Early Reassurance Scan

1. Early Reassurance Scan It's only natural that once you come down after the elation of finding out you are pregnant, that you start to worry. Every pregnant woman just wants to know that her baby is okay - particularly in those seemingly endless early weeks when time appears to drag and the risk of miscarriage is at its highest. You might be particularly concerned if you've had a previous miscarriage, conceived through IVF treatment or have experienced some spotting/bleeding or cramping pains. It's hardly surprising then, that more and more parents are taking advantage of the latest ultrasound scanning techniques, and opting for the reassurance of an early scan. Just seeing your baby on a scan can ease your worries and anxiety and help you relax and enjoy your pregnancy. HOW EARLY CAN I HAVE A SCAN? Although it's possible to find out if you are pregnant just a few days after conception thanks to the latest pregnancy tests, a scan can't be done routinely until you're at least six weeks pregnant (as a rough guide that's two weeks after your missed period).

2. An early scan is classed as any performed between six to 11 weeks of pregnancy. You won't have a booking scan until 9 to 11 weeks through NHS antenatal care unless you experience bleeding or cramping or there is some other cause for concern. If you are anxious and can't wait for the routine NHS scan, and are in need of some reassurance about your baby's health, it's possible to book for a private early scan. WHAT HAPPENS DURING AN EARLY SCAN? Before an early scan, you'll be asked to drink 0.5 litres (1 pint) of clear fluids and then not empty your bladder until after the scan has been completed. Scans done between 6 and 10 weeks mark are usually performed transvaginally, which means that an ultrasound probe is inserted into the vagina to view your uterus rather than held over your abdomen as it is later in pregnancy. This is because in early pregnancy the baby is very small and low down in the uterus and a transvaginal scan enables the sonographer to get a clearer view. The scan will usually take around 20 minutes to carry out and afterwards you'll be given a full report and black and white picture of your baby to take home. WHAT CAN AN EARLY SCAN TELL ME? An early scan can give you a snapshot of how your baby is doing at that stage of their development, but because it is being performed early it isn't a guarantee that everything will stay that way.

3. Having said that, research in women who suffered recurrent miscarriage has revealed that if an early scan does detect a heartbeat at six weeks, there is a 78 per cent chance of the pregnancy continuing and a 98 per cent chance if a heartbeat is picked up at eight weeks. This rises to 99.4 per cent chance at 10 weeks. Early scans must be performed by skilled obstetric sonographers who have the knowledge and experience to interpret what they see on the screen. They can measure your baby's size to check it matches your dates to give you some idea of whether your baby is developing at the expected rate. They will also be able to pick up a heartbeat and confirm the pregnancy is developing in your uterus and not in your fallopian tubes (called an ectopic pregnancy). Your sonographer will also be able to tell you if you are expecting one baby or twins or more. Using their professional expertise, your sonographer should be able to tell you if your pregnancy is viable and whether or not, based on the information available on that day, it is likely to proceed. WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE IS A PROBLEM? Sadly, the flip side of early ultrasound scans is that they are not always reassuring and can also pick up problems. These include ectopic pregnancies where the embryo is developing in the fallopian tubes, missed miscarriages (also called silent miscarriages), where the baby has not developed and has no heartbeat, as well as on-going problems where either the small size of the baby or a faint heartbeat suggests there is a problem. If this happens, your professional sonographer will be able to counsel you as to the next course of action and refer you onto the relevant health professionals and for psychological support.

4. For more information on private early ultrasound scans contact Ultrasound Direct.