The First Scan

[Smiley Lou]

Hi everyone,

I keep reading about people having their first scan at different times, from about 7 weeks to 12 weeks. Is this difference normal ? I am over 5 weeks pregnant and I havent even had a doctors appointment yet. I have one booked for next Tuesday, the earliest I could get, which will make me 6 and a half weeks pregnant, but I have no idea about when I should be having the scan.

If you have a scan before 12 weeks is this considered an early scan and whats the difference between waiting til the 12 week one ?

Many thanks

 

[vixta]

in my previous 2 pregnancies i had my first scan at 12 weeks, and i am booked in for my first scan at 12 weeks with this one too. i think eralier scans are done if there have been comlications with previous pregnancies and/or if there are problems with the present pregnancy xx

 

[urchin]

or if you pay for one privately

 

[Mervs Mum]

Usually, if you have a 'normal' pregnancy ie no fertility treatment etc. you could expect to have your first scan at around 12 weeks. It's normally booked by your MW or GP when you first go on their books as pregnant.

The early scans people have are sometimes private scans for reassurance or because there have been some problem - bleeding or severe pain for example.

The reason for the scan being around the 12 wk mark is because that's the best time to get an accurate measurement which will give you a due date. Before that it can be less accurate and of course the NHS dont have infinite resources to keep scanning people.

A scan before 7 weeks may not show a heart beat and cause unnecessary worry. You cant see much at all and it wont really resemble a baby. At 11/12 weeks the sonographer will be able to measure the baby more accurately, the heartbeat will be clearly visible and it will look 'baby shaped'.

The other issue with an early scan on the NHS is that they will probably not give you another one until 20 wks - it's a long time to wait. If you get dated at the early scan then they will likely not book a 12 wk scan as you will have had your 'quota' so to speak - again the NHS dont have a bottomless pit of funding....

My advice would be to ring your MW or the scanning unit and explain that you have booked the scan and that you're not sure it's the most appropriate timing. They should advise you of the best way forward

 

[pinktaffy]

i was given a early scan as i was on alot of tablets so my dr was worried. but if ur worried or think it will ease your mind to get a sooner scan u can ask your dr for a 8 week scan. and if u have a nice dr they prob will.

 

[ethan amelia]

i had two scans at 6w and 7w5d due to having a previous molar pregnancy so they needed to rule out that this wasnt happening again. I have my next scan at 13w 5d cos my midwifes are snowed under at the moment cos of all the people getting pregnant in my area!lol.

Some ladies pay privately if they want one sooner than 12 weeks.

 

[vixta]

sorry to be dumb but whats a molar prenancy?

 

[twinkletoes80]

Im having a private one on Thursday, just short of 10 weeks. Thats as Im not in the UK though and just want one for piece of mind xx

 

[Smiley Lou]

Many thanks all ! And good luck with all your scans !

 

[Mervs Mum]

sorry to be dumb but whats a molar prenancy?

If you Google it you'll get lots of info.

 

[fizz63]

i have been confused about the whole scan issue as well. i have a couple of friends who had a nuchal scan at 10 weeks (paid for privately) as apparently this looks for anomolies etc and they have more of an idea if the baby might be downs etc.

is the normal 12 week scan they do with the nhs a nuchal scan as well ? does this also look for possible problems ie downs etc. or is it just bloods with the nhs that will confirm the risk of downs etc ?

 

[Mervs Mum]

Some areas offer the NT (nuchal) scan and bloods on the NHS and others dont. My area doesnt so I will be paying for it. If you dont want to pay you have the triple test at 16 wks. My sonographer told me the most important part of the NT screening is not the scan but the bloods. The advantage of having it at 10/11 weeks is you have a risk earlier than you do with the triple testing. Then you have more time to decide what to do next ie CVS/amnio.

 

[dadandmom2be]

In UK they don't tend to give an early scan unless otherwise warranted by the reasons noted previously.

In the US however, it has become standard procedure for most specialist to order an 8 wk scan for heartbeat and dating.

We are in the US and our first scan is in about 16 hours!!!!!! We can't wait!!! We are 7+5 today