Who has had early scans and why?

[Erinsmummy]

I see that most of you on here have early scans, by that i mean before 12 weeks. Where i am we only get 2. 1 at 12 weeks, and the other at 20 weeks. Only get an earlier one if it is really needed, i had a bleed at 8 weeks with my first pregnancy, so had a scan earlier than 12 week, but they made me wait 8 days before i could have it! On here i read that if you need an early scan you get one almost straight away. Just wondering what reasons there are for early scans?

 

[kat2504]

I'm guessing you're also from the UK? It isn't routine to have early scans here. Your situation of having to wait for one is perfectly normal. Most people won't get a scan before 12 weeks.
I had 2 early scans, one at 6 weeks because the hospital wanted to verify I was properly pregnant with a live embryo before starting me on some medication. One at 9 weeks for reassurance after previous repeat miscarriages.

Later in pregnancy I'll be having growth scans at 28, 32 and 36 weeks. This is due to the medication I'm on and is also not routine.

I think in the US more people have an early scan at their first appointment.

 

[Perfect_pink]

Im having my first scan tomorrow then will have one every two/4 weeks due giving birth at 26 weeks due to pre eclampsia and placental abruption and lot of other complications plus previous mc x

 

[nicola ttc]

Are you in the UK? Generally it's a 12 and 20 week scan unless you have a history of m/c, have pain or have had a bleed/are bleeding. It's a kind of reassurance thing with previous m/c and with pain or bleeding they are making sure it's not ectopic or to confirm baby's heartbeat and whether a lady is m/c'ing. If you have had problems in a previous pregnancy at any stage the hospital will keep an eye on that with regular scans too.
There seem to be quite a lot of us 'pal' ladies (pregnant after loss) who've got bfp's lately so maybe that's why it seems lots of people are getting early scans?
Also, you can get an early reassurance scan privately - i'm north London and costs around £80 here from 6/7 weeks.
Hope this helps.

 

[ameeann]

in the US they have there first scans around 6-7 weeks



I had a scan at 7 weeks as I had abdominal pain, and they were unsure if it was an ectopic or not, turns out it wasn't and bubz is just fine I was quite please though, they managed to get me in the same afternoon as my doctors appointment, I imagine because it's detrimental to my health too!

 

[kat2504]

If they think it is ectopic they will get you in the same day because an ectopic can kill you if it is left and not treated.
If you have a bleed and they don't suspect ectopic, they'll make you wait, because even if it is an early miscarriage, it is unlikely to be a health risk to you and scanning you the same day as an emergency case will make no difference to the outcome. Compassionate lot, aren't they?! In all seriousness, it depends on how busy the EPAU in your hospital is. Mine isn't that busy generally and with my last miscarriage, I did get seen the next day.

 

[ameeann]

thats disgusting that they are willing to leave possibly grieving mothers for days not knowing whether there pregnancy is viable or not?!!!! ugh, thats the NHS for ya!!

 

[Beee]

Hi! I had a scan at 5w 4d due to severe left sided pain. I was under a fertility consultant for 2 years before BFP, and they routinely book patients in for an early scan at 7 weeks, so I had that one too. Otherwise I would be waiting until 12 weeks like yourself.
As for EPAU at my local hospital (where I also work!), they are fantastic. If a woman was bleeding or in pain, they would never tell you to wait, they would fit you in immediately. Sending someone away for days with the stress and worry (which may be unecessary as things could be fine) sounds awful!!!
xxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[Erinsmummy]

Thanks for all your replies Yes im in the uk. If i dont have any problems this pregnancy i wont have a scan till 12 weeks. I was just curious as to the reasons for early scans and how quickly they do them. Like i said i bled at 8weeks with my first and had to wait 8 days to have a scan, was just awful waiting, not knowing if i was still having a baby or not, But where i live the nearest hospital that does the scans is 45mins away and covers a wide area. xx

 

[Erinsmummy]

Things were fine with my first pregnancy by the way, when i had my scan i was actually further along than i thought and could see quite alot as i was 10 weeks. Was lovely to have that scan early, but i still rememeber how i felt waiting for it

 

[88Ash88]

i had early scans as my dr suspected i was having an ectopic pregnancy, fortunately everything was ok, then i had another scan a week after that - don't know what the reason for that was, and now my next scan is at 12/13 weeks.


Ash xxx

 

[annie25]

many early scans are done in my situation of coming from a fertility treatment too x

 

[rebekah05]

Mine was the same as yours at eight weeks due to bleeding.

 

[AP]

It is frustrating but bear in mine early pregnancy scanning doesn't get much funding it's actually quite a shame

 

[kissesandhugs]

I'm in the us and (idk about anywhere else in the us) but around here we only get 2 scans as well 12wk and 20wk. I saw someone said US gets a scan around 6-7 weeks, I know for sure around here that does not happen unless there are complications. I did have 2 early scans due to heavy bleeding though!

 

[LisaL79]

I had my first u/s at 6w1d, 2nd at 8w1d and will have a third in a few das at 10w1d.
I've had so many b/c I'm seeing a fertility specialist and b/c I've had so many losses before w/ my last 2 causing some problems and taking forever to resolve.

My doctor has monitored me very closely b/c of all of this and once it was confirmed that my betas were going up as they should, they scheduled me for the first one to make sure the baby was where it should be.
My 10w1d u/s will be my last with this doctor before he releases me to a regular OB.

 

[bees]

It varies here in the US, depending upon the practice, if it's an RE or OB, and the patient's insurance. The doctor I just left only does one at 20 weeks, doesn't even give the option of a 12 week scan. Now that I cannot imagine.

My current doctor normally does a scan at 12 weeks and 20 weeks. However, since I am new, and he's been prescribing nausea meds he wants to see me earlier, so I will have it done at 7w, 4d.

 

[klsltsp]

I had my first scan at 6 + 1 weeks it was done to date the pregnancy, I have a 21 day cycle so the typical dating doesn't work for me and waiting until 12 weeks it's harder to date the pregnancy.

I had my second scan at 7 + 6 days because I had had some spotting, everything was fine.

Then I had my third scan at 11 + 6 for the IPS screening.


Good luck!

 

[MRItech14]

I got an early scan (6+4)because my last pregnancy ended in a mmc at 9weeks. My dr. Just said she wants to keep an eye on this one early on.

 

[Rickles]

I paid for a private one at 7w 6 days... I had a chemical in November and was struggling to relax. Seeing the heartbeat and everything in the right place just really helped me and I thought it was worth the 100 quid tbh.