EPAU won’t see for 2 weeks

[Jeff100301]

I am 6 weeks pregnant with pain and bleeding. I just called the EPAU as I am concerned I may be having a miscarriage and they said they can’t scan until 8 weeks so booked me in for 2 weeks time.

I have seen on other posts that people have been scanned before 8 weeks? Just wondering if it is normal to have to wait for 2 weeks?

Thanks

@Jeff100301 i am so sorry to hear of your ordeal! if EPAU wont see you are you able to book yourself a private scan? i wonder if thats how other ladies do it
Hope things ease up for you

I would try and book a private scan if you can, they do them from 6 weeks though might have to do an internal one. I had one at 7+3 and they used a regular scanner x

Thank you for your messages. Unfortunately the private clinic won’t see me as I have had pain and bleeding, they say to contact EPAU!

I’m so sorry to hear you’re going through this and I’m praying everything ends up being ok for you! I had this with my first pregnancy and they scanned me when I was 6 weeks. Not sure if the guidelines are different in different areas but I always thought it was after the 6 week mark that they could scan.
If I was you I would ring 111 and explain everything to them, as they might send you to a&e and refer on to gynae who can you get scanned much quicker xx

8 weeks sounds about right because a foetus of that gestational age will definitely have a heartbeat. Many EPAUs will have this policy because any earlier would be inconclusive and a rescan would need to be arranged.

I have only been offered a pre-8 week scan due to a history of miscarriage for ‘reassurance’. However, with my first miscarriage, they refused to see me until 7 weeks. At this stage bleeding can be completely normal and even if you are miscarrying, there is nothing they can do.

Try the private place again, say you have an appointment for the EPAU at 8 weeks- but would like to proceed with an early scan and you will self-refer and handle all onward care. It was not my experience, but I know many private clinics do not that the facilities to refer back to the NHS- which is probably why they are wary of scanning you with so many symptoms.

alternatively try a different private place, and do not mention the bleeding- but understand that aftercare may be non existent.

I’m sorry you are going through this.

Window to the Womb definitely offer private scans following pain and bleeding. It’s an option to pick in their scan packages. Couldn’t recommend them enough

I'm sorry you're going through this, I was bleeding at the beginning of my pregnancy and I'd had a mc previously, they said they couldn't scan me until 6 weeks so bit confused as to why your trust are saying 8 weeks. I hope you can manage to be seen earlier x

Sorry you're going through this. I had spotting and pain and EPU scanned me at 5 weeks to make sure sac was in correct place (not ectopic). I now have a 10 week old DD. Fingers crossed for a positive outcome for you. You can go to A&E if you're worried about possible ectopic xx

Could you try your GP to see if they can ask? I had bleeding at 7 weeks and midwife said I just had to wait and see but GP got me into EPU

I'm really sorry OP, but the services are so overstretched. It is exceptionally common for people not to be as far along as they think, and 6 weeks is earliest can see a heartbeat. In most cases, if they scan someone at 6 weeks they can't see much and need to book in for 2 weeks later, so they're skipping that step (unless they're concerned ectopic in which case they will scan you earlier).

I disagree and don't think you should book a private scan for this reason. Chance is they can't give you the reassurance you're looking for and you'd be out on the street stressing exactly the same until EPU will see you.

At 8 weeks, you should be at least 7 weeks, so they should see something. At 6 weeks you could be 5 weeks easily and you'll be stressing that you aren't measuring far enough along and no baby or heartbeat visible (normal at that gestation). It's awful, and I'm sorry you're going through this and wish you a happy outcome x

My local EPU said 6 weeks. But because of GP referral scanned at 5+4. I had to go back 2 weeks later. Different trusts have different policies I think.

They should be able to scan earlier - I had an ectopic last year.

I was told I could be scanned for future pregnancies from 5 weeks. When I conceived again I was offered a scan at 5+4 but started bleeding at 5+2 and got scanned in A&E due to my previous ectopic. They were able to see the pregnancy (in utero that time, thankfully) and were able to say a miscarriage was likely. A scan a week later confirmed.

So, I'm surprised not all EPU's will offer scans that early!

If you feel worse, develop any shoulder pain (when my ectopic ruptured my shoulder pain was mild) or have any symptoms of an ectopic, please push to be seen or go to A&E.