The sonographer will put gel on your abdomen and move a hand-held device called a transducer, back and forward over your skin. In some situations, such as when the scan is completed before 10 weeks of gestation or you are overweight, you may also need a vaginal scan.

What happens in a dating scan?

It involves a blood test and measuring the fluid at the back of the babys neck (nuchal translucency) with an ultrasound scan. This is sometimes called a nuchal translucency scan. The nuchal translucency measurement can be taken during the dating scan.

At what week can you hear the babys heartbeat?

A babys heartbeat can be detected by transvaginal ultrasound as early as 3 to 4 weeks after conception, or 5 to 6 weeks after the first day of the last menstrual period.

How early can I get a dating scan?

Most women can instead have their first scan at 11 to 13 weeks — this is usually called the 12-week scan. This scan can work out the due date and gestational age of the baby, if youre having more than one baby and also screen for conditions like Down syndrome.