please read and let me know what you think...

[ttolc07]

I have some worries, my name is Leanne too by the way! Hello LeanneClare

I am 5 weeks 2 days and last year at about 5-6 weeks I miscarried and ended up in a EPU (early pregnancy unit). They asked me to call and update them when I had my next period and if it was all normal etc. Which it was, and I've had normal periods all year. I called them and spoke to someone and they just said thank you for letting us know. Then I kept receiving letters saying I hadn't got in touch and that they couldn't rule out 'eptopic' pregnancy. But I never made an appointment. I think everything is ok anyway.

So fast forward to this year and this pregnancy, and I don't have any spotting or bleeding like last year, I feel pretty good apart from some dull aches low down, a bit like period cramps, but they come and go. They mostly wake me up at 6am every morning. Then I go back to sleep. I don't feel nauseous at all, but I do have terrible wind and need to wee all the time.

I would really like an early internal scan like I had last year. I know that was because i was in a lot of pain and was bleeding, but I really feel as though everything last year was so immediate and I knew exactly where I stood. This time I feel like I'm just waiting. I couldn't get a GP appointment until next Wednesday, (only 6 more days) and then I'll be 6 weeks 1 day so maybe thats a good thing. But I'm not impressed by the lack of information, or confirmation. Been talking to a lot of ladies in the US and they've already had ultrasounds at 6 weeks and know for definite.

I just feel really worried and just want some good news.

I am 27 years old, I live in London and my edd (due to my own calculations is late Feb 2013)

[redjnr]

hiya..i'm vicky..i think the medical professionals don't see any pregnancy as properly viable until after 12 weeks so unless you have bleeding and pain they tend not to see you for early scans...however, some people pay for their own early scans for reassurance...

your symptoms sound great..i had 2 pregnancies with no morning sickness at all and they are now age 10 and 8 you might find sickness kicks in after 6 weeks anyway...

i know its hard, but try not to worry and fingers crossed yr dr will refer you for a scan anyway after your previous miscarriage xx

[Hidden]

Hi Leanne- its easy to say but please try not to worry. It sounds like everything is going as it should be, but I can empathise with your concerns after your previous experiences.

If you really do feel that worried then I would ask for an emergency appointment or at least get a GP to call you, I don't think thats too much to ask for.

As for confirmation- I'm not sure what they can do other than arrange a scan. I went to the doctors yesterday to confirm my pregnancy and they didn't even do a test to check just took my word for it! We were totally amazed, seemed a bit of a waste of time. I booked in for my first midwife appointment which sounds like thats the best thing to do, I would recommend calling your surgery and booking a midwife appointment, they will do bloods etc and that will confirm your pregnancy.

And you have good news- you're pregnant!!! Congratulations x

[Carren]

Hi Leanne, and congratulations! I know exactly what you mean. I'm pregnant for the first time, and I was very surprised and somewhat disconcerted that my booking appointment with the midwife didn't involve any kind of physical examination (unless you count height, weight, and blood pressure), just loads of medical history questions. Now I'm counting down the days until my twelve-week scan so that I can get some assurance that there really is a fully-formed fetus with a heartbeat in there. The wait is agonizing

Still, while that's how we feel, and nothing's going to change how we feel, I hope I can reassure you that there's nothing to be concerned about regarding the care you've received so far.

For a start, make no mistake, your pregnancy has been confirmed. A home pregnancy test can't return a positive result unless there is HCG in your urine, and HCG in your urine or blood would be all a doctor would look for to confirm your pregnancy. And your symptoms sound pretty normal.

As for what happened after your miscarriage, it sounds like there was simply a clerical error. If you haven't landed in the emergency room by now, you didn't have an ectopic pregnancy, so nothing to worry about there.

Regarding an early scan, I have no idea whether a doctor would be willing to order one to put your mind at rest--that probably depends on the doctor--but while a scan would certainly be reassuring, at least psychologically, it wouldn't rule out the possibility of a miscarriage occurring after the scan. The risk would still be there, just as it is for any woman during the first trimester. Of course the good news is, just because you've had one miscarriage, doesn't mean there's any reason to expect you to have another. The vast majority of women who experience a miscarriage go on to carry their baby to term the next time around.

Having grown up in the U.S., I'm well acquainted with both systems, and can tell you that pregnancy and childbirth are far more medicalized in the U.S. than here, by which I mean that there tend to be a lot more tests and interventions. However, more procedures does not necessarily equate to better care, and in fact the infant mortality rate is much lower here than in the U.S., so the NHS must be doing something right. The fact of the matter is that heathcare is big business in America, with every insurance company, service provider, and drug/equipment manufacturer looking to maximize their profit, so if you want a test done, and you or your insurance company is willing to pay for it, you get the test, whether you need it or not, and over time the tests that no one really needs become the standard. An American doctor once ordered a CT scan of my brother's face because he'd had a sniffle for a fortnight. Needless to say, the scan showed nothing and the sniffle went on its own after another week. You can rest assured no NHS doctor will ever expose you to radiation for no good reason like that!

I'm waffling, but what I'm trying to say is that just because all your American friends had early scans doesn't mean that you need one--you're in good hands

As for information, the stuff you really need to know is on the NHS Choices website, but for all the stuff you don't need to know but still want to, you really can't beat a book--there's one for every personality type in your local book shop

Hope everything goes well for you!

[Maite]

Hi Leanne,

do not worry!!! I also had a miscarriage last year at around 5ish weeks, and then earlier this year I got pregnant with cramps and bleeding and...I am now on my 20th week! It is pretty normal that you're scared, but trust that your body and your baby will be fine. In addition, and echoing what others have said, you seem to have the "normal pregnancy symptoms", so I would try not too worry too much.

If you want to do an early scan, I would wait until 7-8 weeks just to make sure that the baby and his/her heart can be seen with all clarity (i had an early scan at 6 weeks, and it wasn't quite visible). In any case, a blood test should confirm your pregnancy, and afterwards, the weeks remaining to the 12th week will just fly!

Wishing you all the best, and congrats!

[ttolc07]

Thank you so much for ALL your responses. I feel much better now. The EPU that saw me last year has said that at 7 weeks I can have an early scan after what happened last year. So feeling good!! Thanks xxxxxx

[amara]

Hi there

I have an ectopic pregnancy several years ago and last year when i fell pregnant i went to early pregnancy support, and asked for a vaginal scan to confirm is baby was indeed in the sack. Without any hesitation this was offered to me and set my mind at ease. So its worth asking for it especially since you've had a misacrriage, there is no reason they would insist on you waiting till 12 weeks scan. Its worth contacting them asap. Good luck xxx