Help which scan?

[1111hope]

Hi all,
I am booking an early private scan but the price difference is big.
For £180 - I can get an internal scan at 7 weeks
For 45euros (Spain as I live in Gibraltar) I can have an external scan at 8 weeks

I have read that people had external scans at 8 weeks and the gyno couldn’t see anything and it’s freaking me out.

Which should I go for?

I think it can be really variable. I had an external scan at 7 weeks +3 days (thought I was 7 weeks) and you could clearly see baby, looked like a baked bean plus a heart beat.

I do think it is more difficult for them to see a baby early via external scan if you are overweight so factor that it if you need to. Also how sure are you on your date? I had a very early positive this time so was further than I thought. I had the opposite on first pregnancy and had a later positive and so didn't go for an early scan until around 10 weeks ish to be sure.

Personally I wanted to avoid the internal scan as I bled on and off during my first pregnancy and I was worried that type of scan might make me bleed which would just cause more stress for me x

I went for a scan at 8 weeks because of investigations prior to conception. The external didn’t pick anything up as I have a tilted cervix so they decided to do an internal.

@Tryingtoconceivenumber2 i arent overweight so hopefully will be OK, I just calculated from my last period (24 sept). I tested faint positive on 19th October which was 9 days dpo, period was due Tuesday 24th and didn’t come obvs haha - what do you think?? X

It's really common to be out on dates. I'd say internal scan 8 weeks or external 9/10 weeks, that way you will likely see something even if you're off with your dates. I know many going for an internal at 7 weeks that turn out to be 5+6 and don't see much and have an anxious 2 week wait and need to book another.

I had a strong positive at 10DPO this time and I could see baby clearly at 7+3, personally I think at 8 weeks it would likely be ok but it's not a definite. Can you go somewhere when they do external first and swap to internal if they don't see anything. There is a place that does that near us x

I would opt for internal at that time if you really want a scan….BUT do go with a very open mind that with natural conception there could be great variations in what shows on screen and even a few days difference at this stage could be the difference between seeing something substantial or nothing at all.

I had IVF so my 7+1 scan was very accurate. There was a small kidney bean shape, heartbeat and yolk sac visible.

if you feel able to hold off by even just a week that may help to have a clearer scan image? I had an external at 9+1 and it was very clear with arms and legs starting to form too which was lovely.

I had an external scan at 7w and could see the little baby blob clearly. That’s whilst overweight too, so you should be fine!

I booked a private scan when I was 7 weeks, turned out I was 7+2 due to factors others have mentioned with natural conception.

When I booked it said internal may be necessary but they were actually able to get some really clear images of the little baby bean and see the heart flutter because I had a nice full bladder so I think that’s also a factor.

I wouldn’t personally opt for an internal scan unless medically necessary, I hate them, and have had various problems, infections and reactions to the gels when I’ve had them every time

If you need a scan at this point then it is better to get the internal as this will reduce the risk of not seeing whatever it is you need to see.
TBH though, unless you have a history of ectopic pregnancy I'm not sure I'd bother. In the UK most pregnancies are not scanned until around 12 weeks and that is sufficient.

I'm a Sonographer working for the NHS. I wouldn't go for either 'package' and strongly advise all women to avoid private scan clinics. Private sonography isn't regulated. Anyone can buy an ultrasound machine, with no medical qualifications, and open up shop. I certainly wouldn't be letting anyone do an internal examination on me if not medically necessary, but a suitably trained medical professional in the proper hospital environment. Day in day out we are sorting out the problems, and heartache, caused by misdiagnosis (false good and bad news) at these clinics.

Thanks everyone for your advice and guidance im going to do a bit more research and definitely swaying more towards an external scan than an internal and potentially risking something

Totally agree with @lockedinflavour I wouldn't go for either. It's completely unnecessary and potentially dangerous. Just wait and only have the scans recommended by your health care provider.

Just wanted to let you know you can also check out different private clinics if you decide to do that in the UK.
I had an internal scan at 6 weeks for £75 in one clinic, and a different private scan a few weeks later for £97.
You definitely don't have to pay £180 no matter what you decide to do x

I agree, but I also see why people have them.

I did, but the place I went first of all had a consultant from the local NHS hospital as the main practitioner - definitely true as they actually ended up being my consultant! Felt much safer than the 'window to womb'/'ultrasound direct' type places that I just think are money making factories praying on peoples vulnerability at that time. I did my research because I know these ultrasound places are not regulated at all.

Second of all, I went because I had a lot of issues with pain and bleeding. NHS EPU scan showed right place at 7 weeks but issue persisted. I also had very very bad sickness that was next to impossible to hide. We lost some family members and had a funeral at 11 weeks. I booked the scan at 10 weeks so I could tell certain people before the funeral as it would be clear I wasn't well, but I also didn't want to tell them for it to be yet another loss so I wanted the reassurance of the scan. I knew it was still not a certainty, but with the bleeding and pain, being so sick, grief over the losses of those family members, it was a hard time and I just needed that little bit of extra reassurance.