How much more "safe" is 12 weeks compared to 11 weeks?

[Orlahoping]

I know there is no real safe point in pregnancy but I am having an internal battle with myself. Late Jan I had an MMC, discovered just after 12 weeks (baby stopped growing at 8/9 weeks) and I had no warning. So, understandably, have been very nervous about my new pregnancy.

I am 12 weeks tomorrow or Friday (depending if I take last scan or period). We have had three scans already, the most recent being last Wednesday where everything was looking good and baby was measuring 11 weeks.

My official NHS 12 week scan isn't till 1st July because I am on holiday from Saturday. I don't know whether to get an additional scan just before I go. My husband says the difference between 11 and 12 weeks is minimal in terms of statistics of things going wrong and that scans don't reassure me (he's right)...so we should hold off. But I don't know! I know it's such a personal decision but it's only been a week since my last scan, and we can't really keep up that rate of private scans the whole pregnancy...

Sorry for your previous loss. I’ve spent a lot of time trying to understand this (also had previous losses) and your husband is right that the difference is minimal. If you’ve had a scan at 11 weeks and everything is looking good, then the odds are massively in your favour. But I know from personal experience that that knowledge doesn’t stop the anxiety!

This is a great resource for understanding your individual risk at different stages: https://datayze.com/miscarriage-reassurer

I came on the thread to share that exact link! From a scans point of view it's very personal, and I think early scans make a lot of sense as you can't feel baby yet and you might not even have a bump, so the reassurance can help. But, they can also feed your anxiety that you need to have regular scans.

Thanks for your replies both. I think I am just going to grit my teeth and go on holiday.

I used that site religiously last pregnancy, and I was on the wrong side of the statistics. Hoping this time I am on the right side :)

I work in ultrasound - I find when you get passed the 10 week mark your in safer territory

As soon as a heartbeat is seen at 8 weeks, the chance of mc is very slim. Go and enjoy your holiday ❤️

Good to know, thank you

The risk drops gradually from 3/4 weeks onwards, but once a heartbeat seen around 8/9 weeks it’s even less likely. If I were you I wouldn’t have another scan. I had one at 11 weeks only as my DH had to miss my NHS 12 week scan, so I wanted to avoid any surprises

In your situation, I would have a private scan before going on holiday. I wouldn't enjoy my holiday otherwise.

I agree that private scans can feed anxiety.
I agree that private scans are money spinners.
I agree that anything can happen at any time during a pregnancy so a scan only gives you assurance for that moment in time.

I had private scans every 2 weeks until I was about 18 weeks. It was expensive but worth every penny. Go for it if it makes you feel better.

Once you have seen a baby with a heart beat then statistically you are in a much better place. People say 12 weeks is the safe zone because the scan at 12ish weeks is when most women either find out they have a baby with a heart beat or find out they had a missed miscarriage often weeks earlier. It's not really about being 12 weeks, it's about seeing a baby with a heart beat.

I know everyone is saying about baby with heartbeat being important, and I'm sure it is, but I've had 3 pregnancies with heartbeats and they've all ended in missed miscarriage so I just wanted to make those commenters aware that unfortunately it isn't always the case.

For OP - if it gives you reassurance then have another scan, but your other half is right that the risks are very similar from 11 weeks to 12 weeks.

Honestly, I had 2 MMC (2 sets of twins via IVF). When I got pregnant with my eldest I had a lot of scans throughout for various reasons. They just made me more anxious. I'd walk out of the scan knowing that the baby was okay in that moment but would worry about the moments after. The scans only relieved my anxiety for a matter of minutes. The thing is the scans really don't do anything and the outcome will be the outcome regardless. I think you should just enjoy your holiday.

I hope you have a lovely holiday and a really easy and happy pregnancy.

I think this is the thing, the reassurance given is so fleeting, and I would probably end up worrying on holiday regardless, just a day or so later than I otherwise would have done.

@moosey89 I am so sorry for your losses. MMCs are so cruel. I also saw a heartbeat in my last pregnancy so, as you say, it's hard to take that as reassurance, even though statistically it is the case.

If you're not freaked out by numbers then this can give you the exact change shift: datayze.com/miscarriage-reassurer

This is the chance per day: datayze.com/miscarriage-chart

I had recurrent miscarriages TTC my first.

When I was 6 weeks pregnant with my son I saw a consultant who said that statistically my chances of carrying to term at that point were about 40% (based on number of previous losses) but if I got to 10 weeks I'd be on the home straight.

Most early losses happen before 8 weeks.

Yes. I do wonder whether those statistics about seeing a heartbeat and likelihood of miscarriage are correct. I saw a heartbeat at 8 weeks, and was told a healthy heartbeat. Stopped growing at 11 weeks. I can’t believe it’s as unusual as is made out. The sonography told me that before 12 weeks what you see one day is not necessarily what you’ll see the next day on a scan. With that in mind when I got pregnant again I actually avoided scans and didn’t have any extras bar one for NIPT at 10 weeks. I didn’t feel like scans would reassure me much

*sonographer

I woke up this morning, midway through my holiday with blood running down my legs and cramping. On my way back to get a scan rather than try to battle the French health system with very limited French. Had no signs that anything was wrong this pregnancy but now have lost all hope :(

I am so sorry to read this. Sending positive thoughts to you.

I'm so sorry. I hope everything is okay. Bleeding doesn't necessary mean you've miscarried. I bleed a lot with my 1st DC throughout all of the 1st and over half the second trimester. Thinking of you x

Trying to hope for the best. I have a scan at three so will know soon.

Thinking of you and wishing you good luck.

It was a haematoma 💓🥲