Early reassurance scan or not?

[Disco2022]

Currently 4.5 weeks pregnant, had a loss at 12 weeks last year, waiting until 12 weeks seems like forever, but I had a "reassurance" scan at 7 weeks last time and although there was a heartbeat and everything looked cool at 7 weeks, still when I went for the 12 week scan there was no heartbeat. Regardless of this I'm finding myself tempted to book an early scan!

I'm being ridiculous aren't I? These are clearly marketed at people in my situation! And my 90 pound would be better spent on other things

I started to miscarry the day of my early reassurance scan so ended up going into EPU and didn't use it. (We got a refund!) We always said we'd book it again but tbh I think I had so many signs I was losing last time I almost think there's no point. I think it only really serves to get your hopes up but if you're up all night worrying, I'd have the scan. Worrying isn't doing you or baby any good and £90 might be a cheap price to pay for some peace of mind, even if things go Pete Tong later. Xx

@Disco2022 I had the same situation, I’ve had two losses both diagnosed around the 11/12 week mark. My last pregnancy I had a reassurance scan at 7.5 weeks and lost the baby anyway. This time I had one at 10 weeks as my midwife told me the chances at the point are very good if everything looks ok (much better than 7 or 8 weeks) and I couldn’t bear the idea of finding out at the official 12 week scan, I’m not sure why that was such a thing for me! Fingers crossed it’s looking like this one will stick for me. The first trimester was awful, you have my sympathy. I would say whatever makes you feel better and reduces your stress is worth it. If that’s an early scan, do it.

I think you just have to do whatever feels right to you in the first trimester, the anxiety is absolutely awful and if you think an early scan will help with that then I think go for it!

The only thing I’d say is maybe try and wait a little bit longer before booking an early scan, try booking for 9/10 weeks rather than 6-7 weeks. The midwife who did my early scan told me that once you’ve saw a heartbeat at 9/10 weeks the chances of the pregnancy continuing was 99.2% ish, whereas when you see the heartbeat at 6/7 weeks the chances are around 78%, so waiting that bit longer should give you more reassurance as you know the odds at that stage are much better.

All the midwives at my hospital were always saying they hate that the private scan companies even book people for reassurance scans at 6-7 weeks because of course when you’re in the anxiety of early pregnancy you want reassurance asap but at that stage of pregnancy there often isn’t much reassurance that can be given but they are happy to take your money anyway.

Good luck x

So sorry for what happened last time. I waited in my first pregnancy and thought early scans were ridiculous. I took a long time to get pregnant with my second and had an early miscarriage the month prior to getting pregnant. I was also terrified of having twins. Has the early scan at 8 weeks and another when having a nipt at 10.5 weeks. Well worth it for me

Do the reassurance scan. It doesn't mean it'll work out but it does mean you're still in the running. Waiting 'til 12 weeks is too long if you're worried about viability. My obstetrician told me that if you have a positive scan around 8 weeks and another at 10, you don't really need to wait 'til 12 to know it's viable. Myself and so many friends have found out at 12 weeks that fetus stopped growing several weeks earlier. It's horrible and, IMO, much better to know earlier if it's not going to work out as soon as possible.

I’ve had early scan for all of mine, purely because I wanted to, never had a loss. Why not? If you want to, do it.

This is such a good point! Wish I'd said this.

All any scan can tell you is that in that given moment, you are pregnant and everything is OK. It can't tell you what might happen tomorrow or next week etc so it's up to you whether that will offer any reassurance to you or not.

I currently live overseas and here your first scan is around 6 weeks to check the early viability and location of the pregnancy. If you're lucky, you may see an embryo and heartbeat but it's not guaranteed that early.

Weeks 6-8 are then the highest risk for miscarriage so even if you do see a heartbeat at week 6 or 7, it doesn't really mean anything in terms of viability unfortunately.

A scan after 8 weeks also gives no guarantees, however your risk of miscarriage does drop significantly if you see a heartbeat after this time.

I had scans at 6+1, 8+2, 10+6 and 13+1 because they were the normal appointments where I live. I certainly felt better having more scans and can't imagine waiting till 12 weeks plus but that's just me. I knew there were no guarantees after each scan but, had something have been wrong, I would have been happier knowing it had been picked up sooner.

