sammysam
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Post by sammysam on Oct 21, 2018 17:01:28 GMT -6
OK...so I am going to book in with my doctor for some point this week for my confirmation appointment and to book my first US. I have a feeling my Dr is going to push for an early scan around 6 weeks.
I am terrified of this.
I got bad new at my 8 week scans both of my last pregnancies. Which was made even worse because with still normally rising hcg they made me wait weeks until the next scan which then, of course, confirmed the loss.
I want to know if baby is alright as early as possible (obviously) but at the same time I don't want any outcome to be ambiguous. Like I would hate to go in at just barely 6 weeks, them not find the heartbeat, me think it's another loss, when maybe it's just too early. Or have everything look normal but because it's really too early then go on to find out weeks later that it is a loss.
So I guess my question is how early/late should I push for my first scan? Is 8 weeks good? If I went at 6 and they couldn't find a heartbeat is that difinitive or is there a chance the heart beat could start soon after? I really want to know if everything is ok but don't want to risk going too early:/
Any advice is welcome!
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sunny75
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Post by sunny75 on Oct 21, 2018 17:54:43 GMT -6
First ultrasounds are so nerve wracking so I know with your history it must be so hard. So hugs ❤️
From what I've seen an ultrasound at 6 weeks is mostly to determine that the baby is in the right spot. So as long as there is no reason to suspect an ectopic I would think around 8 weeks would be fine. When I had my first ultrasound at a little past 6 weeks there was a heartbeat but it was on the slow side. The doctor wasn't concerned because he said it likely just started to beat. So I think six weeks is kind of up in the air as to whether having a heartbeat is a definite answer.
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tngrl3
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Post by tngrl3 on Oct 21, 2018 18:47:51 GMT -6
...lurker.....
I had a MC after my DS. I had an early scan which showed fetal pole but not heartbeat at 5.5w. I thought I was further along and should have known it wasn't a good sign. They made me wait about 1.5 weeks for a repeat scan which confirmed the MC. At 5/6 weeks the heart is just starting to beat and if you aren't sure of your dates, a few days can make a big difference since things are developing so fast. When I got pregnant with my DD, I purposely didn't schedule my first US and appointment until 7/8 weeks because the limbo period was torture. Even if your OB wants an early scan, I think delaying until around 8 weeks if that is what you want is fine. I hope this is a sticky baby for you!
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sammysam
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Post by sammysam on Oct 21, 2018 19:26:09 GMT -6
sunny75 tngrl3 Thanks guys:) That's what I was thinking. At least I know that by 8 weeks the results are pretty definite. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't sounding like a crazy person if that's what I was pushing for. I've never had a scan earlier than 8 weeks so I have no experience with them. tngrl3 I lurk you guys constantly and I'm so hoping I'm not that far behind you guys and that this is my lucky one too;)
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Post by elephantastic on Oct 22, 2018 5:39:23 GMT -6
If there is no medically necessary reason for a 6 week US I would ask to wait til 8. I think a 6w US might cause more angst than it’s worth.
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Post by lolacachia on Oct 22, 2018 6:32:39 GMT -6
I am having the same struggle. With my MMC I had a scan at 6 weeks and 8 weeks and both showed heartbeat and growth. So now I'm like uhh I want a scan like every 2 weeks please and thank you! I think I'm going to push for my scan closer to 9 weeks as much as it sucks having to wait to see the baby. I feel like it will make me feel better so see things (hopefully) ok at that point.
In your case, I wouldn't go in earlier than 7 weeks. There should definitely be a heartbeat by then and they can measure and see if baby is on track. 6 weeks can seriously go either way and it might bring more stress than answers.
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sammysam
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Post by sammysam on Oct 22, 2018 7:38:30 GMT -6
Thanks elephantastic and lolacachia . With DD I didn't have my first scan until 12 weeks. But I was blissfully ignorant then:/ Here is my next question: at how many weeks should baby be visible on an external us? I've known immediately something was wrong the last 2 times when they went to an internal us and kept asking me if I was sure about my dates. Ideally I'd like to wait until I know that an external us would show what needs to be seen. I would happily wait until 12 weeks again...but don't think they'll let me. I asked last time and they sent me at 8 weeks. lolacachia I like the idea of waiting until 9 weeks. I think I might be able to convince them...at least I'll try and see what they say. I am so stressed already at the prospect of the first ultrasound...even though it's likely more than a month away...that I was awake half the night worrying about it. |
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Post by mamabear02 on Oct 22, 2018 7:54:22 GMT -6
sammysam, I had an internal US at 8weeks with my first. I don't know the exact answer to when they can do it externally, but sometime after that?
