When to book private ultrasound

[FigandHoney]

I want to book a private ultrasound.
I checked and with my son, I booked it at 6weeks 5 days. We could see a heartbeat by then.
I read it's better to do it between 7 and 8 weeks.
But the only available ultrasounds at 7 1/2weeks are with clinics that have average reviews. Tge clinics I would prefer to use have slots available at 6 1/2 weeks and 8 1/2 weeks. The latter seems so long to wait. What would you do?

I would wait personally, as they aren’t cheap. We had a private scan at 10 weeks (measured 9 weeks and 6 days) because I was anxious and wanted to know due to first pregnancy and not having any symptoms whatsoever from the beginning. Still haven’t had many symptoms and I’m now 40 weeks today!
It was amazing seeing her on the scan then and she was big enough to see a tiny baby shape with her sac🥰 it was worth the wait as we wanted to make sure we could see something for the £100 or so we were paying! Not to mention your dates may be a little off so if you go in early like we did and baby is slightly behind, you could potentially not get the full results you wanted.
I think if you’re super anxious and can afford the scan now then go for it but unless you plan on another scan after this one before the NHS 12 week, you’ll be waiting a fair while in between those and believe me once you’ve seen them it becomes addictive to want to see them again and reassure yourself too. I felt like the 2 weeks between seeing her privately and my NHS scan were SO LONG!

Wait for the clinic you want to go.

I had a private scan at 7 weeks and yes saw the heartbeat and confirmed viability which is the best thing but you can’t see much, just looks like a lovely little jelly bean :) a girl I’ve been chatting to at pregnancy yoga had her early scan at 10 weeks and said it was amazing. I personally couldn’t wait that long as I was a bag of nerves but 7.5 weeks is just fine.

I hope it all goes well for you!

I'd wait until 8.5 weeks, a lot changes in a short space of time at the 6 week mark so I'd be worried I didn't see what I expected to see at 6.5 weeks and would just cause more worry and you'd have to wait a bit to see how things progressed

I've got mine booked for 8+2, I did the same in my last pregnancy and by 8 weeks was able to see a wee blob with a nice strong heartbeat, hoping for the same this time!

I had an EMU scan at LMP 6+6 (measured at 6+3) to rule out ectopic and there was a tiny heartbeat which was amazing but really nothing else to see. Had already booked a private scan at 8+1 (again measured 3 days behind) and the difference was massive! I would wait as long as you can if you want to see baby in any detail but if you just really need reassurance that it’s a viable pregnancy then I would wait until al least 7 weeks as not seeing a heartbeat (which is common at 6 weeks ish) would really increase my anxiety! I am waiting for my 12 week scan date and it feels like the longest 3 weeks of my life 🤣

I’ll attach my images so you can see how much clearer the 8 week scan was! The 6 week one is mostly yolk sac 🤣

Great to know, but can I ask when you say 7 week viability scan how is that date counted?

I know the date of conception as I had IVF, but I read somewhere they count pregnancy from date of last period, so that would be conception day +2 weeks or so.

Also how do you find reputable good private clinics for scans and blood tests?

My IVF was done in Germany and I am currently in London spending Christmas with family, so I can return to my IVF doctor, but I prefer to stay in London for the xmas and New Year so would like to get viability scan done in London privately.

@tweetiepie1 search online for an ivf due date calculator . You can put it whether you had a 3 , 5 day transfer ect and it calculates how far along you are

I'd wait till after 8 weeks. Earlier you might not see a heartbeat even if all is okay. Also once heartbeat is seen after 8 weeks miscarriage risk declines steeply.