It’s a lot to pay for a feeling of reassurance that probably won’t last more than 24h, at least in my experience. If money is no object, why not, but otherwise perhaps it’s better put towards something else.

I am having one on Tuesday at 8+2 but I’m able to do so for free under my insurance. I likely still would though. I know it doesn’t guarantee anything but I wouldn’t want to find out at 12w that the pregnancy had stopped developing at 7w, especially as we are older so ‘losing’ 5 weeks matters. If you have had a miscarriage previously, you may be eligible for a free early scan. I had one last year and the hospital I went to said I could come for walk in appointment at the early pregnancy unit from 6-7 weeks (I’ve been away so couldn’t). It’s so hard after loss. I’m already identifying so much with being pregnant so feel I’m setting myself up for heartache but so hard not to! Fingers crossed for us all.

Appreciate everyone's comments and thoughts, it is particularly harder after a loss I think, I've been pregnant 4 times so no spring chicken, and I kind of get that it's only a moment in time. Last time heartbeat stopped at 11w 4 days so I guess for me nothing is really going to reassure apart from the third week in December getting here quickly!

Keeping everything crossed for you! xx

It's really hard. Wait until after 8 weeks if you can (that's not long), most miscarriages happen between 6 and 8 so you can actually take some reassurance from a positive scan at that point. Any earlier and you are more likely to end up being falsely reassured. Wishing you well.

I had early scans with my dd, one at 7 weeks with IVF clinic, one about a week later I paid for (because the dates were a week behind at IVF scan and I was worried), then another at 10 weeks.
I'm a huge worrier and over thinker and for me it took the edge off a little. I had a missed miscarriage before and the thought of not knowing causes me a lot of anxiety. I could afford the scans so went for it.

I think it's entirely down to you and how you approach it. I went into each one knowing that it helped me with that moment but still anything could change.

Personally what I have done is:
1st scan at 6 weeks: ruled out blighted ovum, ectopic etc
2nd scan at 8 weeks: checked baby still growing, good heart rate
will be having another at 9 and a half weeks and then depending on my 12 week scan date maybe another at 11 ish weeks.

For me the reassurance is worth it. I knew I’d need them so I budgeted in advance. Plus they’re only £40 now near and you get 15 pictures plus some goodies every time

@yyawn25 Not sure how to quote on my new phone! Where are your scans 40 I'm sure my last one was 90!

I’m up near the Scottish border @Disco2022 They range from 40-65 near me

I had similar - first pregnancy had a 7 week scan and there was a heartbeat, but at 9 weeks I miscarried - horrible.
So with my second pregnancy we decided not to bother as the early scan didn’t provide much reassurance anyway the first time. It was a tough wait but we did it and all good at 12 weeks -he’s now 3.

wouldve done the same with this pregnancy but had quite a lot of bleeding so got an early scan at EPU. Everything has been fine again this time and I’m now 31 weeks.

id say if you haven’t had any worrying symptoms to just wait, but I know it’s easier said than done x

Honestly I can’t imagine not getting extra scans, but obviously plenty of women do it.

With DC1 I had a first scan at 8 and a bit weeks. It was coming up to Christmas and I needed to tell family because it would be clear I wasn’t drinking etc, and though the odds are never 100% I decided if I knew everything was good at 8 weeks I was confident enough to share the news with a parents and ILs.

Between DC1 and 2 I had a chemical pregnancy which obviously never went to scan and a blighted ovum which I found out about for sure at an early scan. Given I didn’t bleed until the day my 12 week scan was supposed to be, I’m glad I knew a whole month + earlier.

Had NIPT with both DC 1 and 2 too which also came with extra scans.

I’m early stages again now (5ish weeks) and trying to figure out when I’d book for. I want NIPT for definite and I want results in before 12 weeks, but you have to be 9-10 weeks for NIPT and I might go for a first reassurance scan at 8 weeks.

So I went for a scan yesterday, little 6.5 weeker with a tiny little heartbeat and everything looks ok so here's hoping it stays that way! I'm probably going to have another one at 9 weeks and then wait until my 12 week scan

Great news OP, wishing you a healthy pregnancy