Nucal scans

[Seabright]

I'm 10 weeks and want to have a nucal scan ASAP. I haven't recevied an appointment yet (I know the earliest they are done is 11 weeks), do you think I should ring the hospital (which department?) and hassle them for an appointment?

Are they done through your hospital? We have to go private around here.

Where I live, nuchal scans are only done privately (north west uk). I think they're around £150 for a standard one or a little bit more if you want the bloods done too.

I think the time limit you have is up until 12 weeks 6 days. After this I think it's too late to have one (but I'd check this just to be sure).

Just a word of advice about arranging a private one. The place I went to (Countess of Chester) needed me to have had a dating scan first to confirm dates, esp as I was having the 'nuchal plus' (ie, scan with 12 week bloods too). This did cause some difficulties as my nuchal was scheduled for 11.5 weeks and the date I got through from NHS for dating scan was 13 weeks. Cue lots of calls to NHS unit, disgruntled midwives ('Well, if everyone requested early scans...') and finally got a cancellation at 11 weeks so I could get dating scan before nuchal. If not I guess I would have had to pay for a private dating scan too.

I had one done at around 11-12wks at my local hospital, but done privately. Cost in total was £130.

I had one done at 13 weeks 4 days, which was 2 days before the limit.

They did my dating scan at the same time, I had the OSCAR.

Also private and cost about £150 too.

Seabright, have you got any further? Do you have a consultant? If so, it might be worth ringing their secretary to ask for advice.