Located on 1^st floor in Women & Children’s Building

What is The Early Pregnancy Unit?

The Early Pregnancy Unit (EPU) provides outpatient care to women with problems or concerns in early pregnancy (less than 17 weeks gestation).

During your appointment, an ultrasound scan will be performed to confirm the location and viability of the pregnancy.

The unit is open Monday to Friday 8:30am – 5pm and patients require a referral from a health professional to attend the unit. We are located on the 1^st floor in the Women and Children’s building.

We do not routinely offer a walk-in or self-referral service.

Patients who have had a previous ectopic or molar pregnancy can self refer into the service for a scan from 6 weeks gestation (if you have pain/bleeding please contact the Gynaecology Assessment Unit).

The Early Pregnancy Unit manages problems including

• Vaginal bleeding
• Abdominal pain
• Silent miscarriage diagnosed at private scan facility

 

What will happen at my appointment?

On arrival to the unit, you will be greeted by a member of our reception team who will confirm your details for the appointment.

A member of the nursing team will then call you through, if you have brought someone with you to your appointment, they will be asked to take a seat outside whilst we complete your triage – don’t worry, they will be able to come in with you for your scan. The nurse will complete your observations including height, weight, blood pressure and temperature, and ask some questions about your presenting complaint and medical history.

You will then take a seat outside of the scan room and the sonographer will call you in.

They may repeat some of the questions asked during triage, whilst we aim to gain as much information from your notes sometimes it can be better for our understanding to ask you directly.

Your appointment will take around 45 minutes, however it can be longer depending on the ultrasound findings.

We aim to keep the clinic running on time, however if a patient has unfortunately received upsetting news, this can have an impact on waiting times.

 

What happens during my ultrasound?

Depending on where you are in the pregnancy, the sonographer may perform an ultrasound over your stomach or an internal (vaginal) ultrasound.

For the abdominal scan you will need a full bladder. The sonographer will ask you to lower your clothing to bare your stomach. They will then apply some gel to the scan probe and pass this over your stomach to gain the images. Gentle pressure may be applied to help obtain a clearer image.

If you require an internal (vaginal) scan, you will be asked to empty your bladder, undress from the waist down and use the provided sheet to wrap around yourself. You will then lie back on the bed, on top of a wedge shaped cushion to lift your lower half. A condom like (latex free) cover and sterile lubricating gel are placed onto the vaginal probe, before it is gently inserted. Please do not worry if you require a vaginal scan and you are bleeding, we are used to scanning ladies who are bleeding in early pregnancy and will aim to keep you as comfortable as possible.

A vaginal scan is completely safe and does not harm your pregnancy or cause miscarriage.

In both of these scan types, the sonographer may be take a few moments before telling you what they can see. This is to ensure they are obtaining the best images and providing you with the correct information.

When the scan is complete you will be asked to get dressed, you will then be able to ask any questions you may have about your scan.

The sonographer will complete a report, depending on the results you may need to see a doctor, return for a rescan or have some blood tests. Do not worry, all of this will be discussed with you at the time to ensure you have full understanding.

Please note, there will always be a chaperone with you during your scan and any examinations.

 

Can I bring someone with me to my appointment?

Yes, you can bring one person with you to support you during your appointment.

We please ask that you make arrangements for childcare as a visit to the unit can be stressful and sometimes take longer than expected.

Staff working within our department are unable to care for children. The sonographer may also not perform the ultrasound scan at your appointment if a child is present. If you need to re-arrange your appointment due to childcare commitments, please contact us as early as possible.

 

What will happen after the scan?

The following are likely outcomes:

• We see a correctly sited pregnancy with a heartbeat, and we can discharge you to your routine antenatal care
• We see a very early pregnancy, before a heartbeat is seen. We may offer you a rescan in 7-10 days to ensure the pregnancy is progressing as it should.

There are a number of reasons why we may not see a pregnancy on your first visit.

• It is too early in the pregnancy to see the baby on ultrasound scan
• The pregnancy is not growing as it should
• Some women who visit EPU will be diagnosed with a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, and they will need further treatment and possibly an admission to our Gynaecology Ward
• We may not see a pregnancy on the scan, either inside or outside of the womb. If your pregnancy test is positive in the unit, we will perform a blood test to monitor the pregnancy hormone (bHCG). If this is required, it will be discussed in further detail at your appointment.

 

What to do if my condition changes?

If you are experiencing any of the following

• New or increasing abdominal pain
• Increased levels of bleeding
• Shoulder tip pain
• Diarrhoea/and or vomiting
• New dizziness on standing

Please contact the Gynaecology Assessment Unit for advice.

If you are experiencing any severe pain or heavy vaginal bleeding where you are soaking through a sanitary pad every 20-30 minutes, please attend the Emergency Department or dial 999.

 

Useful contact numbers

• Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit 0151 604 7450
• Gynaecology Assessment Unit 0151 604 7450
• Antenatal booking 0151 604 7501 option 1
• Gynaecology Ward 0151 604 7132
• Fetal Medicine Unit 0151 604 7024
• Community Midwives 0151 604 7682
• British Pregnancy Advisory Service 03457 304030