Too many private scans?!

[kp94]

Hello,

I found out last Tuesday that I am pregnant. (first time)
Total surprise but I am delighted. I went for a private scan on Thursday and sure enough, a healthy bubba with strong heartbeat measuring 7w5d.
Had my booking app with midwife on Friday, and my 12 week scan through the next day, which is in mid-September.

It honestly feels like every single minute of every day I’m wondering if everything is okay in there. I honestly feel like if private scans weren’t so expensive I’d be in for one every week to double check!

My question is how many is too many?!
I’ve booked one for two weeks’ time when I’ll be 10 weeks as I really don’t think I could wait a month for my 12 weeker, but even two weeks feels too far away 😅 I’m really trying to stop myself for booking another one for this weekend!

The big issue is your anxiety. If you had another scan tomorrow then the following day you will be back in the same position.

https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/im-pregnant/antenatal-care/ultrasound-scans

I googled it for you

I had private scans at 7 weeks to confirm heartbeat then 8.5 weeks when I thought my symptoms disappeared. Then I had another at 10 weeks. Then NHS scan at 12 weeks and another private scan at 16 weeks. The reassurance was momentary but I was so glad I did it. It brought me a lot of joy seeing my baby doing well at that period in time. If you can afford it go for it. Window to the Womb reassurance scan is around 70£ i believe. Try to have at least 2 weeks between scans though. Good luck OP!

Don’t book in for another this weekend, the baby is so small measurements can be wonky and if it’s a day or two out it will make you more anxious.

Agree with the pp that said it’s your anxiety, because I was absolutely the same with my first - I had a private scan on average around every 6-8 weeks and I have to admit that it really did help me, after every one I felt a bit more reassured that it was going to be ok, so to be honest I know it’s OTT but my advice would be to do it if that’s what you want to do and if it’s going to make you feel better. My anxiety around something going wrong would not have gone away had I not done it. I was a nervous wreck about the fact that I was late 30s and we have a history of premature babies and still births in my family. My second time round I was more than happy with the two standard NHS scans so for me it wasn’t because I’m generally an anxious person, I was just very worried in this particular scenario

I think I had one scan at 12 weeks and another at around 20- both on the NHS. It didn’t occur to me to have a private one but then this was 20 and 17 years ago and I don’t think it was very common then for women to go for private scans. They wouldn’t even tell us the sex in those days (not that I minded- I didn’t want to know the sex before the birth). But I am prone to anxiety (and was particularly so during pregnancy) so it’s a very good job I didn’t have the option to have more scans- it would only have fuelled more anxiety. That’s how anxiety works- this kind of reasurance often actually makes anxiety worse, as PP said.

I suffer with health anxiety and have often been through phases where I’ve been to and from the GP regularly asking for referrals and tests (was convinced I had cancer). I eventually realised that I could never really be reassured unless I had scanning equipment in my own home and a team of specialists on call 24/7 which is obviously impossible and even if it were possible would be a tense and miserable way to live.

At some point, we have to relinquish attempts to control and just hope for the best. I hear you though- anxiety is a bugger. Congratulations on your pregnancy. 💐

Thanks everyone, I will wait!

I have one every few weeks. They don't like to do them less than 2 weeks apart generally :) honestly my midwives don't give a damn about my anxiety over the pregnancy so no help there! The scans every few weeks are a small price to pay just to keep my anxiety at bay.

I am 17+3 weeks and I’ve had 3 nhs scans and I think 6 private, I’m not even sorry.
my baby, my choice. I have loved every second of every one. After two losses I didn’t think I’d get to where I am. I do think that’ll be it for me now though. Maybe a cheeky 4D after 23 weeks, but we’ll see.

do what makes YOU happy. Good luck OP, wishing you a happy healthy pregnancy

I am 17+3 weeks and I’ve had 3 nhs scans and I think 6 private, I’m not even sorry.
my baby, my choice. I have loved every second of every one. After two losses I didn’t think I’d get to where I am. I do think that’ll be it for me now though. Maybe a cheeky 4D after 23 weeks, but we’ll see.

do what makes YOU happy. Good luck OP, wishing you a happy healthy pregnancy

What’s too many? I don’t live in the UK and was treated privately with both my pregnancies and had scans every month from the first at 5+6 until 34 weeks and then weekly scans from then which was standard (not including the extra scans I needed for minor complications like slow growth etc), but appreciate they can’t be offered that regularly on NHS. I also understand that the places offering private scans in UK aren’t medically qualified to give you any information on your baby so the most important scans will be your NHS ones at 12/20 weeks?
In your position I would wait until the 10 weeks and then maybe scan 6 weeks if you’re in position to afford it.

I went private for my maternity care and the OB did a scan at every appt so monthly from 8 weeks then closer to the end it was every 2 weeks. I didn’t keep track but maybe had 10 in total.

If you can afford it and want to then knock yourself out and book another scan but I would wait the 2 weeks just to be sure things are progressing as expected. However, if you are on a budget maybe better saving it for an early sex/gender scan (if that appeals) and/or 4D scan once baby has cute features to see!

A scan can only tell you what has happened, they don’t show the future.

Homestly I think being able to book lots of private scans is probably detrimental to peoples mental health.

There was a post earlier today about someone who had a heartbeat at 8 weeks and then miscarried at 12. Early scans are never a guarantee.

I booked a few private scans but that was mainly because I was pregnant during Covid and the NHS wouldn’t allow my DH to attend any of their scans whereas he could attend private a scans.

We were both on our 40’s and it was our first and only DC so we both wanted to enjoy the whole journey together.

At one of the scans they couldn’t get a decent image as the baby wasn’t in the right position so they invited us back free of charge the following week. I think the staff were bored by lockdown and were happy to hand out extra free appointments just so they could meet people for a chat as much as anything else. It became the social highlight of our week!

This is not quite accurate - places like Window to the Womb are just done by sonographers but I had private scans with both mine at somewhere where it’s done by a fetal medicine obstetric consultant so more qualified than the junior doctors who did my NHS scans. Window to the Womb and similar are only really good for pictures / gender etc, though, you’re right.

OP I wouldn’t worry about booking in some
extra scans but try not to rely on them too much - as others have said it’s a point in time and pregnancy can be stressful so you’ll need to find a variety of ways of dealing with that stress - a few extra scans may be one of them, of course!

I would wait. A scan won’t change the outcome of a pregnancy.

Just remember when booking private scans there is a huge difference between a private hospital / fertility clinic that will check fetal wellbeing and the “bonding scan” places that can basically just say there is a heartbeat and boy or girl.

I had the sad experience of caring for a lady who received a diagnosis of anencephaly at the 12 week scan who had been for 2 early private scans and they hadn’t said a word to her about it despite it being clearly seen on the photos she showed us. It’s not always the reassurance you need if not being careful about where you go.

Are there any research studies you can take part in? I’m doing one with my very straight forward pregnancy and got 3 extra scans as part of it without paying for private.

Ask your midwife