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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Advice on early scans

51 replies

Thandeka · 16/03/2009 11:54

Hello,
Am 5.2 weeks and off to Thailand from 25th for 3 weeks (between 7-10 weeks so crucial time. Referred to the Whittington on last tuesday and included Dr's referral for an early scan due to situation (want to know pregnancy is viable as miscarrying in Thailand would be terrible and may cause us to cancel).

Phoned the Whittington on Friday and they had lost my referral so had to resend it. Phoned them today and they have found me but told me it will take up to 10 days for an appointment. I explained the situation again (as I don't have 10 days!) and the woman was really arsey with me saying there was nothing she could do and I should phone again on friday! Cutting it a bit fine- I got a bit teary- pregnancy hormones!

Anyhow have phoned my doctors and she is going to chase it up with them for me but now a bit worried that I won't be able to get a scan before I go. I know normally you don't get a scan til 12 weeks but I am going to be incredibly paranoid and unable to relax on holiday unless i know its okay. Hmmmm perhaps we should pay for an early scan but the doctor seemed to think i was entitled to one on the NHS because of the situation. Also money is tight at the minute because of the holiday (is our honeymoon).

Nargh.

So questions a) Forget about the scan before the holiday.
b) go mental at whittington and try and get one.
c) go private for a scan.

Is it worth it! Can feel self getting stressed about it which is no good. Can you tell it's my first!

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EldonAve · 16/03/2009 11:55

Do you have to have a referral? Does the EPU not offer a self refer turn up and wait service?

OnlyWantsOne · 16/03/2009 11:58

my local EPAU offers a walk in service - give them a call and speak to them, they are lovely

Original poster

Thandeka · 16/03/2009 11:59

but don't i need to be bleeding or something?

I'm not and I feel my reasons for wanting an early scan are a bit cheeky maybe (although valid in my head!)

OP posts:

OnlyWantsOne · 16/03/2009 12:00

call them and ask!

tiggerlovestobounce · 16/03/2009 12:02

You could phone them and ask, if you are worried that they wont think that your reasons for an early scan would be enough for an NHS scan, at least then you will know and can focus on options a or c.

EldonAve · 16/03/2009 12:03

Reassurance is considered a valid reason here

TotalChaos · 16/03/2009 12:03

I'ld say a) as you are so early on in your PG. You may not see a heartbeat until you are 8 weeks PG, and if you are at all out with your dates (if you ov'd late) then an early scan could cause needless worry, if they don't see what they would expect for your stage of PG.

Original poster

Thandeka · 16/03/2009 12:03

yup will do at lunchtime!

OP posts:

mrsboogie · 16/03/2009 12:05

It's a bit early for a scan to be honest - I know people have seen a heartbeat at around six weeks but lots haven't and have had to come back in a week or two. I went for one at 7 weeks and they couldn't see the heartbeat so I had to wait until 8 weeks. Imagine if this happened to you? You might miss out on your holiday for no reason.

pavlovthecat · 16/03/2009 12:06

If you are really anxious and will fret on holiday I would pay for the scan if you cannot get one through EPAU or hosp.

traceybath · 16/03/2009 12:07

I agree with totalchaos - i had an early scan as was unsure as to dates as no periods as breasfeeding. Saw a sac but no heartbeat so knew it was either early or not viable and had to go back 2 weeks later where saw a lovely heartbeat.

The epu here (bath) only does early scans if you're bleeding or in pain and only after 6 weeks. I think the fact its so early may be a problem.

I've also had a private early scan in my second pregnancy and they said there was no point doing that until 8 weeks.

I know its really hard but if i were you i'd just go on holiday and have your scan when you get back.

Original poster

Thandeka · 16/03/2009 12:07

According to my dates I am 7.5 weeks pregnant but I am not as I ovulated on day 24 of my cycle so I'm pretty sure I am at the correct stage of pregnancy.

Would like to see a heartbeat if I can but know it may be too early to do so but they can tell if a pregnancy is viable from a scan which would give me some reassurance.

OP posts:

traceybath · 16/03/2009 12:09

But if there's no heartbeat yet they can't tell if its viable - they can just tell you to come back in 2 weeks where hopefully you will see a heartbeat.

So how many weeks do you actually think you are according to when you know you ovulated?

Original poster

Thandeka · 16/03/2009 12:11

Oh and we have relatives in Thailand who know the medical system pretty well so maybe even option d is have a scan in thailand. But that would probably only be an option if an initial scan didn't find a heartbeat. A transvaginal scan can often find a heartbeat from 6 weeks, a doppler can't.

