1st scan 13.5, worth a private scan instead?

[BeautifulBirds]

Been offered my 1st scan and due to bank holidays next appointment available will be when I am 13.5.
I had a MMC due to Turner Syndrome at 14 weeks last year.
Is it worth having a private scan? Do you get the same level of checks/info from them?

I went for a private scan to have a health check when my scans were a bit behind due to bank holidays. You get a lot of information. They let me listen to the baby's heart, they also told me my placenta is on top of the baby which was very useful to know as I worried that I am not feeling the baby yet (and they told me that while NHS would see that week 20). They did check the baby is healthy from what they can see. It's definitely not a replacement to NHS scans and checks, but it's a nice reassurance.

Hey, I went to a private scan that seemed really good however at my 13.2 week scan with NHS I found out that the baby died the day after my private scan going by size. Now I know the private scan didn't cause it and I don't know how well an NHS scan would have noticed anything but I feel like the private scan telling me there was a strong heartbeat may have been wrong? How can a strong heartbeat become no heartbeat in only one day and nothing happening to cause it. I may be wrong but I'm now just very cautious of the private scans regarding health. Lovely for seeing baby extra times to NHS but I'd rely on the NHS for health stuff

I think it depends massively where you go! I’ve been to the same private scanning place a few times this pregnancy and they’re amazing, they’re an independent medical scanning place, so it’s a lot more focus on baby’s health rather than heartbeat teddy bears and gender reveals like other places! I didn’t feel I could wait until my nhs scan and the private one definitely helped xx

Thanks all.

Can anyone recommend anywhere? Are there chains of private scan places?

Definitely depends where you go! The place I went to for my first scan at 6 weeks they had me in and out in less than 5 mins, wasn't thorough at all. I had a very heavy bleed later that day, I know it wasn't caused by the scan and thankfully baby was fine. But if there was something wrong and visible on the scan, I don't feel like it would have been communicated to me.

The next place I tried was amazing, I've been back two more times. Most recently for the gender scan and baby was being really awkward! But the sonographer took so much time and was super patient to find out the result for me. They were also able to tell me where my placenta was.

@BeautifulBirds what kind of area are you based?

Whereabouts are you based? If you’re near London the Fetal Medicine Centre on Harley St is fantastic.

I definitely would for peace of mind after what you've been through.

I would avoid places like Window to The Womb where it's all about teddy bears and tacky gifts and find somewhere more diagnostic

If you're anywhere near Oxfordshire, I would recommend Dr Victoria Heath at Beard Mill Clinic.

I had my 12wk scan with her when the NHS one couldn't get a nuchal measurement and wouldn't offer any alternative than quad test (ie no rescan) I was 41.