3rd pregnancy I had a private scan again at 8 weeks, saw heartbeat and now have my 9month old daughter 😍. It obviously depends but I found the private clinics very empathetic, caring, patient and understanding...when I went for my nhs one at 12 weeks they would barely answer my questions and I had to press to get them to print me a pic. It obviously won't make any difference to how your pregnancy progresses but I wish that I had booked an early one for my first pregnancy so I had known about the miscarriage sooner. Google private scans in your area, I'm sure there will be options, it was about £60 for me. Best of luck and sending you all the positive vibes in the world xxx

Best money I ever spent! I'd wait until 8 weeks due to better stats from that stage.

It’s such a tricky one and I really empathise and understand all the pps about the reassurance, particularly after devastating losses.

I was very anxious in early pregnancy and almost booked a private scan but wimped out in the end. I’m now really glad I waited until the 12 week scan as it really was an incredible moment seeing a very baby like baby on the screen for the first time. For me, I’m not sure how much it would have calmed my nerves to see a baby that didn’t look quite so ‘baby like’

its a very personal decision and everyone will feel differently

Good tip thank you

I would book a private scan for 7/8 weeks to get a good view. I have never regretted an early scan even if it led to miscarriage because at least I have that photo as a memory.

I was very impatient and had 2 early private scans, one at 7w and another around 10w. Helped to put my mind at ease and convince me it was actually happening!!

Early scans can be really lovely.

In my second and third pregnancy (current) I had them at 7 and 10 weeks.

In my first pregnancy, I had them at 6 weeks and then at almost 9 and the heartbeat had stopped.

Early scans are very enjoyable as long as you keep in mind that they are a snap shot of that moment in time and don't necessarily give you information for going forward.

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

It's such a personal decision. For me, following multiple losses both before and after my rainbow DC1, I wouldn't have an early scan. It won't tell you what will happen in the days or weeks that follow, it will only tell you what has happened up to that point. Some people even find having early scans makes them even more anxious and end up having more than one because the reassurance of the early scan wore off so needed another - that can be a costly loop to get into!

Congratulations on your pregnancy and all the best for whatever you decide!

We didn't with our first and it was the longest wait for the 12 weeks scan. With our second we had one at 7 weeks and it was so worth it. He was tiny but slightly resembled a baby and it was lovely to see.

I would not even consider waiting until 12 weeks. My pregnancies have been via ivf, so I have had early scans with my clinic. I have also had scans with a private scanning company. Even when the news has not been good, I found it best to know rather than be waiting with excitement building to find I had lost the baby weeks ago.

I have had a loss at 11 weeks and would do a private scan at ~8 weeks (and have this pregnancy). It doesn't say all will be okay but it shows you've at least made it out the gate and it's not anembryonic

@RandomCatGenerator NHS will only offer early scans if you have bleeding or pain scares. Also you know you are pregnant if you test positive as the only other explanation for HCG in urine is really rare ill health

I’ve had a scan at 9 weeks twice (private scans). The first time I was just curious, first time pregnant, and it turned out to be a miscarriage that had stopped at 6+ weeks. I had no idea and no signs, but at least I found out at 9 weeks vs 11 when I started bleeding.

The second time I saw a heartbeat, this kept me going until the nhs scan at 13+3.

Both times I don’t regret the early scan because it helped to know what was happening.