4 weeks

[Treeroads19]

I’ve recently found out I’m pregnant so it’s very early (4weeks). We’ve got a career break planned coming up for 3 months so I’d be abroad from wk9-22. I’m home for 1 day at wk15. Do you think this is an issue or can I have an appointment at 8.5 then a scan at 15 and again at 22?

Hi OP, firstly congratulations!!

Secondly, no, that won’t really work (if you are going to be using NHS).

Your first NHS scan, the “dating scan” has to be done between 11 and 14 weeks, especially if you would be wanting to have the testing done at that stage (bloods, measuring nuchal fold etc). And if you’re only back for 1 day at 15 weeks you’re not only too late for that scan but you’re not going to be able to get a scan booked in for that date, most hospitals do those scans on set days so mine is Mondays & Fridays, another local one is Wednesdays only, and the appointments are “you get what you’re given” rather than you being able to request date/time. Of course though you could decline NHS scans and pay for a private scan if you want to.

The same applies for your second NHS scan which is the “big” detailed scan, that has to be done between 18 and 21 weeks.

It’s up to you what level of risk you’re willing to accept. If you’re going to be gone week 9-22 then you’re going to miss both of your NHS scans and would potentially be out of time if there were any difficult decisions to make that would be out of your hands, if you’re happy to accept that then it’s not an issue. You could book a private scan for your 1 day home at 15 weeks but reality is most private scan (unless done at a hospital) don’t look to the same level of detail as the hospital scans and you also would be missing out on the screening tests by not being here- again though it’s up to you what you are comfortable with! X

You’re also unlikely to have any appointment by 8.5 weeks, your first NHS appointment is your booking appointment and that is given anytime between 8-10 weeks, again they just give you a slot. Even if you did get that appointment in before you left they do a blood test at that appointment so if that flagged anything up that would require treatment/medication you would already be gone by the time those results came through.

You should be able to have your first midwife appointment before you go but you'll probably have to request that, as mine haven't been until 9 weeks. If it were me, I'd want to have the NHS scans at 12/13 and 20/21 weeks. You'll miss out on the chromosome screening otherwise, plus other checks. I'd do what you can to be back for those. It's very unlikely you could request a scan on one specific day. Have you ensured your travel insurance would cover pregnancy related illness? And are there any health risks wherever you're going or vaccines you'd need (malaria, zika, yellow fever)?

Thanks everyone.

From what I’ve looked into it seems like I’d be okay to request my first app in the week before I go so that’s good. For the 15wk scan we’d be happy to go private if needed so not an issue. I’m aware I couldn’t get the nuchal fold as too late but it looks like a lot of hospitals don’t even offer this anymore and the results wouldn’t change our thoughts.

We’ll only be in Europe so no worries in terms of Zika etc. We could try get home a bit earlier but we’d be pushing ourselves and also losing 1 week of unpaid leave for this so I guess we’ll need to weigh up our options. It also seems like hospitals are fairly relaxed with the scans, for example the 12wk seems to be done 11-14 and also 20wk doesn’t seem to be at 20wks. If I’m not physically in the country I’m hoping they’ll be flexible but will have to see then make a decision.

@Treeroads19 You could request your first appointment to be the week before you go, but by the time your blood test results come back you would be gone and what if further tests or treatment/medication is needed as a result?

A 15 week scan you pay for privately, unless you do go properly to a private hospital, won’t cover all the same checks as the NHS one does. Typical private scans from places like Window To The Womb for example at 15 weeks literally only check the heartbeat really. You would really need to go to a private hospital to have a proper scan done at 15 weeks and again, what happens if something is spotted and further testing required as a result, you’re only back for 1 day so what then?

Hospitals are relaxed-ish BUT the guidance is very strict that dating scan has to be between 10 and 14 weeks, so you’re out, and the anomaly scan HAS to be between 18-21 weeks. So there’s flexibility in that it can be anytime from 18 to 21, but you’re out of that at 22.

I’m very lucky to get private healthcare through AXA through work which I’ll definitely be looking into to see what is covered for the 15wk.

I’m okay about not having the dating scan to be honest.

To your point on if there’s concerns picked up at 8.5/15wks then it’s definitely obvious we don’t continue with the trip or delay it.

I obviously haven’t got a midwife or anything like that yet so will take advice from them and see if we can risk accept or not. I want to plan for the ‘what ifs’ but for now I have to assume everything will be okay and plan for our once in a lifetime trip as it really is our last chance if we have a baby on the way.

Appreciate all the advice.

Being totally honest here OP, your travel plans sound great but totally incompatible with pregnancy - you need to totally rethink, unless you want to opt out of NHS care entirely and go private. As others have said, just getting private scans won't cover all of the checks and tests that the NHS would do - obviously you're under no obligation to have those but you will miss out on a lot of information and opportunities to understand what's happening with your pregnancy, and to identify any possible issues with baby's development.

It’s an option to pop home for the scans which isn’t the end of the world as we’re only in Europe. Going to see how the pregnancy progresses as still verrrry early and what the midwife says. Thanks everyone!