A Comprehensive Guide On Early Pregnancy Scan

1. A Comprehensive Guide On Early Pregnancy Scan When to do an early pregnancy scan The ultrasound scan for pregnancy can be conducted from about six weeks onwards. The earliest that a woman should get a scan done is approximately six weeks after her last period — if she wants to be able to see anything. If you go for the scan sooner than six weeks, then you may be asked to get a second Gynae scan by a consultant gynaecologist later on. Plus, if you wait one week more, i.e., if you undergo an early pregnancy scan in London on the seventh week of pregnancy, then you can even see and hear the heartbeat of the unborn baby clearly. Sometimes, an early pregnancy scan doesn't show any conclusive results about the pregnancy. This outcome usually occurs when you go for a scan earlier than the six weeks. Many women get anxious unnecessarily due to the inconclusive first scan and remain stressed until the second scan, which finally draws conclusive results. Therefore, an ideal time to undergo an early pregnancy scan to know for sure and see the actual status of the baby is after the seventh week of pregnancy. Asking for a scan at the NHS You could request for an early pregnancy scan with the National Health Service (NHS) if there is a medical condition. If you are worried that something doesn’t feel right, or you experience bleeding and/or pain, then you can consult the midwife or the doctor, and they could refer you for the scan.

2. You could also do a self-refer (without a doctor’s referral) to the Early Pregnancy Unit of the hospital. However, as in many of the cases, if it is reassurance you need that everything is right about the pregnancy, then you will be charged for the early pregnancy scan. What do you see in an early pregnancy scan? The foetus develops very quickly during the early weeks of pregnancy. Therefore, your baby would look different every week in every scan.  Six weeks: The baby would be just visible. It would measure about 0.5mm. The early pregnancy scan can detect the heartbeat at this stage.  Seven weeks: The baby would be about 1 cm in length, and the heartbeat would be around 160 beats per minute.  Eight weeks: The baby grows by about 1 cm each day, and by the eighth week, it measures about 1.6 cm. You can identify the body and the head by now.  Nine weeks: The baby is almost fully formed. You can see the shape of the body, the head and the limbs of your baby in the scan.  Ten weeks: The baby now is about 3.5 cm in length. You can see some jerky movements or the baby bobbing around in your belly. Can the early pregnancy scan be done in the fifth week? You can undergo an early pregnancy scan during the fifth week, but it will be very difficult to conclusively see anything in the scan before a minimum of six weeks. However, if you experience any symptoms of ectopic pregnancy, i.e., severe pain on your sides, the gynaecologist could suggest undergoing an early pregnancy scan during the five-week period. At this stage, it is possible to view a small sac-like pregnancy. But if the pregnancy is ectopic, then the sac would be empty and without any heartbeat. Abdominal scan or internal scan The early pregnancy scan is mainly done transvaginally, i.e., internally, but sometimes it could be done abdominally as well, i.e., externally — similar to the dating scan which is done during the twelfth week.

3. Usually, after seven weeks, an abdominal scan can report conclusive findings of the shape and heartbeat of the baby. Sometimes, professionals recommend internal or transvaginal Gynae Scan by a Consultant Gynaecologist to report more conclusive findings. The heartbeat is more clearly visible through the transvaginal scan. The baby would be seen with tiny stumps where legs and arms would appear. But it would still have a yolk at the centres much like that of a bird. During the initial stages, while performing the early pregnancy scan, the ultrasound professional may first do an abdominal scan. If they cannot see anything in this scan, then they will prefer a transvaginal scan. You can see the foetus more clearly in a transvaginal scan. Every gynaecologist has a different approach to ultrasound scanning. Therefore, you should be mentally prepared to receive several options. The abdominal scan is generally done over your lower abdomen region, and you need a full bladder for a successful scan. On the other hand, the transvaginal scan is an invasive procedure wherein a small equipment is inserted into the vagina till the cervix region to conduct a more conclusive scan of your womb. Remember that you are not under pressure to get an early pregnancy scan. It is done just to calm your worries about your pregnancy. You can undergo a scan as per your convenience to know the status of your pregnancy. If you want more information about getting a pregnancy scan in London, then you must visit the Well Women Clinic today. Name Well Women Clinic Website https://wellwomenclinic.com/