UK ladies - how have you managed to get early scans?

[elleff]

I am 4 + 4 today and so far I have good strong symptoms which I am enjoying every minute of as they mean good things are happening!!

I lost my last baby at 7 + 3 in December but I think it stopped growing around 6 weeks. I think I may have had a mc 3 years ago too but was unaware I was pregnant.

I am worried sick this time and I need an early scan or I will go out of my mind.
I know its wrong but last time I had a little bleeding the week before my mc actually started and they sent me to the EPU for an early scan, I was thinking about waiting until 7-8 weeks and going to the drs and saying the same thing was happening so that they scan me?

I'm just wondering what you ladies have said that has got you an early scan? any advice?

Thanks xx

 

[busybeaver]

Hi elleff,

Congrats and h&h 9 months!
Try not to worry too much (easier said than done, I know)
Remember, the odds are all solidly in your favour!

In the UK it seems it is a case of postcode-lottery.
My hospital up here in Scotland has a really nice EPU team and once I was on their records (which is not a nice place to be since it means at least one previous mc), I just called them and got an appointment for an early US within a week.
Or there is always the option of a private scan, although the are a bit costly (starting at about 100 pounds)

 

[mamaofthree]

I have one sat but have to pay at a private clinic unless I have symptoms xxx

 

[GI_Jane]

I hope to have an early scan but I haven't asked my GP for it.

I will most likely go private. Where I live they are £75 which for little peace of mind is worth it in my opinion. Otherwise the wait to the 12 week mark will be unbearable for me (I also had an early loss).

It will be worth asking your GP, you never know.

 

[elleff]

Busybeaver - where is scotland are you? I lived in Fife for 14 years! I'm glad you have a nice EPU. Our is brilliant here too (south wales) and I was in and out so much when I was having my mc that they gave me the number and told me to call straight through to them rather than my GP.

Ladies, thankyou I'm not sure how much a private scan will be but I will look into it. I feel a bit like if I say I'm bleeding I might jinx myself!! and if it ends up happening I'll blame myself.

I think I might wait until I'm past 7 weeks and call the EPU myself and say I'm going out of my mind and the stress isnt good for the baby!! If they won't do it I will look into private I think.

I'm reassured at the moment as I can feel so much stretching and aching in my belly, I love every pain as I know it means my little bean is growing. 12 weeks is just way too far away for a scan.

My colleague said her friend got an early scan as her cycles werent regular after she came off the pill so she wasnt sure how far on she was so they gave her a dating scan. Maybe its worth saying that! My periods were like clock work after my mc but I could say they werent!!

 

[busybeaver]

So you left Fife for the "sunnier" south? ;-)
I live in Edinburgh, in the west of it, though, so I go to St. John's in Livingston. The Royal is just too busy...
I also have the EPU's number and from the midwife's reaction when I called, I would say that is normal for them. If your's is nice, just try the straight forward approach as well.

Waiting a bit is a good idea, as you can see more then. If you go too early, it might only add to the stress if they can't see anything - and it is hard to see anything early on even with an intravaginal scan - because things progress so fast!

I also know what you mean by the stretching pain, I am happy about every twinge as well!

 

[elleff]

Yes!! I have to say despite the rain here, when its hot it is HOT. I spent most of last summer flat out in my back garden, I can't remember doing that very often when I lived in scotland!! We travelled back up to get married last year and it was beautiful sunshine the 2 days either side of the wedding but freezing and wet on our day, and apparently it was glorious in Wales that day typical!! Beautiful though.

Absolutely, I'll wait as close as I can to 8 weeks as I had an internal scan at 6 + 1 last time due to spotting (which only lasted a day) and they said it must just be too early for a HB but everything was ok, I then went on to lose that baby and its likely that at that first scan it had already stopped growing. So I just can't handle that 'not knowing' again. I'll try to distract myself the best I can until 8 weeks!

 

[NIC123]

I've just finished doing 4 months of obstetrics & gynaecology. The guidelines at our hospital was to not scan before 6 weeks gestation unless an ectopic pregnancy was suspected. This is because scanning too early provides limited information.

The scan indicates if baby is viable but a vaginal examination is important in assessing if the cervix is open or closed and therefore, the possibility of miscarrying.

Hope the above helps. x

 

[GI_Jane]

So after saying earlier I would probably be paying for a private early scan, after a lot of bleeding today I ended up having a vaginal ultrascan this afternoon on the NHS after referral to the EPU from my GP.

I am just over5 weeks and everything is measuring as it should at this stage but they've made me an appointment to go back in two weeks time to make sure it has grown.

So I will be saving myself £75-100 by not having a private scan but wish the scan was under better circumstances.

 

[elleff]

Oh I'm so sorry, I know how scary it is. I have everything crossed for you. I hope these next 2 weeks are quick and there's no more bleeding. I really am thinking of you x