early pregnancy - Dating Scan

8 weeks onwards

A dating scan is performed, usually when a woman is unsure of her last menstrual period or when her cycles are irregular. The tiny embryo is growing at a rate of around 1mm every day at this stage of pregnancy and from around 8 to 9 weeks onwards, the embryo is visualized using a trans-abdominal scan. This technique involves you having a full bladder when you attend the scan.

This scan will take approximately 20 minutes and can

• Give you an estimated due date
• Show you the heart beat
• Check for twin pregnancy
• Examine your pelvic organs to rule out fibroids and ovarian cyst
• Give you a scan image of fetus.