Early reassurance scans are a fantastic way to confirm your gestation period and get a rough estimate of your babys due date. Providing that you are at least six weeks into the pregnancy, the sonographer will be able to take measurements of the baby, from the crown to the rump.

When should I get an early scan?

You can get a private early pregnancy scan at 6 – 12 weeks. By 6 weeks the doctor should be able to see your babys heartbeat on the ultrasound scan. The heartbeat will be visualised and not heard at this stage. Any earlier than this and it will be hard to properly detect your baby on the scan.

Is it bad to get an early ultrasound?

An ultrasound during the first trimester appears to be not only safe but, in many cases, essential to confirming a normal pregnancy. Furthermore, the most accurate screening test available for Down syndrome involves a first trimester ultrasound.