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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Early scan or not to bother?

73 replies

Lalalul · 02/01/2023 10:52

hello all! I’m really on the fence about getting an early scan. Im currently 8 weeks and these 4 weeks since finding out have been the slowest of my life, and full of excitement mixed with worry. I see lots of people having early scans, seeing a little heartbeat and having any worries squashed. Of course I have seen others receiving heartbreaking news. DH doesn’t want to do an early scan, doesn’t see the point, it’s £80 and our 12 week scan is booked for 30th Jan. it just doesn’t feel real to me without seeing the bean. This will be our first.

interested to hear from those who have and haven’t booked one, and if you are happy with the route you took, had any regrets? Thank you

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KnickerlessParsons · 02/01/2023 10:53

What would you want to find out from the scan?

kitcat15 · 02/01/2023 10:54

Waste of 80 quid imo

Allsnotwell · 02/01/2023 10:54

£80? That’s like 240 doughnuts worth!

Sleepygrumpyandnothappy · 02/01/2023 10:55

Personally I think they should be banned unless under medical supervision. They fuel an anxiety industry.

You’re pregnant. Yes it’s exciting at the 12 week scan when you first see it. And FWIW it’s much more exciting to see a 12 week foetus than an embryo.

MogTheForgetableCat · 02/01/2023 10:55

I did it with each pregnancy and the little bit of reassurance it brought was well worth the money. Pregnancy is such a stressful time, so anything you can do to reduce that is helpful.

DoloresOnTheDottedLine · 02/01/2023 10:56

Congratulations!

I had a scan at 8 weeks and definitely no regrets. I felt the same as you - the time was dragging and I felt a mix of fear, excitement, curiosity and also a sense of unreality.

My partner didn’t get any of it - it wasn’t his body that this was occurring in and he just didn’t understand my mix of emotions and need to see and feel like I was “knowing” my baby.

if you can afford it and you want it, don’t hesitate.

good luck!

ChloeN · 02/01/2023 10:58

Im someone who had bad news and I still don’t regret going, however I have chosen my private scan clinic a lot more carefully this time as they the one I went too were quite honestly crap! I’m having a private scan next week at 10 weeks this time round

1000yellowdaisies · 02/01/2023 10:59

I had a private early scan for both my pregnancies. This was because I'd had miscarriages and just couldn't wait for first NHS scan. I was really happy with both of mine, the experience was lovely. We went into a really lovely room with candles and aromatherapy, it was almost like a spa room. The sonographer was able to take a lot of time and there was a big screen on the wall for me to see baby all the time rather than at NHS one where i had a quick glance at the monitor.
If you can afford it, then i would recommend but if your scan is booked for the end of this month and your worried about money, you could wait. The experience will still be really special.

IWillBeWaxingAnOwl · 02/01/2023 11:29

I had one booked at 8 weeks as I have a hx of loss discovered at 12 week scan. Didn't want to wait that long just to find out isn't viable. (Ended up having one on NHS due to medical concerns so cancelled private ones but that's not relevant to your Q)

Keep in mind that all it can tell you is just if it's looking potentially viable and on track for 8 wks.

Also if you go private for any scan always always use a clinic that has properly trained sonographers who also work for the NHS.

iamthesparrow · 02/01/2023 11:39

Sleepygrumpyandnothappy · 02/01/2023 10:55

Personally I think they should be banned unless under medical supervision. They fuel an anxiety industry.

You’re pregnant. Yes it’s exciting at the 12 week scan when you first see it. And FWIW it’s much more exciting to see a 12 week foetus than an embryo.

I agree. Before 12w I don't see the benefit to them.

NP2705 · 02/01/2023 11:47

I’ve had scans at 8 weeks for both my pregnancies, first for my daughter which went well and the second identified a missed miscarriage.

For me the early scans give me either a sense of reassurance which is invaluable and secondly if all is not progressing I’d rather know sooner than later. For my missed miscarriage if I had waited until my 12 week scan that would have been 6 weeks of thinking I had a viable pregnancy when I did not.

Also, completely personal to me (and probably due my previous loss and people close to me having early miscarriages) it seems bizarre that we have our first midwife appointments before a scan. In my second pregnancy had I not had the early scan I’d have gone along to the appointment not knowing my pregnancy had stopped developing.

I would however say that I always go to see a private obstetrician rather than one of the high street chains. This was so helpful when he identified a missed miscarriage as he was able to talk me through things and answer questions I had.

ChloeN · 02/01/2023 11:58

@NP2705 I agree about your first midwife appt, mine was the day after my scan so luckily I could cancel but this time it’s tomorrow and I’ve not been scanned yet! I couldn’t bare to be scanned before chirstmas so I’ve had to wait now

Alpacabag22 · 02/01/2023 12:15

I think there's pros and cons with getting an early one or waiting.

