Dating Scan Question...

Hi all,

I have my dating scan on Friday and am a little confused. My bloods indicate I'm approximately 3-5 weeks (I reckon it's more like 4 weeks, but not really sure) so I assumed I would need an internal scan, but I've been asked to go with a full bladder for an external. I thought there wouldn't be enough to see in an external this early?

My DH says to just go along prepared for an external and I can always empty my bladder there and have an internal if needs be - but I'm a little OCD when it comes to being organised and knowing what's happening and I'd rather know now!

Does anyone have any advice/thoughts?

Thanks!

Vix

They will normally do the external first then ask you to empty your bladder for an internal

They have always done external first and checked my kidneys and bub first, then internal. 3 out of 4 babies!

When are you having the scan? They're not likely to see much before 5-6 weeks at the earliest and, yes, it would have to be an internal scan to see anything prior to 8-9-ish weeks, most likely.

Thanks ladies :)

MadB - I'm pretty early along. I'm guessing only around 4 weeks. My husband is FIFO and is away from mid next week until the New Year. Because of this the doc said to go at the end of this week. I'm REALLY nervous to go too early and get scared by the results. I don't particularly want to go and have them see nothing :( I know at the minute this is very likely. My doctor is now on annual leave so I can't speak to him again until the New Year about it.

I've just looked at the calendar and it looks like I'd be somewhere in the region of 6-8 weeks when Hubby comes home from work. I'm tempted to wait until then so I can see a heartbeat... I just don't know what to do. This whole thing is terrifying!!!

If you're someone that will worry if you don't see the heartbeat (even though you know it's too early) then waiting would probably be better. It's soooooo hard to wait though! Good luck with your pregnancy, hope you have a H&H 9 months :)

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Thanks ladies :)

MadB - I'm pretty early along. I'm guessing only around 4 weeks. My husband is FIFO and is away from mid next week until the New Year. Because of this the doc said to go at the end of this week. I'm REALLY nervous to go too early and get scared by the results. I don't particularly want to go and have them see nothing :( I know at the minute this is very likely. My doctor is now on annual leave so I can't speak to him again until the New Year about it.

I've just looked at the calendar and it looks like I'd be somewhere in the region of 6-8 weeks when Hubby comes home from work. I'm tempted to wait until then so I can see a heartbeat... I just don't know what to do. This whole thing is terrifying!!!

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Right - I've taken matters into my own hands :) Just rang the scanning place (gosh, I'm good with words, aren't I?! LOL!) and had a chat with a lovely lady there. The minute I said how far along-ish I am she immediately agreed that it would be a bit silly going earlier than 7-8 weeks ish as I'd just be called back and might be disappointed by how little can be seen right now. So - it's been rebooked for hubby's first week home in January.

It's weird - I'm scared of the wait ahead, but also relieved that the worry of tomorrow has been lifted. We shall see I suppose!

I was told to go for more bloods at the same time as my scan - I'm guessing I should just wait and do both together in January now? Am I right? Sorry for all the questions! There is one frightened pregnant lady sat here typing this!!!

Sorry you're feeling anxious.
Definitely waiting is better - at 5 weeks the odds are you'd see nothing, which would be so upsetting (and perhaps unnecessarily so). My clinic (I only conceived with IVF) does the early scan at 8 weeks to be sure that they'll see a heartbeat if it's viable. Prior to that you just can't be sure so you'd have to come back again if you didn't find it anyway.
Do you *need* to do the scan? I skipped most scans 2nd time round and ended up much more relaxed. It's a false reassurance when you go from one scan to the next, because you only feely relieved for a day or so, then the anxiety begins building again in anticipation of the next scan, and so on.
Hope all goes smoothly for you.

With both my girls I saw a heartbeat At 6 weeks ..
I personally wouldn't go any earlier than that ..

the blood test results might give you reassurance that your hcg levels are increasing. blood tests are more relevant in the early days than later. so, if you feel ok about not having them now, there s not much point having them later.

best wishes for a healthy pregnancy

I went at 7 weeks for both girls. With DD2 it was external only. For all scans, as it turns out, which is funny, because with DD1 I had both internal and external ultrasound at all of them.

I had an external scan at 7 weeks with DD2 and we saw plenty including, of course, a beautiful heartbeat. :D

With DD1, we had our first scan when we saw our OB at our first appointment at 9-10 weeks.

Good luck and try not to worry.