Are private scanners irresponsible?

[SophieRules]

Hi all,

I had a private scan when I knew I was 6 weeks, I measured a week behind with a heartbeat and they said everything was fine. Due to advice from my sister I booked an EPU, a week later, there was limited growth and eventually missed miscarriage confirmed. However the private scanner didn’t even suggest that I go to an EPU in around 7-10 days to check growth. I keep seeing posts where women are measuring significantly behind, even more so than I was, and whilst it could be nothing for various reasons, it could be something and I think the advice should be go to an EPU in 7-10 days. Surely private scanners should be saying this rather than just telling women everything is fine, it seems immoral. Due to my experience it’s really put me off private scanners, great if everything is good but not so much if there are issues. Just wondering if anyone else feels the same? I appreciate my experience have affected me but I worry about women not being given the right advice.

I agree. I had similar but luckily I was quite clued up on things from years TTC and reading forums etc.
I went for a scan at 6.5. Measured 5.5 with heartbeat. I told the scanner I knew my dates weren't wrong but she pretty much insisted they were and said congratulations and off you go.
I booked myself into a different place 2 weeks later pretty sure what the outcome would be (my EPU wouldn't see me unless bleeding or with a referral). Thankfully the different (bloody expensive) private scan agreed at what should be almost 9 weeks was not viable and gave me a referral for EPU who then saw me and dealt with the missed miscarriage.

I personally don't think they should be booking any scans in at private clinics before 8/9 weeks.
Of course sometimes a woman may be measuring less than they thought but they shouldn't allow it knowing full well it's only 5/6/7 weeks. They call it a 'reassurance scan' but it's never ever reassuring at that stage and you always have to follow it up a week or 2 later.
Early scans should only be conducted at EPU when there are concerns like ectopic pregnancy or you've had significant bleeding etc.

I actually think private scanning and even epu's shouldn't be scanning before 12 weeks unless there's a medical need eg suspected ectopic pregnancy. There's nothing that can be done about saving a pregnancy, you just need to hang in there. Scanning is useful for anomalies, and later on they can decide to intervene to save the baby but not at 6 weeks. I'm really uncomfortable with fir profit scanning

Private scan clinics can only refer to the NHS on very limited grounds, and this isn’t one of them. They’re usually for abnormalities found in later scans, such as spinal issues.

Many places don’t allow people to self-refer to EPU, either. Mine won’t even offer scans on first appointments now; you have to be triaged including giving blood for HCG tests, and then they call you back the next day to either book a scan or book a repeat HCG test, and it’s one of the best rated maternity hospitals in the UK.

“just” measuring a week behind isn’t usually a concern if a heartbeat is present. If EPU had done the initial scan; they likely wouldn’t have booked a second one for a week later, they’d have discharged you as a viable pregnancy with a visible heartbeat.

I am sorry for your loss. It is a big risk with a private scan. A close friend found out her baby had severe disabilities incompatible with life at what should have been a fun gender scan… it was difficult.

I think the advice should be go to an EPU in 7-10 days

That's not really what the EPU is for though. Imagine how stretched and inundated they would be if everyone just started expecting scans as a follow up to their private ones! Normally the EPU will only scan if there is a concern about a pregnancy being in an unknown location ie ectopic or if you've had bleeding, severe cramps etc. Something specifically concerning rather than just a check to see if things are progressing as they should be.

if you choose to book a private scan at a very early stage and all is looking OK (at that moment in time) then you could choose to book another a couple of weeks later.

I am very sorry for your loss but any scan whether private or NHS is only a snapshot at that exact moment in time and both would have seen the same heartbeat when you went at 6 weeks.

Well i personally was glad to find out my embryo had stopped growing at 6 weeks. I would have hated to have carried on with it not knowing until 12 weeks. I'm well aware there's nothing they can do to save a pregnancy, but equally I'd rather find out as soon as I'm able that it's not viable so it can be dealt with. Not all miscarriages happen quickly naturally. I had surgery to remove mine at what would have been 10 weeks but had stopped growing at 6ish.
So I'm not against having them at all, but I do think they should be "advertised" differently and as others have said maybe not allow them before 7 or 8 weeks. But then if someone arrives at a clinic expecting to be 8 weeks and it's measuring 5 you still have the same issue I guess. But it's less likely to be viable. But they'll still need to go to epu for rescans etc. It's a difficult one really.

