First Appointment Nerves and I’m having a lot of anxiety.

[Deleted User] · December 2018

FTM here! I just found out that I’m pregnant. I’m guessing I’m 5w6d today but I’m not sure exactly because I was on the pill so I wasn’t keeping track of things and it might be more because I had an uncharacteristicly light period last time.
The orginal dr offfice I was referred to told me that they wouldn’t even see me until 12wks and then no U/S until 14-16wks. So I found a new place to go and have an appt for next Thurs.
I was told I would be having a TransVag U/S. I declined it because I am not comfortable having that done. (I’ve had one before and it was painful and made me bleed really bad and now it gives me extremely bad anxiety to think about it.) So they said I wouldn’t be able to have an Abdominal U/S until 12wks. That doesn’t make sense to me as I know a handful of other moms who have had Abdominal ones early on.
So I guess my question is: do I have to wait until 12wks or can I ask them to do an Abdominal one now? I’m really skinny and would be at least 6.5 weeks at time of appointment.
Thanks for the advice!

harpseal135 · December 2018

kabright said:

FTM here! I just found out that I’m pregnant. I’m guessing I’m 5w6d today but I’m not sure exactly because I was on the pill so I wasn’t keeping track of things and it might be more because I had an uncharacteristicly light period last time.
The orginal dr offfice I was referred to told me that they wouldn’t even see me until 12wks and then no U/S until 14-16wks. So I found a new place to go and have an appt for next Thurs.
I was told I would be having a TransVag U/S. I declined it because I am not comfortable having that done. (I’ve had one before and it was painful and made me bleed really bad and now it gives me extremely bad anxiety to think about it.) So they said I wouldn’t be able to have an Abdominal U/S until 12wks. That doesn’t make sense to me as I know a handful of other moms who have had Abdominal ones early on.
So I guess my question is: do I have to wait until 12wks or can I ask them to do an Abdominal one now? I’m really skinny and would be at least 6.5 weeks at time of appointment.
Thanks for the advice!

You really do need to trust the professionals.

Ok, so your first office sounds normal for a normal pregnancy, early ultrasounds are not a necessity.

Your second office accepts you and says that they will to do an early ultrasound, in which a transvaginal is the only way to get accurate results this early in pregnancy. An abdominal ultrasound will not give results, as baby is too low. OR wait until 12 weeks. 12 weeks, baby is out of the lower region and is more easily seen in an abdominal ultrasound - they really do know what they are talking about.

They can't pull magic and make baby appear in an abdominal ultrasound as early as you are because you don't want a transvaginal. Skinny or not, that isn't the issue, the issue is baby is so low that transvaginal is the ONLY accurate way to get the necessary pictures.

I understand your fears of the previous transvaginal, but you have to give one way or another, if you want an early ultrasound. It is not going to harm the baby. It may irritate the tissue and (I was warned) it may cause some bleeding. It's not uncommon. I have had many very painful ones due to severe endometriosis and cysts (to the point of tears), but honestly the one for pregnancy was a breeze compared to those.

Your first doctor office was not incorrect, as it's normal to only have the 20 week anatomy scan. Your second office is not incorrect either, especially if you are unsure of LMP. But to get the correct dating ultrasound you need to have the TV ultrasound to get accurate results or you need to wait until 12 weeks for baby to be high enough to see in an abdominal one. So, it's not the offices - it's your decisions that is causing the inability for an early ultrasound.

meggyme · December 2018

☝🏼 ^WSS

lilpotatomama · December 2018

I know they suck, but there’s a reason why transvaginal is the first go-to for early ultrasounds. Yes, some moms may have had abdominal sonos early, but they are not nearly as reliable early on, simply because baby and uterus are still so, so tiny. I had a transvaginal sono at 8 weeks for dating purposes, and my first abdominal sono was at almost 13 weeks. The second one was also optional, as it was for the NT testing. If I hadn’t had that done, my second sono wouldn’t have been until 20 weeks. That’s very common and normal.
If you are absolutely determined to have an early abdominal sono, try going to a private clinic.

Eta: I really shouldn’t be recommending that you go to a private ultrasound clinic so early on - I believe it is best to trust your provider. However, what you want from a provider may not be possible.

harpseal135 · December 2018

lilpotatomama said:

I know they suck, but there’s a reason why transvaginal is the first go-to for early ultrasounds. Yes, some moms may have had abdominal sonos early, but they are not nearly as reliable early on, simply because baby and uterus are still so, so tiny. I had a transvaginal sono at 8 weeks for dating purposes, and my first abdominal sono was at almost 13 weeks. The second one was also optional, as it was for the NT testing. If I hadn’t had that done, my second sono wouldn’t have been until 20 weeks. That’s very common and normal.
If you are absolutely determined to have an early abdominal sono, try going to a private clinic.

Eta: I really shouldn’t be recommending that you go to a private ultrasound clinic so early on - I believe it is best to trust your provider. However, what you want from a provider may not be possible.

Going to a private one, where there is no regulation of equipment and you truly do not know who is doing it, I agree isn't a good recommendation. They will do an abdominal one and when much isn't there it will just cause more worry and panic.

lovesclimbing · December 2018

So I'm going to disagree with PPs a bit. A dating ultrasound does not have to be transvaginal. I had an abdominal one with my first pregnancy at 8 weeks, and they had no issues seeing the baby and getting the measurement. I wasn't even given the option of transvaginal. As far as I know, my practice is not set up for that anyway (they have a basic ultrasound machine for dating and position checks and outsource the anatomy scan and any other more detailed ones to a third party).

6.5 weeks may actually be too early to see with an abdominal ultrasound, that I don't know, but 8 weeks is not, and 8 weeks is still within the window of when dating scans are accurate. Personally, I'd probably push back the appointment a week to be on the safe side and then ask for an abdominal.

harpseal135 · December 2018

@lovesclimbing, there is a difference between 6 and 8 weeks.

I was told by my office that the transvaginal is most accurate and the earlier the ultrasound (if needed) the more accurate the dating is, hence why they do them earlier than later.

Of all the people I know no one has had an abdominal dating scan and you are the first I've ever heard of having one......nothing bad, just that is interesting to me.

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First Appointment Nerves and I’m having a lot of anxiety.

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