Will EPU let me have an early scan just because I'm anxious?

[staranise]

Does anyone know if you can get an early scan on the grounds that you have previously had a mc? I miscarried at Christmas and am now 6 weeks pg again but am feeling super paranoid and can't bear the possibility of waiting til 12 weeks and then finding I'd had a mmc (which has happened to several people I know). Plus, am not feeling v pg though i know realistically that symptoms can come and go, and I have two dcs with problem-free pregnancies. My antenatal care in my earlier two pregnancies was abroad and I'm not sure what the protocol is here

If I got an early scan, would they still let me have a 12 week one? I'd prefer nuchal fold as had bad experience with the blood test so don't want to miss the 12 week scan.

many thanks for any help!

Star

leave it 2 weeks and tell them you've been spotting if you really must

EPU scan is internal

i went to the gp when i was pg with ds...i told him i was super concerned of the fact i was cramping and had suffered 3 previoud mmc...he booked me in and i was seen 45 minutes after....and i got my 12 week scan as well

any private clinic will scan you.

Hi Star, it depends where you live I think. I would try calling your EPU and explaining your concerns. or even just going in. Or you could try via GP. I had an early scan at UCH (London) and they did seem to imply that I could just come back if I felt at all anxious. I think especially with your history they should let you.
If not then there's always the option of going private if you can afford it.
Good luck!

Some will, some won't. The one I was under was really unhelpful, so I paid 75 quid for a private scan in pg #3.

And some hospitals will count an earlier scan as your 12 week one if you are unlucky.

Bit of a postcode lottery I think.
I have mc twice before, got a BFP today and called EPU, they have given me a scan date of 9 May.
Give them a call direct and explain the situation, would wait for the 8 week ish mark though as even at 6/7 weeks you will not necessarily see h/b which then causes immense stress for another week or so!
If your health authority don't do nuchal, you can go for this privately

My GP referred me to OBGYN as I had had 2 mc previously, it took a few weeks for the appt but I got an extra scan and he listened to heartbeat at 9 weeks. Didn't do anything else, I think I got referred cos my GP had to sign me off work with both mcs and felt sorry for me!

Hi, I had an early mc last May, and was checked out by my local EPU. They told me that when I conceived again, to come back at approx 7-8 weeks for an early scan, for reassurance. I'm sure they will be fine with this, they understand how worrying the early weeks are. I went back at 8 weeks (I'm now 17 wks) and all was ok, good luck!

thanks for helpful comments. I'm going to see the GP on Monday and see if she can talk me out of my paranoia - we are in London now and no idea what the local policy is.
Might go private at 8 weeks if they won't see me but am feeling tight as have jsut learnt we might also have to go private for school (but that's a whole other story and a whole more load of stress). the joys of living in London [hmmm]

thanks for helpful comments. I'm going to see the GP on Monday and see if she can talk me out of my paranoia - we are in London now and no idea what the local policy is.
Might go private at 8 weeks if they won't see me but am feeling tight as have jsut learnt we might also have to go private for school (but that's a whole other story and a whole more load of stress). the joys of living in London

Hi there, I has an early mc in Jan, and am now 9 weeks, I couldn't relax and was getting cramps, I phoned my local EPU and they booked me in for an 8 week scan, I self referred and didnt involve my GP they were really nice and scan went well, fingers crossed for you.

If you have a 'question mark' over your dates they'll scan you...

I had an early scan for bleeding in one of my pregnancies, they wouldn't give me one at 12 weekss because I had already been scanned.

I had an early scan at the EPU due to spotting (all fine), and they said I definitely still needed the 12 week. (I'm actually getting a nf scan which isn't NHS where I live, so I am not taking my NHS one, but if I weren't they'd do one.)

My EPU wasn't internal, though - transabdominal. Maybe that's why their dates are at least a week out....

I had a MC about 18 months ago and by 7 weeks into this pregnancy, was convinced I'd lose this one too.

I phoned the hospital I was booked into on my GPs advice and asked if they'd do an early scan as I'd had a MC etc etc.

Point blank refused and told me 'even if we did one at 7 weeks there's nothing to say you won't still miscarry' which made me feel suicidal.

In the end I booked a private scan - which was fab apart from the transvaginal bit. Def worth the peace of mind tho.

Many tahnks for all your replies - it seems it's soo dependent on where you live and the attitude of your EPU. Will speak with my GP (who's also an obstetrician and so usually v sympathetic) and see what she says, otherwise I guess we'll go private. Am rubbish at waiting months for scans!

Thanks again

Star

I had a scan at Liverpool Women's Hospital at 7 weeks due to bleeding.

Dd is 11 months now.

I had early scan last time becase of previous mc. I ended up mcing again - but will still go for another early scan next time. Mine wasn't internal - think they only do internal ones for very early preg - i.e. before 5 weeks?

Good luck and fingers crossed for youxx

star where in London are you? Our local hospital is Kings in Lambeth. Saw my GP when I first got my BFP and mentioned to her that I was feeling slightly crampy, even though I was sure that it was normal. She sent me straight to the EPU - I had to wait a while to be seen, but it seems that they'll scan anyone who waits there long enough! They made me come back for a follow up two weeks later becuase it was early and there was no embryo to be seen - that one I had an appointment for and almost no waiting at all.

Sadly it ended in miscarraige, but the man who scanned me to confirm said that I should come back between 7-8 weeks for a scan once I'm pg again.

there is a walk in service at st georges, tooting if you're not too far

or a scan is about 100 quid at fetal med centre in harley street

good luck

Thanks for your replies - that's good about Kings PrePG though I'm very very sorry it ended in miscarriage for you.

I had my last child at St Georges though we're actually in West London and my nearest hospital is Kingston, so maybe I'll give them a ring, I think they're meant to be quite good. I'd want to wait at least a week anyway til I'm 7-8 weeks as I will truly panic if there's no heartbeat.

Thanks again

Star

Sorry also to hear about your miscarriage nervousal. It's such a b*stard and so unfair .

All my antenatal care for my earlier two pgs was in Spain, where all pre-12 week scans are internal. Not pleasant, but more accurate I guess.

you really can just walk in at georges - aim to get there at 9/930 am - you'll have to wait but they do scan for maternal anxiety.

as far as i know kingston only accpet GP referrals for EPU (am a GP in the area and refer to both)

by the way most patients i see love kingston - its busy but midwives really good. if i could have gone there i would!