The Ultimate Guide to Early Scans in pregnancy
An Early Scan (sometimes called an Early Viability Scan) is an ultrasound scan performed between 6 and 12 weeks of pregnancy. Many people choose to have one for reassurance, to confirm how many weeks pregnant they are, or to check the pregnancy is located correctly in the uterus.
Early pregnancy can be an exciting but also uncertain time. This guide explains what an early scan can show, what it cannot show, and what to expect before, during and after your appointment.
For some, having an early scan brings clarity and reassurance that everything is progressing as it should be, and for others it can raise new questions. Either way, understanding what an early scan is and what you can expect can make the experience less overwhelming.
What is an Early Scan?
An Early Scan is an assessment of the pregnancy at a specific moment in time. It can confirm the location of the pregnancy and whether features expected for the stage of pregnancy are present. However, it cannot predict how a pregnancy will continue to develop and does not replace NHS antenatal care.
It is performed in the first trimester of pregnancy, usually before 12 weeks. At Ultrasound Direct, we offer scans from 6 weeks of pregnancy and all scans are performed by our fully qualified Sonographers.
The scan uses sound waves to create images of what’s happening inside your uterus. The scan can also be combined with a transvaginal ultrasound, where a slim ultrasound probe is gently inserted into the vagina to produce more detailed images.
What can an Early Scan show?
The most important purpose of an Early Scan is to confirm that the pregnancy is developing in the correct location within the uterus.
Depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy, you’ll likely see a much different picture. During these very early stages of pregnancy a lot changes fast. Unlike later scans, such as 4D Bonding Scans, where the focus will be on looking at detailed anatomy, Early Scans focus on confirming your pregnancy, establishing how far along you are, checking the pregnancy is developing in the right place and assessing early viability.
Here's a week-by-week idea of what you might be able to see during your scan.
·
·
·
What happens at an Early Scan?
When you arrive at your local Ultrasound Direct clinic, you’ll be greeted by a team member and if you arrive early, you’ll be invited to take a seat in our cosy waiting area. The Sonographer will take you into the scan room and make sure that you understand what will happen during your scan.
You’ll be asked to lie down on the ultrasound bed and the Sonographer will need access to your abdomen to perform the scan. If a transvaginal scan is suggested to get the best view of an embryo during an early pregnancy, your Sonographer will obtain your consent and talk you through everything clearly. Most early scans begin as an abdominal scan. However, in very early pregnancy the uterus sits deep within the pelvis, and a transvaginal scan often provides much clearer and more accurate information.
Your appointment will be scheduled for 20 minutes, which includes greeting, booking in, your scan followed by reporting and an opptorunity for you to discuss outcomes. You can speak to your Sonographer about any concerns and they have plenty of time to talk you through the scan, no matter the outcome.
What an Early Scan can't tell you
Having an early scan can provide reassurance for you, especially if you’ve suffered from a previous miscarriage, or if you’ve had fertility treatment, such as IVF. But as with most diagnostic tools, there are certain limitations.
An early pregnancy scan does not assess the baby’s anatomy in detail. It cannot screen for Down’s syndrome or other chromosomal conditions, and it cannot prevent or predict miscarriage. A normal scan means the pregnancy appears appropriate for the stage at that moment in time.
What if something isn't clear?
Early pregnancy development can vary significantly day to day rather than later in pregnancy where changes usually happen weekly. For this reason, it’s not uncommon for results of your scan to be unclear or uncertain.
If this is the case you may be advised to come back for another scan in one – two weeks, or our sonographers may refer you to the Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit. Unclear findings don’t automatically mean that something is wrong.
Frequently asked questions
In the table below, we've answered some of the most common questions our Sonographers encounter with Early Scans.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is an Early Scan safe during pregnancy? | Ultrasound scans use sound waves (not radiation) to create images. There is no evidence that ultrasound scans are harmful when performed by trained, qualified professionals. (We work to the “As Low As Reasonably Achievable” (ALARA) principle.) |
| Do I need a full bladder? | Having a full bladder helps the uterus lift slightly so your Sonographer can get clearer images. This is why we recommend you come to your appointment with a full bladder. For transvaginal scans we recommend having an empty bladder. |
| What if my scan shows there is something wrong, or I receive bad news? | As healthcare professionals the health and wellbeing of you and your baby is our top priority. There may be occasions when we need to discuss unexpected findings or bad news. If this happens during your scan, our team will ensure you receive the best possible compassionate care, delivered to you as sensitively as possible. We will also recommend your next steps. With your consent, we can contact the local early pregnancy unit or midwife on your behalf where possible. If after the scan you have any concerns about the scan itself, you can contact the clinic where you had the scan. If the clinic is closed, contact our head office who will be more than happy to help with your query. |
| Can I listen to my baby's heartbeat? | During very early pregnancy we do not listen to the baby’s heartbeat. Instead, if a heartbeat is present, the sonographer will show you the heartbeat as a small flicker on the screen. This is because, at this stage of development, the embryo is very small and national guidance recommends keeping ultrasound exposure as low as possible. Listening to the heartbeat requires a different ultrasound mode that increases energy output, so we avoid this in early pregnancy. Showing the heartbeat visually allows us to confirm viability while following best practice. |
| Is transvaginal ultrasound safe? | A transvaginal ultrasound also uses sound waves to create images of inside your uterus. Research suggests that there are no known risks to our method of ultrasound scanning. Internal scans may be slightly uncomfortable during the scan, but should be painless. (Transvaginal ultrasound does not increase the risk of miscarriage or bleeding. Any bleeding that occurs afterwards is almost always related to the pregnancy itself rather than the scan). |
| Can I have an early pregnancy scan before 6 weeks? | Gestation is calculated using your last monthly period dates and we know there can be some uncertainty with this. However, we can only offer our Early Scans from 6 weeks. This is because at 6 weeks we should be able to detect your baby’s heartbeat. If you are less than 6 weeks pregnant it’s unlikely that we’ll be able to see a heartbeat. This will not only cause confusion and upset for you, but it could mean that we need to make a referral to the NHS. We recommend that you consider this when booking your early scan appointment. If you attend an appointment and are less than 6 weeks, we may not be able to confirm a viable pregnancy or even a pregnancy in the correct location and we would look to re-book or refer where necessary based on the findings. |