What is an early pregnancy scan?

An early pregnancy, also referred to as viability or dating scan is performed from 6 – 11 weeks of pregnancy. It will confirm a pregnancy, its viability and establish an estimated due date. The scan is available to all women, and particularly recommended if there has been pain, bleeding or history of complications in previous pregnancies.

What will the scan examine?

•  The scan will measure the size of a gestational sac or an embryo, confirming the number of weeks of pregnancy and an estimated due date.
• It will check for the correct intra-uterine position of the pregnancy, in order to establish whether the pregnancy is ectopic
•  It will listen for and measure the foetal heartbeat at this stage, in order to assess the viability of the pregnancy

How is the early scan done?

The scan is usually performed trans-abdominally, with the ultrasound probe gliding gently across the surface of the abdomen.

However, if the pregnancy is in its earliest stage, or in a case of concern over possible ectopic pregnancy, an internal scan might be necessary (with your consent) in order to provide the best results. Both methods are entirely free of pain or discomfort, but please do let us know if you have any concerns or questions with regards to either method, or if you might be allergic to latex.

What are the preparations for this scan?

A full bladder will improve the visibility of the pregnancy by trans-abdominal scan so we recommend drinking up to 4 cups of water one hour before your appointment time.