We didn't have the 12 week scan this time and the fact that we haven't seen a heartbeat does bother me. I know many women who have discovered a missed miscarriage with the scan and not knowing is a bit frustrating. But I have a good friend who had no scans or doppler at all and I keep reminding myself of her trust and calm through her pregnancy and I just take a breath and keep being pregnant.

We will be having a scan at 20 weeks but I figure at least just having one is better than two. We don't use the doppler in pregnancy either as I read it has even stronger ultrasound waves than the visual scan. If you would use the doppler then I'd probably go for a scan instead but discuss with them beforehand how much you want to look at and try to keep it as short as possible.

I think the doppler can detect a heartbeat from about 15 weeks (earlier if you're lucky) and I'm due to see my MW next week so I've been tossing up asking for a quick heartbeat check but trying to stay strong!

I'm not sure that ultrasound would affect food intolerances, perhaps. Frequent ultrasounds have been linked to a reduced birth weight and increased left-handedness so they do affect baby's development. As our eldest son has autism (though he only had two ultrasounds and one use of doppler, besides doppler in labour) we do everything we can to protect our babies development in utero.