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sammysam
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Post by sammysam on Oct 22, 2018 7:56:14 GMT -6
sammysam, I had an internal US at 8weeks with my first. I don't know the exact answer to when they can do it externally, but sometime after that? Thank you!!! That makes me feel better. At least if I go at 8 weeks and they go to an internal I won't immediately start to spiral... |
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Post by courtniko on Oct 22, 2018 8:06:31 GMT -6
Sending you hugs sammysam. I am so sorry this is such a stressful time, when it should be so happy and care free. This time around I had my first US at 10 weeks exactly. It was still internal, but no questions. I don't think you need to wait that long, but even at that long it is still not external. |
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sammysam
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Post by sammysam on Oct 22, 2018 8:42:42 GMT -6
Thank you courtniko ! This is calming me down so so much! I got appointment booked for Wednesday morning so I'll see how late they'll let me wait. I like the sound of 10 weeks! |
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Post by lolacachia on Oct 22, 2018 12:52:52 GMT -6
sammysam, I had an internal US at 8weeks with my first. I don't know the exact answer to when they can do it externally, but sometime after that? Thank you!!! That makes me feel better. At least if I go at 8 weeks and they go to an internal I won't immediately start to spiral... So they can try abdominal at any point... but it may just be harder or even impossible to see what they need to see and then they will have to go to transvag. When I went at 6 weeks I had the transvag, when I went at 8 weeks, they got everything they needed with just abdominal. |
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sammysam
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Post by sammysam on Oct 22, 2018 14:19:03 GMT -6
lolacachia OK. That sounds more like my experience. They always try abdominal first before going to transvaginal. That's why I want to go a bit later...that way I'll know for sure if they go to transvaginal that the news is not good.
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Post by lolacachia on Oct 22, 2018 14:56:46 GMT -6
lolacachia OK. That sounds more like my experience. They always try abdominal first before going to transvaginal. That's why I want to go a bit later...that way I'll know for sure if they go to transvaginal that the news is not good. Depending on how your uterus sits, at 8 or even 9 weeks they could still need the transvag so don't automatically assume bad if they do. |
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sammysam
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Post by sammysam on Oct 22, 2018 15:26:21 GMT -6
lolacachia OK. That sounds more like my experience. They always try abdominal first before going to transvaginal. That's why I want to go a bit later...that way I'll know for sure if they go to transvaginal that the news is not good. Depending on how your uterus sits, at 8 or even 9 weeks they could still need the transvag so don't automatically assume bad if they do. Thank you! I know I just have to calm down about it all but I'm not quite able to yet:/ |
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Post by lolacachia on Oct 22, 2018 16:19:25 GMT -6
Depending on how your uterus sits, at 8 or even 9 weeks they could still need the transvag so don't automatically assume bad if they do. Thank you! I know I just have to calm down about it all but I'm not quite able to yet:/ If anyone gets it, I do. Unfortunately. We will get through it all together no matter what happens. |
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Post by elephantastic on Oct 22, 2018 16:57:17 GMT -6
They didn’t even try transabdominal for my US at 8w with either pregnancy. I think it’s more common to do transabdominal at the 12 week appt.
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sammysam
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Post by sammysam on Oct 22, 2018 17:00:59 GMT -6
Thank you! I know I just have to calm down about it all but I'm not quite able to yet:/ If anyone gets it, I do. Unfortunately. We will get through it all together no matter what happens. ❤❤❤❤❤ |
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sammysam
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Post by sammysam on Oct 22, 2018 17:02:24 GMT -6
They didn’t even try transabdominal for my US at 8w with either pregnancy. I think it’s more common to do transabdominal at the 12 week appt. I'm thinking about asking if they can just do transvaginal right off the bat and not even do abdominal at the first one. I'm not sure if I can request this though. I'll see if my Dr can put through a special request. |
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Post by lolacachia on Oct 22, 2018 17:33:50 GMT -6
They didn’t even try transabdominal for my US at 8w with either pregnancy. I think it’s more common to do transabdominal at the 12 week appt. UofM did abdominal scans for F's pregnancy at 9 weeks and Coconuts at 8 weeks. I think they only do vaginal if they can't see what they need. |
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Yogurt
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Post by Yogurt on Oct 25, 2018 22:22:49 GMT -6
They didn’t even try transabdominal for my US at 8w with either pregnancy. I think it’s more common to do transabdominal at the 12 week appt. I'm thinking about asking if they can just do transvaginal right off the bat and not even do abdominal at the first one. I'm not sure if I can request this though. I'll see if my Dr can put through a special request. Lurking from March I had all trans vag with the RE at 6, 8 and 10 weeks. 12 weeks at OB was the abdominal. At 6 weeks they didn't even look for a heartbeat and said don't expect one. At 8 weeks it was clear. |
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sammysam
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Post by sammysam on Oct 25, 2018 23:40:27 GMT -6
Thanks Yogurt  I had them schedule my first one for 9+2. It is standard practice here to do both external and internal apparently...so at least now that I know that I won't start freaking out when they tell me they have to do an internal as well. |
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Post by bearfootzcontinued on Oct 29, 2018 11:00:09 GMT -6
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I had them schedule my first one for 9+2. It is standard practice here to do both external and internal apparently...so at least now that I know that I won't start freaking out when they tell me they have to do an internal as well.