Frequency of scans

[Notsure31]

Hi all,

I’m currently 11 weeks. I’ve had 3 scans at epau so far at 6 weeks, 7+6 and 9+6, I’ve had recurrent miscarriage previously and also had some on and off spotting in between those scans (although none since the 9+6 scan). I’ve got my 12 week scan when I will be 12+4. I know I will get quite anxious before this as I’ve had a mmc previously found at 12 week scan (although it had died at 7+4). I’m in two minds on whether to book a private scan for this weekend or not to try and offset some of the anxiety. I’m also aware that with me coming to the end of 1st trimester my symptoms might start dropping off soon which may cause anxiety.

My partner doesn’t see the point and did raise a valid point of the more scans I have the more of them I will want, and it won’t be practical to keep having private scans every 1-2 weeks until I start to feel movement

Has anyone else been in a similar situation before?

Hi OP. I'm so sorry for your miscarriages. I can't imagine how difficult that must be and it makes complete sense that you have some added anxiety!

It sounds like your partner is trying to protect you from even more anxiety (going for repeat scans can actually increase anxiety!), and of course the money will add up, if that's a concern for you.

Can you find a compromise, book in scans every 3-4 weeks for example? Have them booked in advance as well, so you know what's coming up, rather than booking them last minute?

Do you have any other ways of handling your anxiety as well? - I know it's easy to say/ hard to do, but I suppose the truth is that it will be what it will be, regardless of how often you look, so it might help to try and find other things that can ease the anxiety - therapy, exercise, hobbies, friends etc?

Congrats on your pregnancy and I hope everything goes smoothly for you :)

@PregnantAtLast the Epau ones have been booked in advance apart from the 7+6 one which was an ad hoc one due to spotting. I’ve not actually had any private scans this pregnancy.
My anxiety did reduce with the 9+6 one as I’d never got that far before, but before each scan I’ve been a nervous wreck a few days before (the spotting hasn’t helped), and I did wonder if getting one this weekend might reduce the chance of that happening before the 12 week one, but I’m worried as well that the more scans I have the more I’ll want. I’ve been trying to keep myself busy as much as possible but because I’ve been so sick and tired it’s been hard. My partner is still happy to go for one this weekend but doesn’t think it will actually help much.

Hello, you may get people telling you just to wait, they may have a point. I'm not comfortable with the huge gaps in between. Post 12 weeks i said ill have a scan every 4 weeks. Even that feels hard work but I have to have a limit somewhere.

I had 3 before 12 weeks (granted 2 were essential for the ivf clinic) but I've read the heart breaking stories of mmc and I'm personally just not comfortable with the 'what I don't know won't hurt me' mindset of waiting.

I had a private scan at 10 weeks 5 days, because I wanted to tell people before Christmas. It really helped as I knew the odds then of getting bad news at 12 weeks was very low.

So it definitely does help.

Oh, OP ❤️ I'm so sorry for your losses.

I'll be honest - I had a MMC in July and thought if I fell pregnant again then I'd get a private scan but when I fell pregnant, I didn't do it.

I haven't had recurrent losses, but fwiw I think scans add to anxiety and only really reassure you when you're in the room. If the EPAU are offering them, I'd take one, but I wouldn't ask for more than that because the extra anxiety is probably worse for me (and the baby).

If you can, I'd try to ease away from them for now. When you start to feel movement you may feel more reassured anyway, so likely you won't need them as often.

My husband and I had a chat early on about whether we'd pay for extra scans and decided that if something was wrong (and I had actual symptoms of something wrong eg bleeding), then I'd get one. But by that logic, I'd be seen by EPAU so shouldn't ever need to pay for extra scans.

I'm not enjoying ALL of my pregnancy, I still worry, but I do find it's freed me from the anxiety cycle. I found that in the first trimester I was able to (slightly) shift my focus to other things and that helped with my overall well-being tbh. I'm now nearly 21 weeks.

Hope you're taking care of your mind in all this - it must be battering you ❤️

Honestly, I would try to refrain from having one this weekend if you have the 12 week one coming up in around a week.

I think you will be anxious either way and it probably won't really help.

Having said that though, that's my opinion and you know yourself, I'm just a stranger on the internet. If you really feel it will help then you should go for it. But I just think maybe reflect on the reasons why you want it and if it's rational, and if there are other ways you might cope with the anxiety when it flares up?

I think if I were you, after 12 weeks I would plan to have one maybe monthly so you know that they are coming up, but try to limit it a little because it can make you obsess.

I would try to not book them last minute without a specific reason because that is the point where it is just your anxiety talking, and could spiral.

I think you need to reframe it as, having more scans will not prevent a miscarriage from happening. I was so anxious in early pregnancy but kept telling myself this. I know it’s super hard to relax but as pp have said the cost mounts up and it’s such a long time to be so anxious.

I just wish I could have a bit more confidence that everything will be ok with the pregnancy, the spotting definitely hasn’t helped, they couldn’t find a reason for it on the scans. It’s so hard knowing anything can go wrong at any time, and it’s still a long time before I should expect movement for reassurance etc. I’ve also started to worry more about the screening tests at 12 week scan too, as that previously wasn’t forefront of my mind when I was trying to get through the early weeks.

I am now 24 weeks pregnant. Slightly different scenario as I didn't realise until I was 9 weeks. But I've paid for private scans. Ive had multiple misscarriges off you search my posts you can see my posting history. I have had 4 MMC 3 after seeing a heartbeat between 8-11 weeks and 1 at 17 weeks. I have a 4d scan booked soon not too find out the sex but just for my anxiety. I am also under the peri natal team. I have spent a lot of money but for me it helped me. Now I can feel movements my need has reduced. Just make sure where you go for a scan it's a reputable company. I understand the fear you feel. X

I had a scan at all of my pregnancy appointments, so one every 3 weeks from my first appointment and then every two weeks and then every week as I got close to my due date. That's how it's done where I live but it did massively increase my anxiety and I spent hours googling measurements after every scan.

If you think it'll help your anxiety though, and you can afford it, then I don't see why you shouldn't have private scans every few weeks/every month.

I got admit I never googled measurements etc. I still get the dear when they use a Doppler even if I can feel the baby move as past memories. You can pay for an NIPT test privately before your 12 week scan. I never did personally. But I know woman who have.