Early Pregnancy Viability Scan

7 weeks - 11 weeks

This scan is available for anyone who feels a bit worried or just wants to make sure that all is well with the early pregnancy. It is particularly important to have this scan if you have had vaginal bleeding or suspect an ectopic pregnancy. It is also advised for women over 35, and strongly recommended for women over 40.

Viability scans are easily performed at 7-11 weeks of pregnancy. We usually scan ‘transabdominally’, which means through the tummy. If you are having the scan because of a concern about a possible ectopic pregnancy, this scan can be done at 6-7 weeks trans-vaginally. At this stage we are unlikely to see a heart beating but we will be able to confirm that the sac is in the uterus. The scan at 7-11 weeks can show how many embryos there are, confirm the presence of a heartbeat, and indicate the size of the sac or the embryo, which confirms the number of weeks of pregnancy. It can also show if there is any internal bleeding which may be significant and which may need to be carefully monitored.

This scan is also called a Dating Scan, as it can be used to establish the gestational age of the pregnancy.

Time needed for scan: 5-10 minutes

Preparation: Please try to come to the appointment with a full bladder as this will improve the visibility of the scan done through the tummy.

Pictures: We will give you a picture of the little baby for you to keep.