Am I silly to pay for a 8 week scan for "fun"?

[grumpypumpkin]

Am about 5 weeks preggers with my first, and am having serious difficulty containing my excitement!!

There is a private place near us that will do an 8 week dating scan, don't think I will get one through NHS till 12 weeks, and just want to milk as much excitement as possible out of all this.

What are the pros/cons of doing this? Apart from the money?

I had a scan at 7 weeks (6.6 it was actually). It's usual when you've had IVF. Mine was transvaginal but it was very gently and sensitively done, nothing to fear at all.

You only see a heartbeat flickering. And it's only the most wonderful thing in the world and you'll leave walking on air.

I paid for one at 9+1 in my last PG. It was great, couldn't recommend it enough. I got some pictures and a disk with the video on and immense peace of mind.

As for peope saying 'there isn't much to see'..Corse there is - YOUR BABY !

If your anywhere near Solihul i can recommend a good place.

Congrats !

I had a scan at 6 weeks with my first because had no period for months, so needed for dating. It wasn't transvaginal but all could see was flickering heart beat.

I would say its a waste of money (unless you have so much money that money is no object etc) especially if you are having any other pregnancy symptons.

yes its a long time to wait until 12 weeks but in pregnancy there is a lot of waiting....

other than money no real pros or cons, you see the heartbeat, and you pay the money, thats it.

Ultrasound is a medical tool and should be used for a justifiable medical purpose. You being excited is not that justifiable medical purpose. Save your money and wait 4 more weeks!

Grumpypumpkin - if you have the time and the money and the inclination then do it.
You're not being silly. You're pregnant and it's really exciting even if you only see a little flicker of a heartbeat.

I had an eight week scan for medical reasons and it wasn't vaginal.

Grumpypumkin - I had one recently at 9+2 and if you look at my profile you will see what we saw. I also had one for bleeding at 6 weeks and saw a kidneybean with a HB. It was great to see our little bean but it doesn't make the time go faster and I am impatiently waiting for my 12 week nuchal in a weeks time - I know this week will take forever.

Personally I wouldn't do it. It is unneccesary and a medical procedure that is not needed. They don't know the long term effects of ultrasound so I think it's irresponsible to have a scan if it's not needed for any other reason that you are too impatient to wait!

Learn some delayed gratification and get excited about your 12 week scan. You wouldn't see much at this scan so is a complete waste of money as well as medically pointless.