Early Pregnancy Ultrasound

If you have an early pregnancy ultrasound you may be asked to drink plenty of fluid, as an enlarged bladder will make it easier to scan the baby; later on in your pregnancy this will not be necessary. You lie on a bed beside the machine and lift up your clothes – so wear something loose. The procedure takes about 20 minutes and invloves a gel being smeared on your stomach so that the scanner can roll over it easily. It doesn't hurt at all and is a fascinating experience for parents-to-be.

The screen images will not always be clear to those of us not used to seeing them but the scan operator will point out your baby’s head, heart, and limbs. The scan can be done by a radiographer, an ultrasonographer, an obstetrician, or a midwife. You should feel free to ask any questions you want about what is on the screen.

Further scans may be recommended if it was not possible to see everything clearly the first time, perhaps because of the position of the baby, or if the doctor suspects that there may be some risk to the pregnancy, or if there is more than one baby. You may also be offered a further scan within the last six weeks of your pregnancy to check the position of the placenta or to establish the baby’s exact position.