Early Reassurance Scan

[MissBxx]

Hey, just wondering if anyone has any experience with early scans as I've got one booked in for this coming Saturday when I should be 6w 3days. Could someone let me know maybe if they've been for a scan and been able to see something that would signify a successful pregnancy.

Sounds silly but I've had 2 miscarriages in the past and this is my first time really 'feeling' pregnant I'm still testing positive etc and have the common symptoms but my anxiety is going through the roof! I'd originally got the scan booked for 14th Feb but decided I didn't want to wait any longer stupidly.

Thanks 💕xx

When I had fertility treatment both times I was given scans at 6 weeks and 8 weeks.
Both 6 week scans I was warned they may not be able to see anything and that didn't mean it was bad news just may be too small. What time frame do they recommend you book in? My concern would be you have an early scan, they dont see anything bad but neither anything good, your left in limbo and then you have to wait till 8 weeks.

I’ve had early (6w) scans where they have picked up that the pregnancy wasn’t progressing. I had also had early scans where they have seen a heartbeat, but two weeks later it hadn’t progressed. Unfortunately they can only give you a snapshot in time.

Thank you both for the quick replies, I've booked it privately can book with them from 6-16 weeks for early reassurance scans. I've been thinking about booking another one in for around 8-9 weeks to see if anything has progressed depending on my results Saturday. Obviously I know nothings guaranteed and things can go wrong at any stage I've just never really had anxiety before so trying to figure out a way to soothe it almost got it in my head that the sooner I get the bad news the better so I'm not setting myself up for any excitement or anything.

I had one at 6+2 (NHS) and I saw a flickering heartbeat, but I was told I was lucky. So don't be too despondent if you don't see much. In fact, perhaps put it back to 8 weeks if there is no medical need for it?

As someone who has had many miscarriages, I have to say the anxiety never went away - the bad news can come at any time unfortunately! I understand why you want an early scan, I did the same.

I had an early scan at 5w6d due to spotting and could see the heartbeat flicker!
I think you just need to be prepared that if you dont see the heartbeat flicker it doesn't necessarily mean anything bad... it all depends on if you can cope with the next wait! Hope all goes well whatever you decide! Xx

Thank you, appreciate the honesty I needed to hear this x

Thank you, there's no medical need so I do agree I probably should wait a little longer to around 8 weeks

I completely agree I'm hoping that I'll be able to cope better after Saturday. Thank you for the advice 😊xx

I’d personally wait till 8 weeks, by then it’s much more definitive. 6 weeks could see a heartbeat or not, it might cause more anxiety with the uncertainty. Any decent scan place shouldn’t offer til 8 weeks really. I did have a scan at the hospital at about 6.5 weeks due to bleeding and there was a heartbeat, but i wouldnt have had a scan so early otherwise. And I did have a MC before that pregnancy, it’s so tough!

Please wait as it’s likely to cause more anxiety. There’s a reason the nhs scans at 12 weeks, and that’s because they can see things then. Private scans are not about reassurance they are exploiting vulnerable women.

My IVF clinic scans as routines. She booked me in for exactly 7 weeks and said they didn’t want to do before then as they may not see the heartbeat.
with IVF you obviously know for sure you’re 7 weeks.
you could be a couple of days off so even less than 6w3d, so I’d worry about it being scary.

The plus side is they should be able to check its in the right place by this point.

but you may find yourself wanting another at 8-10 weeks to bridge the gap until the 12 week NHS (which can be any time before 14wks)

I had a scan at 6 + 2 but was actually measuring 5 + 6. Little dot looking baby with a heartbeat. I’m the same I have had previous twin loss at the end of my first trimester so just wanted to make sure baby was there and in the right place etc!

There is a chance you might not see a heartbeat yet, I think before 7 weeks sometimes there’s a chance of not seeing a HB just to make you aware x

Thank you, that was genuinely really reassuring. I just want to make sure baby is in the right place and then fingers crossed it progresses well xx

Thank you for all the replies it's been really helpful to hear all of your experiences appreciate it a lot xx

I wouldn’t have one until at least 6w5d as before then you’re not guaranteed to see a heartbeat and it can cause more stress. I had one then due to spotting and we did see a heartbeat, but I know my dates exactly as it’s an IVF pregnancy. If your dates are off it could cause a lot of worry.

The issue with these reassurance scans from my experience is they reassure you for that day then you go back to worrying again because anything could have happened since then.

If you can hold off until 8 weeks that would be better, as statistically if you see a heartbeat at 8 weeks and everything looks fine your miscarriage risk drops to about 2%, whereas even with a heartbeat at 6 weeks the miscarriage risk is still 10%.

Hey just in case anyone was interested, I still had the scan on 7th Feb at 6w 3d and had complete reassurance (thankfully). We got to see our baby is in the right place with a good heartbeat and currently measuring perfectly. Thank you for all your advice, I do feel less anxious now however I'll likely continue to book private scans throughout.

Aww that's great news!! Glad it has reassured you for now!
I'm with you... im itching to book my next scan, but waiting to get my 12w scan date first to see if I can hold off until then or not 😂 Xx