This feels a very awkward question to ask and I am fearful of causing any upset by it but I am not sure who else or where else to go.
I am due to arrange an early 7 week scan in 10 days time privately as I had treatment abroad. I have just been watching a TV programme and the woman has just had the same scan and been told it is ectopic and not viable.
I am already scared stiff of this prospect as I have never got this far before , but with it only being a scan place with no doctor. What will happen if it is not good news. Will they actually tell me or do I just have to wait for my clinic to get back to me once I send off the scan images.
It feels a bit scary doing this privately without the immediate support of a doctor like you would get in a hospital or proper fertility clinic.
Does anyone have any info?
Written by
Yellow611
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The chances that everything will be fine are largely in your favour but it’s normal to feel anxious especially after a long fertility journey. If something is wrong, you will be informed there and then, you’ll be told whether they can see a heartbeat or not and how the baby is measuring. At 7 weeks, as it is so early the most likely outcome even if a heartbeat isn’t detected or the baby is measuring smaller than expected for your dates is that you’ll be told to have another scan in 1-2 weeks time to check whether there has been progress. There isn’t anything a doctor can do at that stage. When I had my missed miscarriage it was my 3rd scan at close to 11 weeks, I was referred to the NHS EPU to confirm the miscarriage but this is because I’d had previous scans where there was a heartbeat. A miscarriage if it has happened - and another reassurance it’s still not a likely outcome - will not be confirmed with only one scan. Try and think positive and make sure you take someone with you for support if you’re feeling nervous. Another piece of advice if you’re worried is to ask not to see the screen until after they have confirmed the baby is ok. Good luck, I am sure everything will turn out to be ok xxx
Thanks very much for taking the time to reply and all the info and advice. That is actually all really helpful, makes me feel a bit better. I particularly like the idea of not looking at the screen as I think I will be looking for the either the worry in the sonographers face. I am sorry to hear about your loss, thank you for sharing xx
You’re welcome. Having been there myself, and even having had 2 successful pregnancies after my loss, I can never relax at a scan. I can also say though, that if the worst does happen it doesn’t feel any less painful if you were expecting it - nothing can prepare you for that - it just extends the time you feel miserable. so the best thing you can do is stay positive and believe in your baby and try and enjoy this time xx
That does make a lot of sense, I am trying remain positive and talk down the anxiety voice, but it is hard! However, that's really helped and I will keep trying to enjoy the moment xx
I know it’s hard. Also remember, people are so much more likely to post on here when things are going badly because they need support so it can feel like it’s happening way more than it actually is xx
Yellow there is no reason to think it will be the same outcome for you, there are higher chances you will have good news! When things don’t look as they should they normally invite you for another scan one week later (so at 8 weeks) and at that point they should see a fetal pole with a heartbeat and good measurements. Keep us updated xxx
I also did treatment abroad earlier in the year, I did a private scan at 6 weeks and was told it was measuring behind and to go to NHS epu for another scan.
My local maternity unit (At George's tooting) actually offer walk in scans to anyone, so if I did it all again I'd actually skip the private scan and go straight into the NHS system, I felt so much more taken care of as soon as I was in the system and not piecing together my own treatment.
There is very little your clinic can do at this stage, I don't think it's useful for them to try to interpret the US results, they won't tell you anything that the sonographer won't tell you there and then.
That is really useful info, I think I will make enquiries at my local NHS hospital as well, just to see if they do a similar walk in option. Thank you x
Congratulations! It is a very anxious wait for that first scan! A lot of good advice for you - so I just wanted to wish you all the best and I hope all is well!! 🧡
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