I am not living in the UK at the moment and where I am scan everyone at the first appointment - it's mostly to make sure the pregnancy is developing in the right location but you also get an approximate gestation so other scans and appointments can be booked in.

There is then an automatic follow up 2 weeks later.

My next appointment was around 11 weeks for a scan and NIPT (due to age), my next scan is coming up soon and I'll be 13 and a half weeks.

My first pregnancy was in the UK so this is very different but I have much preferred having the extra scans.

PaperXheetm I am with you on this. As someone who unknowingly carried around what was bluntly a dead embryo in a sac for six weeks I will never wait for a 12x
Week scan again. Far too awful to go through 3 months of pregnancy, with all the associated symptoms, etc to be told that you have lost the pregnancy.

Sorry for spelling your username so badly!!

This is a terrible idea. So missed miscarriages just carry on for weeks on end, needlessly prolonging the pregnancy? The woman’s mental health is also a medical need.

My private scanner wouldn't tell me there was no heart beat.
She's only confident when all is going well.

Have you ever had a loss???
Ever started spotting at 9 weeks and wished you were scanned sooner cause the baby stopped growing at 7 weeks!?

Ever went for a scan at 9 weeks and told there was no heart beat??? Wished you were scanned sooner as baby stopped growing at 8 weeks, Imagine hanging in there till 12 weeks.

So I'm glad they sometimes scan sooner & on request!

I agree. You see so many posts here where people have had scans too early at 5/6 weeks and are then panicking.

In some respects I agree with you, but it was your choice to go for a private scan. Measurements and dates are notoriously difficult and inaccurate that early on, even when done at an EPU. It's unlikely an EPU would have brought you back for a repeat scan either. The bottom line is unless there is reason to think the pregnancy may not be in-utero (significant pain being the most common symptom), women should avoid being scanned before 8 weeks to avoid false findings and/or false reassurance.

As someone who has experienced both sides of early pregnancy scans, I can understand the complexity of this issue. My perspective has been shaped by two very different experiences:

In my first pregnancy years ago, I had a reassurance scan at 9 weeks which revealed a missed miscarriage. While shocking and upsetting and the time,, I found knowing early to be beneficial. It allowed me to have a D&C promptly and begin the process of moving forward, rather than discovering this loss later at the 12-week NHS scan.

Contrastingly, my most recent pregnancy (my longest to date) has involved frequent monitoring due to medication and other factors. I've been advised to have weekly scans. While hearing the heartbeat has provided some reassurance, the journey began turbulently. At 4-5 weeks, the scan suggested a possible molar pregnancy, and I was told viable pregnancy was unlikely. A week later, however, a heartbeat was detected and progression noted.

This rollercoaster of information has significantly heightened my anxiety. I'm concerned that if the pregnancy continues, it may be marked by constant worry and uncertainty.

Given these experiences, I find myself conflicted about early and frequent scanning. While it can provide crucial information and sometimes reassurance, it can also lead to increased stress and anxiety, especially in cases of uncertain or changing diagnoses.

completely agree

I had a 'reasurance scan' done at 6 weeks but was slightly uncertain on dates due to having a chemical pregnancy the month before. The scan was pretty awful as it took them what seemed like forever to find baby, they then did and was told baby was measuring 5 +3 I think, nothing much else was said only they could see a heartbeat and that was it the scan was done. I felt more worried afterwards than I did before the scan, I definitely wouldn't have one again in another pregnancy. Have now had 12 week scan and baby is measuring ok and baby at that scan was measuring over a week ahead of what they said at previous scan.
I definitely think there should be stricter guidance with private scanners and they most definitely seem to target anxious women in early pregnancy, when we left we got given a money off voucher to go back again. Did think about it for a nano second before I decided not to get sucked into paying for multiple scans which most probably aren't going to give me any further re-assurance.

I don’t think the private scans should exist. NIPT should be offered to everyone at 10+ and earlier scans only for medical need (IVF, fertility, bleeding, ectopic symptoms and the like). Not dodgy groupon style profiteering.

Women were much less stressed when scans didn’t exist and pregnancy was confirmed only after two missed periods. The early scans just create too much worry.

Obviously the technology is amazing when used properly but it’s just about making money. Reassurance scans are absolute nonsense.

