How Early Can You See a Baby In An Ultrasound Scan?

Wondering when you can catch a glimpse of your baby on a scan? At Baby Scan Studio in Ashford, Kent, our early pregnancy scans start from just 7 weeks. However, the images might not resemble what you expect, as your baby is still on its developmental journey before making its grand entrance into the world.

Early Pregnancy Scan - When Can You Have an Ultrasound Scan?

Embark on the journey of visualising your baby through an abdominal ultrasound as early as 7 weeks. At the baby scan clinic, our skilled sonographer will use an ultrasound probe moved across your belly to capture the initial images of your baby. In special cases, if you experience symptoms like abdominal pain, we may recommend a scan before 7 weeks from the NHS through a trans-vaginal procedure, to assess the pregnancy's location, checking for potential concerns like ectopic pregnancy though this is quite rare.

Here Is What We Expect To See At Different Dates During Your Pregnancy:

• 5 Weeks - Our sonographer may be able to see a small, hollow pregnancy sac
• 6 Weeks - the yolk sac that will support your baby until the placenta grows will be visible, it might be possible to pick out the tiny foetus
• 7 Weeks - The embryo is about 1cm long and already has a beating heart, but it won’t look much like a baby until a few weeks later
• 8 Weeks - The embryo is about 1.6cm long and is starting to change shape, with two rounded areas that will develop into the head and body
• 9 Weeks - This is when the embryo officially becomes a foetus, it’s also the first time you’ll have a chance to distinguish between the head, body and limbs during the scan. However, your baby still has a long way to go so you should expect to see lots of changes by your next scan.

What to Expect During an Early Scan

During an early pregnancy scan, the images won't resemble those from later ultrasounds due to your baby's small size. Around 5 weeks, a small pregnancy sac may be visible; by 6 weeks, the yolk sac supporting the baby becomes apparent. At 7 weeks, the embryo, about 1cm long with a beating heart, appears, yet still distant from a recognisable baby form. Subsequent weeks show the embryo changing shape and evolving into a foetus by week 9.

Insights from Early Ultrasound

Our early scans offer crucial insights into your pregnancy's well-being. Confirming viability, determining pregnancy duration, and assessing heart and overall development are part of the process. You'll receive a link to revisit the scan's pictures and videos anytime, offering emotional reassurance, especially if you've been anxious about symptoms like spotting.

What Can You Learn at an Early Ultrasound?

Beyond confirming pregnancy, our early scans can verify proper embryo implantation, detect potential issues like ectopic pregnancy, determine the number of babies, measure the pregnancy sac for accurate dating, and identify problems such as internal bleeding.

Recognising Your Baby on the Screen

While scans before 7 weeks may not reveal much, a scan at 7 weeks allows for visualising your baby and listening to the heartbeat. The first scan resembling a baby typically occurs around 9 weeks when features like the head, body, and limbs start taking shape. As you progress through later scans, delicate features become clearer, making it easier to recognise your baby on the screen.

For any more info on what to expect during any of our scan packages please give us a call and we will be delighted to help you.