6 week early scan

[Harveybelle]

Hello.. I had my booking appt with my midwife today (5w4days) and she has offered me a scan next week; at 6 weeks and another at 8 weeks (as heartbeat should be seen by then) due to an early mc in January.

Just looking for experiences of NHS early scans.. what was seen, did it ease anxiety, etc?

That’s great sounds like you at getting great care. Sorry for your loss.

I had 2 mcs before my son so this time I was offered an early scan as I had some brown spotting.

I had the scan today at what I thought was 6 weeks, turns out I’m 5 weeks whick actually makes sense with when I got a positive test. They did abdominal scan first but could only see a sac, I was preparing for the worst but when they did a transvaginal scan they could see a strong heartbeat! I believe any time after 5.5 weeks a heartbeat should be seen on a transvaginal scan.

I feel much better, we cried and have felt very reassured and happy all day,.

good luck x

@Peonyyyy Ah that's great! Pleased for you!
Hospital just called already. Took more details and she said they’d rather scan me from 7 weeks as it’s more likely that everything will be visible and they don’t want to do it too early and we get unnecessary worry. So she’s going to call back with a time and day but it’s likely to be from 22nd May onwards. So week after next. Eeek!!

So glad you are getting this proactive care. I agree with whoever you spoke to that scanning at 7 weeks will be more useful. You are far more likely to see the heartbeat if your dates are correct, 6 weeks with no heartbeat seen is terrible for the nerves as it really could go either way still.

An 8 week scan is nice because suddenly it looks a tiny bit more baby like with little blobby arm buds. I mean definitely still more jelly baby than actual baby but...
Expect a transvaginal ultrasound. It's not the nicest experience but it's OK. I didn't know this the first early scan I had and it was a bit of a shock, but maybe I am just sheltered.

I'm sorry to hear about your previous loss and congratulations on your new pregnancy. I had early scans at my hospital in my current pregnancy after a loss last year, which was so helpful and reassuring - the first one was at 7+2 to check early viability, and then they did a reassurance scan two weeks later at 9+2. First scan it was very much a little blob so the main thing was knowing that there was a heartbeat and the pregnancy was in the right place, but by 9 weeks it was very definitely the shape of a very tiny baby and we could see its limbs moving, which was amazing. Like PPs, both of my scans were transvaginal - uncomfortable but not painful. I did have a bit of brown discharge a few days after each one, which I assume was a little bit of bleeding as a result of irritation of the cervix caused by the ultrasound wand - worth mentioning so you don't immediately panic if you have something similar.

I've had a 6 week scan for all 3 of our children and a heartbeat was seen each time. It really helped put my mind at ease. MC is much lower after heartbeat seen. So sorry for your loss x

Thank you for your responses ladies!
I'm hoping I'll be around 7+5 by mine as she said from the 22nd they'll book me in for.
I had a transvaginal scan in January with my mc so I've experienced it in that way. It wasn't too uncomfortable physically.
The midwife said they try abdominal first but I assumed what you have all said and it would be an internal scan..

I've had my letter through and I'll be 7w4d by my scan. What can I expect to see do we think?

@Harveybelle My first scan in this pregnancy was at 7+2 - it wasn't exactly a lot to look at, just a misshapen blob, but we got to see a strong heartbeat and the measurements showed that baby was pretty much bang on for my dates. From your OP it sounded like they were going to scan you two weeks apart, so by the time you get to the second scan you should actually be able to see a proper baby shape - very tiny but definitely a baby rather than just a blob.

Out of interest, was it an abdominal scan or transvaginal one at 7w2d?

I'm currently 4+5days but had an EMC at 5+4ish earlier this year. My anxiety is through the roof, off the scale! So I haven't even let my GP know I'm pregnant yet as I want to just get past that point. But we are thinking of booking a scan in about 3 weeks time so I'll be around 7+4days! Just wondering what to expect.

@Harveybelle all the best. Do keep us posted. Praying it is all okay for you :)

@Ttcagainnow It was a transvaginal scan, as was my scan two weeks later at 9+2. They were done at the EGU at my local hospital, and at that gestation they don't even attempt abdominal scans, they just go straight to TV. Private scan places will often try abdominal first, but at 7 weeks I wouldn't expect them to be able to see that much - personally I think it can cause anxiety trying to do a abdominal scan and not being able to see a lot, so I was glad to start straight away with internal scans. Good luck for your pregnancy. ❤️

@Ttcagainnow I had an abdominal scan at what I thought was 7 weeks. Baby measured 7+3 on the ultrasound and we could see the heartbeat.

Thanks all! Will see what happens then. I need to get to that point first! Nervous as anything!!

Had an abdo scan at 6+2 and saw a heartbeat, but she told me I was lucky.

I had a scan at 6+5 due to bleeding (and previous MC), I saw heartbeat but she said that's not always guaranteed. It is better to wait until 7 weeks or after, so it's more definitive. There wasn't much to see, I was only in there a few mins but it was helpful to know everything was OK at that point. Made it to 22 weeks now!

Thanks all.. I'm going on Tuesday.. will be 7w4d according to my lmp dates. So nervous!
Did you get a scan pic this early from the NHS early scans?

@Harveybelle I got a little picture at the bottom of the report from my first scan, but nothing at the one two weeks later. It wasn't a proper picture like the ones you get at the 12 and 20 week scans.

I did, they just gave it to me (funny as I then had to pay for it at my 12 week scan). Honestly I wouldn't have known what I was looking at!

Scan is tomorrow. Nervous isn't the word!

I did, but the sonographer said 'I shouldn't really' and I smuggled it out in my coat .

Best of luck for tomorrow x

All went well! Heartbeat seen and little jelly baby is measuring 7w1d even though I should be 7w4d. Just got to wait for our 12 week now!!

@Harveybelle Lovely news! Hope it has helped you to feel reassured.