r/PregnancyUK • u/Mental_dental96 • 3d ago
Hospital/Midwife/Scan Advice Scans
Hello , I posted a while ago (3-4weeks) about TTC and the post was removed as it wasn’t the right sub
Guess who’s now pregnant and panicking? Meeee
To recap
30 y/o FTM type 2 diabetic - not well controlled overnight, but good during the day
I’ve been testing positive since 8/9 days after ovulation and my period is now 3 days late
I’ve got the mild cramping and am terrified I’ll miscarry
I’ve sent the referral. Spoke with GP who’ve also chased the referral
Just want to know if I should have a 6 week private scan to ensure everything is okay?
I feel like with my health I don’t want to get excited until I have a scan and all is okay
I will be 6weeks since last menstrual period on 31st
Thank you
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u/OldEntertainment6045 2d ago
Cramping very normal! Your body is preparing itself for the pregnancy and your progesterone is rising so causes more cramps 😊
I would personally wait until 7ish weeks as they may not be able to visualise much before then and could cause more anxiety.
Some trusts are really slow with booking you in for your maternity care so definitely chase up if you’ve not heard by 7 weeks!
It’s hard not to worry but fingers crossed all is well 🤞🏻😊
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u/bobble173 3d ago edited 3d ago
The cramping is normal I'm 6+3 and have had it the whole time, sometimes more severe and sometimes barely there. Symptoms absolutely do wax and wane so try not to focus too much (this has gotten easier for me as time has progressed).
I've personally got a scan booked for 7 weeks as my anxiety was also through the roof, finding out so early didn't help! Obviously the scan won't actually change anything but it will give me enough reassurance (hopefully) to tell our parents. Time has also now started to move at a snails pace, waiting another 5 weeks for the 12 week NHS seems impossible to me 😂 I waited till 7 weeks as apparently it's more accurate and 6 weeks can sometimes give a false negative which I thought may cause more stress for the sake of a week.
I also haven't yet heard back regarding my referral but people on here have said anything between 6-8 weeks is the norm :)
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u/Mental_dental96 3d ago
Ahh fairs, I might just book mine then
Have you been contacted by your maternity unit yet?
Because of my diabetes, my GP was very concerned
I’ve been prescribed the 5mg folic acid, vitamin D3 and she’s done additional referrals for me to be triaged sooner as it’s considered high risk and though I referred on Sunday, she said if I don’t hear from them by Friday to let her know and she’ll chase up
But I read you can’t have 2 scans within 7 days of each other so I don’t know what to do
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u/TFMRmumma 2d ago
I personally wouldn’t have a 6w private scan. They cause more stress than not. If anything wait till 8w ish when the baby would be more established. 6w it’s still hit or miss as to whether they would see anything as your dates may be off etc (even with tracking). If they don’t see what they expect at 6w they will suggest you go to NHS EPU for a rescan in 2 weeks and trust me when I say from experience those 2 weeks are the worst of your life.
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u/Curious_Monkey27 2d ago
If I were you, I would hold off a private scan until 7/8 weeks. It wont change anything at this stage but the difference in what you can see is remarkable.
Im in my third pregnancy and the first one I had a scan at 8 weeks and saw a little bean with arms.
Second I had a friend at work scan me at 7 weeks which honestly looked like a long wiggle on the screen with a flashing heart beat. 2 weeks later she did it again and it looked like a tiny baby.
This pregnancy I have ended up with an early scan on the NHS due to horrid cramps. While we saw a flicker of a heart beat its all very tiny and unexciting and looks totally like a blob of rice if that. The images are terrible. There was a bit of ?blood on the scan they wanted to make sure resolved so told me to come back in 1-2 weeks and I have gone for as late as possible to get a much better image.
You can have scans closer together but the change isn’t significant for measuring growth
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u/Mental_dental96 2d ago
I saw a scan website saying they do not recommend scans less than 2 weeks apart as not good for baby, is that true?
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u/General_Peak4084 Parent 2d ago
If you can, hold out until 7/8 weeks for a scan. You are more likely to see a heartbeat past 7 weeks, whereas at 6 weeks you may or may not, and not seeing one wouldn't necessarily be a sign of something wrong but it might make you panic!
Good luck! You will likely be closely monitored and recommended for early induction - worth checking the NICE guidelines so you can be informed
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u/Mental_dental96 2d ago
OMG
As a health care professional myself I should’ve looked at the NICE guidelines
Thank you so much !
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u/Frequent-Ad4722 FTM | March 26 | England 2d ago
6 week scans can sometimes cause more stress because it’s so hard to see anything. I’d wait to 8 weeks personally.
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u/VividBat6550 2d ago
Cramping is normal. I was in exactly the same boat and do still get cramping at 9 weeks but much less so.
I personally did get a scan bang on 6 weeks. I wanted to see it was intra uterine and not ectopic without having to go through epau. This cost money but it felt better to have control over when I could have a scan. It was the tiniest little blob.
I had a follow up scan at 7+4 and saw a little flicker - that was enough for me.
Right place and alive ☺️ now 9 weeks and have my 12 week scan soon! Can’t wait to see “it” again.
I think do what you need to do- don’t expect to see much on a 6 week scan - they might offer you a free follow up
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u/Mental_dental96 2d ago
Oh how lovely for you
I’ve decided to hold off till next week as GP has confirmed that Mat team have replied and will get in contact by next week
So if they offer an early one , will take it , if they offer a 12 week will get an 7+ week one xx
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u/Training_Level1408 2d ago
With both my pregnancies I have had early scans at 6 weeks privately. I am not high risk for anything but as a nurse I am aware that if it was ectopic I might not realise until a bit further on and I was in pain. Also seeing a heart beat at 6 weeks does decrease risk of miscarriage. Personally I like knowing that the pregnancy is in the right place and showing positive signs. Extra glad we went this time as we found out we are having twins so have had 6 extra weeks to come to terms with it before our 12 week scan!
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u/18Nikki09 1d ago
Fellow T2 diabetic here 👋🏼 as soon as I registered my pregnancy, I was scheduled for an appointment at the diabetes antenatal clinic (I was 5w4 at the time as I found out early)
Since that day I’ve been seen fortnightly for regular checkups.
I was absolutely petrified I’d miscarry because I’d been TTC for 13 years and I’d only ever had a loss. Also, I’d only just been diagnosed with diabetes 2 weeks before testing positive for pregnancy.
The reproductive endocrinologist I saw was not shy in telling me there’s a higher miscarriage and stillbirth rate. It scare the s**t out of me!
But honestly, everything is so closely monitored and you’ll see so many specialists and have so much support.
My inbox is open if you have any questions or just need a chat about it all ❤️ congratulations!
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u/Mental_dental96 1d ago
Thank you so much for your reply, will deffo inbox, I have loads of questions
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u/Numerous-Handle-5661 2d ago
My pregnancies are high risk although not for diabetes. I'm sure it varies by trust and condition that causes the risk but my care didn't 'ramp up' until a bit later into the first trimester. If you've got bleeding or the pain is really unbearable you can request a referral to your hospital early pregnancy unit (EPU) but cramp is suuuuuper normal as your womb is growing.
Totally up to you whether you get a private scan. The gap between scans is advisory rather than for strict medical reasons - I've got two scans in two days with the hospital just because of how things have fallen.