But as I pointed out upthread I've had 2 missed miscarriages. I was much happier knowing early on and getting it dealt with than finding out after 12 weeks of sickness and sore breasts and headaches that it was all for nothing as the embryo stopped growing at 5 or 6 weeks.
I do agree that very early ones are pointless. But once you hit 7 or 8 weeks there should be an option for a scan for those that want to check. Let's face it the NHS can't see everyone for that. So if people are happy to wait until 12 weeks that's fine. But I preferred to pay to get checked. After my first crap experience in a "window to the womb" type place I realised that yes they're pretty much useless. So the next time I went to an expensive fetal medicine private scan place who confirmed the miscarriage.

I have had three many miscarriages. The first I found out at the 12w scan and it was horrible. The next two I had private scans and the first they told me that the dates were behind and encouraged me to go to the hospital for a scan. I did and promptly got surgical management. The second time this happened again and was able to get surgical management promptly. From then on EPU scan me at 6w and then every 2w until 12w.

Would you honestly prefer to carry around dead cells with the nausea and general pregnancy symptoms for 12w if you didn’t have to? I certainly don’t want to, I want to know as soon as possible and deal with as soon as possible.

It’s profiteering off women’s health anxiety which is pretty grim. And then the sex scans are just buying into an aggressive blue/pink binary view … surely the bits between your child’s legs only becomes relevant when you are potty training which for the vast majority of parents isn’t for a couple of years?

that said - the wait to 12 week is awful! I think there should be the option to pay for a single regulated affordable price at a regulated company for viability scan at 8 weeks. If it could somehow be means tested to allow profits to go back into the NHS, that would be brilliant

Exactly I'd be happy with that. It's a good middle ground option. And I'd be happy to pay. With most pregnancies you can determine viability at 8 weeks. And if it's not clear you can be referred on to the EPU for further investigation which will be free obviously as normal NHS will kick in at this point.

My EPU was (is) a pile of shit. I had bleeding throughout my current pregnancy from 8 weeks and the only time my local maternity unit, either EPU or antenatal would see me was when I was past 24 weeks.

So my local private ultrasound clinic was a absolute sanity saver and was able to reassure me each time I had a bleed that baby was still alive and kicking. And at one point I was bleeding (red) every 2 weeks.

I've also experienced the other side when (again) my EPU wouldn't see me and the private scan was able to confirm a blighted ovum (which didn't pass until I was 11 weeks).

I agree that people go too early, 7/8 weeks should be the earliest really unless you suspect an ectopic but to remove them altogether would leave people like me falling through the gaps and going slowly insane whilst dealing with blood every other week during the 1st and 2nd trimesters! (and a bit through the 3rd but at least the hospital would see me then!)

I agree that they shouldn’t be available before 8 weeks (bar certain circumstances). A lot of people calculate how far they are based on LMP, but if you’ve ovulated slightly later then it’s off. If you think you’re 6 weeks when really you’re 5 weeks and go for an early scan it’ll just be more stress for yourself as it’s unlikely you’ll see much. I see a lot of ladies on here booking an early scan as soon as they get their positive, it’s far tooo early. And early on things can take a turn so quickly, all could be fine one week and then take a turn by the next

The clinic I went to won’t see you before 7 weeks, but before booking I looked at other people’s scan photos between 7 and 10 weeks to manage my expectations. Decided to hold out until just before 10 weeks, that way if my dates were off I could still get some reassurance and it was great. My NHS 12 week scan was booked for 13 weeks, so the private scan was a nice buffer as well.

It would be great if NHS could offer one or two extra scans at a reasonable price

Why should medical care for woman be gatekeepered? I am 8 months pregnant and fully had my care provided privately by midwives (and not connected to any private hospital) and had all my scans privately (more medical settings than a 'window to the womb' type place but not a hospital). Why should I be forced to make a medical decision (using the NHS) which is against my best interests?

Our local NHS hospital won't accept referrals from private scanners at any point during pregnancy - no idea why but they won't. They also will only early scan if there is suspicion of pregnacy in wrong location not for early bleeding unless you are under recurrent miscarriage cace and then it is more though that team than the triage/emergency team. Not saying I think this is the right approach but it is what happens and therefore I can see why people want early scans/the ability to know if they have had some bleeding of they are still pregnant.