I got one at around 6/7 weeks because it's my first pregnancy and my anxiety was getting to me. Seeing a heartbeat was lovely reassuring, plus you get some pics / video sent to you which is nice to look back on at moments of worry. It definitely helped to make the experience feel more real for my partner and I and - whatever happens next - grateful that I have something to show from this pregnancy.

But i would be lying if I said it had squashed my anxiety. I now finding myself fighting the urge to go back for another early scan! But going to try to hold out for 12 weeks now as I don't want to get into what could be a very expensive habit of scans every 2 weeks!

So I would say go for it if you think it will help make things feel real or less worrying but just be realistic that it's not a magic cure for the worries and waiting ❤

J1290 · 02/01/2023 14:38

Personally wouldnt wait till 12 weeks just incase its not great news
but everyones different. Depends on ur financially stituation too?

BCxx · 02/01/2023 14:45

I felt I had to get one, I think partly just to have a shorter term date to aim for. I got a very early one last week at 6 weeks and I’m now thinking of getting a second one at 9 weeks. I like the reassurance of it but obviously as soon as you leave you worry again. If you’re not absolutely desperate to see before 12 weeks then hang off. £80 sounds a lot, mine was £60 and they do a deal of two for £95. Ultimately a scan isn’t going to change anything so it’s just up to you whether you need the reassurance

PinkPlantCase · 02/01/2023 14:51

I had one but it was during covid, my partner was allowed to a private scan but not the nhs one. If it was bad news I’d want him to be there.

I don’t see anything wrong with one early scan tbh. They are routine in other countries.

OrcaBlondie · 02/01/2023 15:37

I had a private scan just before 8 weeks and we loved it. It was so amazing to see the little heartbeat and know that everything was ok so I could then tell my mum, dad and sister. My bf chose to wait until the 12 week scan before telling his immediate family.

Of course it doesn’t guarantee nothing going wrong up to the 12 week scan, but we all know that.

I would recommend an early scan if you can afford one and I’d have another if I fell pregnant again.

ineedasweatshirt · 02/01/2023 15:39

I would wait

Sandcastles24 · 02/01/2023 15:51

I would really recommend an early scan. It was really worth it for me.
It helped me process that I was actually pregnant as I couldn't believe it until I had seen it.
If you know you have a viable pregnancy at 8 weeks it rules out a missed miscarriage before this point does reduce the chances of it not being viable at 12 weeks.
It is true waiting till 12 weeks doesn't change the outcome over all but it is another month of increased uncertainty. Personly if there was a problem I would have rather known sooner than later.

Conversely I don't think private scans are useful after this point as there is no bemefit at all. They only fuel anxiety especially multiple ones.

idontwantflowers · 02/01/2023 15:55

I felt the exact same and was close to doing it but a lady on my pregnancy app had an early scan where everything was fine and then at the 12 week found out that there was no heartbeat in her previous pregnancy. For me I just thought I would rather wait until 12 weeks and go from there as having one early doesn't always mean everything is going fine. I'm glad I didn't but I totally see why people do!

BrownEyedGhoul · 02/01/2023 15:59

I don't understand why people think they are so reassuring. So it reassures you that you are pregnant and alls ok at 8 weeks...it doesn't mean you will and it will be at 9 weeks, or 10 weeks.

But then I've never understood how so many people think that because they are pregnant they are going to have a baby. Maybe thats the eight miscarriages though

MogTheForgetableCat · 02/01/2023 16:28

BrownEyedGhoul · 02/01/2023 15:59

I don't understand why people think they are so reassuring. So it reassures you that you are pregnant and alls ok at 8 weeks...it doesn't mean you will and it will be at 9 weeks, or 10 weeks.

But then I've never understood how so many people think that because they are pregnant they are going to have a baby. Maybe thats the eight miscarriages though

The stats are pretty good if you see a heartbeat at eight weeks.

Sandcastles24 · 02/01/2023 16:28

It is reassuring because the chances decreases once a heartbeat has been seen.
www.verywellfamily.com/miscarriage-heartbeat-ultrasound-odds-2371536
There is only a 2% chance of miscarriage after the heartbeat has been seen at 8 weeks.
Obviously nothing is guaranteed.

@BrownEyedGhoul I am sorry for your losses 💐

TheShellBeach · 02/01/2023 16:30

Pointless. It will change nothing.

Just use the money saved to buy something for your baby.

Onnabugeisha · 02/01/2023 16:31

I’d skip the 8wk scan as you have a 12 wk one booked.

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