Scan postponed - feeling depressed

[Petsville]

Just found a message from the hospital on my mobile phone saying they have to postpone my 12-week scan from Friday to the following Monday, because the doctor isn't there on Friday. Fair enough, these things happen. But I have to decide whether to have a CVS (I'm over 35 and I've had a previous pregnancy terminated because the baby had triploidy - please don't flame me, I'm feeling fragile).

Friday would have been fine: I'd arranged to take a day's leave and didn't have anything at the weekend I couldn't get out of, so I could have rested as the hospital advises if we did decide to have the CVS. Monday, on the other hand, is rubbish: I've got a meeting that I absolutely can't get out of on Tuesday morning, and it's going to be hard even to get Monday morning off for the scan itself. I can't tell work yet, partly because I don't really believe this baby will be healthy either so we weren't planning to tell anyone at all unless we get to twenty weeks and everything looks OK, and partly because it's not exactly a female-friendly organisation and I'm only expecting trouble and stress when I do tell them, so I want to put it off as long as I can. So I feel I'm being pushed in the direction of the nuchal scan and blood tests, which means an extra two weeks of uncertainty if it does look as though something's seriously wrong. Anyone else been through anything similar? And would people advise against the CVS anyway, from their own experiences?

Why don't you organise a private scan for the friday?

they work out at around £100, but you will get a longer appt and be able to check everything you need to.

BMI hospitals do them nationwide

Harimosmummy, thanks for the advice. I'd probably follow it except that this is a consultant scan at the foetal medicine unit, rather than a standard twelve-week scan at the antenatal clinic, and it'll be that unit that I have to go back to if anything turns out to be wrong. I've already had my 8-week scan there (high-risk for an ectopic as well as everything else), they've got all my notes and past history, and I think the consultant's good. I'd like the continuity of care if I can possibly manage it.

Oh... that's a bit of a bind...

Yes... it's important to have a good relationship with your consultant.

Can you perhaps see if they could move it Wed or Thurs? Not sure there is anything else you can do.

Hope it all turns out OK though.

Agree move it earlier - would not dream
of flaming you as terminated After finding severe abnormalities at 21 weeks so I know that plannig for scan and preparing for tests is not something you want interfered with. Hope it all goes well for you.

Also i'd explain a bit o your history if you feel up to that as I found that made whole scan expeience easier as people happy to do what they could to make a stressful experience easier.

Thanks, Poppy - sorry you had a similar horrible experience. Mercifully explaining the history isn't necessary: not only was the midwife who did my 8-week scan the same one I saw last time when they discovered the abnormalities, she remembered me (I was very impressed by that). I'm seeing the same consultant too.

I def. agree with poppy, though... Do explain how stressful it's going to be to move the appt. to Monday and come up with some alternatives that would work for you.

One other idea that came to me: Is your consultant working but at a different hospital?

I know my consultant (I had the same consultant for both of my PGs too) worked at 3 different hospitals and I actually saw him at 2 different ones during PG No.1 to fit in with my dates.

Just an idea that you might be able to schedule an appt with him on Friday but at a different location? Worth asking?

That's a good thought, harimosmummy - I'll ask when I ring them tomorrow. Thanks.