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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

8-10 week scan-are they worth paying for?

20 replies

Bump02 · 11/05/2009 20:45

Hi everyone,

I am new to this site and I am approx 7-8 weeks pg. I have an appointment next Monday (18th) with midwife, and asked her on the phone if my local Nhs did early scans, the answer was no and I would have to pay for one privately at a local Bupa hospital or wait until 12 weeks. (I'm very impatient)

I am not sure whether to do it or not? Firstly how much are they? And has anyone had one? If so was it worth it? Can they be dangerous?

I have a son who is 7 years old from a previous relationship, and I am feeling very new to this again....it's been a long time!!

Hope to hear from some of you soon. xx

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slushy06 · 11/05/2009 21:15

If you wan't reassurance they are certainly worth the money. I had one at 8 weeks on my last pg due to medical problem but you could't see much just a blob. so if you are hoping for a glimpse of baby then no not really worth it.

BikeRunSki · 11/05/2009 21:15

I had my NHS dating scan (the one usually doen at 12 weeks) at 9 weeks, as I was so ill.

There is really nothing to see, the purpose of my scan was to pick up a heartbeat, see if I might have been having twins (I wasn't) and to date the baby.

If you are confident of your dates, and feel healthy, then I would save the money and be patient. I thing they cost around £200 privately.

ilovemydogandMrObama · 11/05/2009 21:19

I wasn't sure about dates. Actually, it wasn't a 'not sure' but didn't have a clue! My cycle was erratic to say the least. So, got a dating scan.

Am not trying to prompt you or anything, but this how I ended up getting scans for both DCs.

cupofteaplease · 11/05/2009 21:24

I had one with dd2 as wasn't sure of dates, and it was very reassuring, but you don't see a lot.

I had one with my last pregnancy, and it picked up that the baby wasn't growing properly. Weekly follow up scans confirmed that the pregnancy wasn't viable and the 11 week scan showed the baby's heart had stopped. I MC'd the next week. Don't mean to put a downer on things, but I paid £50 for the initial scan and in a way, I wish I'd had those extra weeks of being blissfully unaware that it was all going wrong.

If/when we try again, I don't think I will have an early scan.

flowerybeanbag · 11/05/2009 21:25

I would have thought it depends what it's for. If you have reason to be concerned, such as history of m/c, or are bleeding, or anything like that, they should be happy to give you an early scan on the NHS.

If it's just because you don't want to wait until 12 weeks to see the baby, then probably best waiting anyway I reckon, for the sake of a couple of weeks it would be an expensive scan.

Original poster

Bump02 · 11/05/2009 21:34

Thanks guys for all your replies

I think i'll probably wait. I was only worried because I have endometriosis and have had 2 surgeries in the past 3 years...just being cautious and anxious really about my insides(only natural I suppose)

Thanks again x

OP posts:

flowerybeanbag · 11/05/2009 21:39

I'd suggest you explain your concerns to your midwife when you see her next week and you may be able to get an earlier scan on the NHS. If you ask her theoretically over the phone whether they do early scans, she is bound to say no, but if you have reason to be concerned and discuss it with her personally, you may get a different answer.

ohdearwhatamess · 11/05/2009 21:48

I had one at 8 weeks, for reassurance, with ds1, and it was worth every penny. It had taken us years to conceive and I needed to know everything was ok.

I was more relaxed with ds2, and didn't bother (and, iirc, had my 12 week NHS scan at 10 weeks).

I paid £100, but that was over 3 years ago (Herts).

jkklpu · 11/05/2009 21:48

Congratulations.
With one pregnancy, I went for the 12-week but dates were all over the place and the radiographer dated the baby at 8 weeks. Then that was it as there wasn't anything for him to see, not just for dh and me. So save your money for something you'll REALLY need further down the line and buy yourself some nutella to take you through the next couple of weeks.

MaLopez · 11/05/2009 22:14

@jkklpu. What have you started?? Just left my cosy bed to hunt for some nutella. None, but I found some chocolate hazlenut spread DH got me from Brussels. Yum

JemL · 11/05/2009 22:24

I paid £50 for mine and it was worth it to me. In my last pregnancy, I paid £143 for one, and again, felt it was worth it - but had had previous missed miscarriages (which I was told was not sufficient reason to have a scan...they are not there for reassurance you know is what I was told!)

It depends on why you want it done - I would have been a wreck without them. If I hadn't, I would certainly have saved the money!

Milliemuffin · 12/05/2009 09:16

Has anyone had an early scan done with BUPA? I'm thinking about it as I miscarried at 10 weeks as there was no baby, empty sac and I'm not sure I can wait another 7/8 weeks to find out if there is a baby this time or not. I am getting stretching twinges so I think I'm 7 1/2weeks. What I think was an implantation bleed (on 9/4) 3 weeks after my m/c my doc thinks was my first period even though it was exactly the same as the implantation bleed i had in january so I'm thinking of having one done so i can be sure and can tell people sooner as I'm sure they're going to guess. I've gone from 8st 3 to 8st 8 and can no longer where my fav jeans.

sparklycheerymummy · 12/05/2009 09:21

most of my friends are paying privately but i have chosen not to. midwife says it is the right size as she felt i..... we heard a very faint but def there blip of a heartbeat and i am one for believing that you have to stay positive...... with my dd i didn have a scan at all till 18 weeks!!!!!! however if i knew there were complications maybe i would consider it???? ultimately there is little to see at 12 weeks and even less at 8.

Milliemuffin · 12/05/2009 10:11

Surely it's better to know there's at least a baby there though, last time i was 10 weeks pregnant with an empty sac :-(

foxinsocks · 12/05/2009 10:15

I'm no fan of tests but got given an early scan with dd (as was bleeding and the pregnancy was a surprise). All you really see is a jellybean and a heartbeat and that's it.

sparklycheerymummy · 12/05/2009 10:16

i hadnt really thought of that sorry. i just try stay positive cos i would drive myself nutty otherwise

Kingsroadie · 12/05/2009 10:34

I had a private scan at 8+3. I wasn't 100% sure of dates and found out I was about 5 days furthr along that I thought. I was really nervous (for no reason - first pregnancy, no bleeding etc) but I think I have read too much about missed miscarriages etc and excpedt the worst! Anyway I was very reassured to see a heartbeat and a thing which was starting to look like a baby so I thought it was extremely worthwhile and would def do it again. I also told myself that if something was wrong I would rather know sooner than later but of course, everyone is different...

I am now still semi-nervously awaiting my 12 week scan which is in a week but I keep reading that if you see a heartbeat at 8 weeks the risk of miscarriage is reduced to 3% (don't quote me on that though! )

Milliemuffin · 12/05/2009 10:38

That's it?? How can you say that's it?? It's a baby and it is has a heartbeat!! You couldn't ask for anything more!! Two totally amazing life changing emotional sights!! How can you say that's it!! At such an early stage you wouldn't expect to see a fully grown baby but to simply know you at least have a baby and it's alive, surely that in itself is just the best you can hope for.

Milliemuffin · 12/05/2009 10:40

sorry - that was to foxinsocks

foxinsocks · 12/05/2009 11:33

well when you're not expecting anything at all, it's pretty bloody weird I can tell you

all I'm saying is that if you want a scan, just because you fancy one, far better waiting till you can see more.

if you want it for reassurance, then of course, it would be reassuring to see the heartbeat.

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