What happens at a private scan if something is wrong?

[ripleynot]

I’m due to go for my first scan on Sunday - I’ll be 8 weeks and 1 day. I’ve never been pregnant before and don’t know what to expect but am someone who really likes to be prepared.

If they find that there’s no heartbeat or the embryo stopped developing etc. and the pregnancy isn’t viable - what do they do? Or what do I have to do? I haven’t referred myself to a midwife yet because I didn’t want to bother with all that until I knew there was something in there.

I would really, really appreciate someone sharing the next steps with me so I’m prepared if that happens - I’m very much a practical, get on with it person.

They told me that they can’t see a heartbeat and that they’d normally expect to see it if my dates are accurate. They said they can’t confirm yet whether or not the pregnancy is viable and that I need a re-scan in 1-2 weeks either with them or with the NHS. This was a private gynaecologist.
BTW I do get your reasoning to wait with the NHS referral. After my miscarriage was confirmed and managed, I still got a couple of phone calls about pregnancy appointments from staff that was unaware that I had a miscarriage, which wasn’t nice.

Your experience has been better than mine - my NHS trust were lovely while it was happening but no one has ever reached out to me since, and they specifically told me I had to cancel my own appointments etc (for the interim period between scans when they hadn't officially confirmed miscarriage).

I went through this last year - went to a private ‘early’ scan to be told it appeared to be three weeks behind and it likely wasn’t viable. The lady gave me two options 1. Contact early pregnancy (NHS) and explain what they found or 2. Come back to her in a week as it may have just been too early to scan. I knew something wasn’t right so opted to call early pregnancy who confirmed it was an unviable pregnancy and I would miscarry soon. They were amazing.

I'm glad that all worked out really well for you.

However, if its too late things aren't picked up that should be at 12 week scan and bloods. Due to delays that can also lead to delays in anatomy scan and having that late.

When I had my booking in I was told that actually I needed to take baby aspirin as I was at risk of a small baby and/or pre-eclampsia, which you need to start taking at 12 weeks to be most effective.

I was also exposed to someone with shingles when I was 12 weeks pregnant (someone came into work with it 😡) and hadn't had chicken pox myself. Luckily at my booking appointment my midwife also sent off bloods to check for antibodies so I had those results back and knew I did have antibodies.

I also found out from those results I was rhesus negative blood group which was vital to know asap as when I had a bleed at 16 weeks I knew I needed anti-D.

Another friend found out she was anaemic and had low folate despite taking supplements which gave time in the right window to correct.

The NHS has the tests they do at the times they do them for a reason. You have the right to decide you're not fussed to follow them, but often don't understand fully what they're missing out on and the impact it can have.

Agree with this completely - NIPT does not replace the 12 week bloods. I didn't realise this when I had my first and didn't bother having the blood screening on the extremely poor advice of an NHS midwife. Ended up in hospital for a month with pre-eclampsia and a very small baby who needed special care.

I completely get your thinking and worries about booking an appointment that you may need to cancel but the bloods they take at eight weeks can help to protect your pregnancy. They screen for UTIs and STIs etc which are linked to miscarriage. At the time of my first miscarriage, I had a completely symptomless UTI picked up at the booking appointment. I will never know if that infection was the cause of my miscarriage.

They will also check your blood group which you need to know incase you are rhesus negative, again this will protect your pregnancy.

The NIPT also does not check papp a which again can protect your pregnancy by identifying if you are at risk of pre eclampsia or slow growth.

I personally had a terrible experience at window to the womb for this. My first pregnancy, I wasn’t offered an NHS dating scan until I’d be nearly 14 weeks. So I decided to book an “early” scan at window to the womb, out of pure excitement really. I booked it for 11+6. They scanned me, then just said it’s a pregnancy of unknown location we can’t see a baby you need to phone the EPU. You can get dressed and wait in the waiting room (with multiple heavily pregnant women in likely awaiting 3D scans etc) and we will give you a leaflet. I was even being rushed to put my knickers back on as they’d done an internal scan, I tried to ask questions, like is there a pregnancy at all? Is it ectopic? I was stonewalled, said they couldn’t say and I’d need to contact the EPU. It was so impersonal and horrible. NHS EPU confirmed I had a blighted ovum, and was having a missed miscarriage that needed medical management. For my second pregnancy I was anxious but never wanted to experience that again so I actually booked a private scan at 8 weeks but at the NHS hospital. Most NHS trusts actually offer private reassurance scans. Was so reassuring to know the EPU was next door in case anything was wrong again, and to have doctors near by for actual advice/treatment as opposed to being ushered out in shame and clueless! Turned out I was suffering terrible morning sickness too and the NHS sonographer who did my early scan took me straight to the EPU desk to book me in the following day for treatment at their HGV clinic. I felt very well looked after and it was the same price as window to the womb!