OP posts:

MrsHappy · 16/03/2009 12:11

Hi Thandeka

I think in your situation I probably would not be too bothered about having a scan. If you are going to miscarry (and the likelihood is that you are not) there is nothing you will be able to do about it. That sounds really harsh, I know, but I think that part of being pregnant is the realisation of how little of this stuff is within our control!

Also, as Totalchaos says an early scan may throw up more questions than it answers and IME you really don't want to be going for repeat scans, blood tests etc if you can possibly avoid it as it is the most stressful thing on earth.

If you really do feel you need a scan, then St Georges and St Thomas' (I think - although check) are two London hospitals that have a walk in EPAU. Many of the others generally won't see you without a referral (or a friendly consultant overhearing you plead!). Reassurance is a valid reason, but you really should try to not worry- as this is your first pregnancy there is no reason at all to think anything will go wrong.

If you are going to have a scan I strongly advise you not to do so until you are well past 6 weeks, as before then it may be hard for them to see a heartbeat and it could be a v stressful experience.

Good luck

ps - I am booked at the Whit too. Maybe we'll bump into each other and think "I wonder is she's Thandeka?"

Original poster

Thandeka · 16/03/2009 12:12

According to when I ovulated i am 5.2 today.

I would leave it as late as possible before getting the scan so either 6.2 or 6.3.

OP posts:

MrsHappy · 16/03/2009 12:13

I think that's best. If you were to go earlier they might be able to confirm the pregnancy is in the right place but that's about it.

Original poster

Thandeka · 16/03/2009 12:14

Thanks guys, some things to think about- will talk it over with DH tonight.

Hehe MrsHappy- I'll be the one carting round a 2litre bottle of water! (no hang on that'll be you!)

OP posts:

traceybath · 16/03/2009 12:16

Good luck and have a fab honeymoon.

MrsHappy · 16/03/2009 12:18

Yes, a giant bottle of Evian and a very mouthy two year old. Presumably you'll be the woman with your nails chewed right down with nerves (and a post-holiday tan )!

HeadFairy · 16/03/2009 12:18

Thandeka, St George's in Tooting definiately allow you to have an early scan without any pain or bleeding. Maternal anxiety is considered a valid reason for an early scan. Last time I was pg they said 6 weeks was the earliest they recommended, as you won't see anything before then.

Original poster

Thandeka · 16/03/2009 12:52

Brill just phoned St Thomas' and they said although they won't scan me because of the holiday they asked how I was and when I said I had had cramping they said I should come in for blood tests and a scan- so will try and go in this week sometime for blood tests and they can book me in for a scan early next week. Am not lying have had cramps (but not worried about them as no blood and think is normal in early pregnancy according to another worried post I put on mumsnet!

OP posts:

christiana · 16/03/2009 13:05

Message withdrawn

Original poster

Thandeka · 16/03/2009 13:13

Thanks for the perspective Christiana that helps. Will have a think about it and discuss it with DH.

(Part of the reason we wanted an early scan is also if all was okay would mean could tell my grandparents who are very frail and my grandma recently stopped swallowing properly so we are not sure how long she has left. But I suppose we could tell them without a scan and keep fingers crossed til 12 weeks (and november!)

OP posts:

llareggub · 16/03/2009 13:26

I would strongly urge you not to have the scan.

I've had several early scans due to bleeding in early pregnancy. The first scan, in my first pregnancy, was at 8 weeks and showed a heartbeat, all good.

Scans 2 and 3, at approximately 6 weeks in pregnancies 2 and 3, showed nothing good at all, and caused a couple of weeks of worry before officially miscarrying.

Scan 4, done for reassurance due to earlier experiences, took place when I thought I was 7 weeks. I was expecting to see a heartbeat, and was devastated when they dated me at approximately 5 weeks and could not confirm whether the pregnancy was viable. We had a few weeks of misery (I was convinced I was no longer pregnant) before the 12 week scan showed a healthy pregnancy. I had a vaginal scan, btw, at a private clinic. I was sure of my dates, pretty sure about when I ovulated etc, so was pretty gutted. But, I am now 32 weeks pregnant and my due date is 2 weeks later than my dates.

What I've learned from all this is that early scans aren't particularly reassuring and will make no difference to the outcome of the pregnancy. Go to Thailand, enjoy your pregnancy and try to relax, although I know (I really, really do) how hard it is.

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