Early Pregnancy Reassurance Scan

You can have an early pregnancy scan from 6 weeks onwards (from your last menstrual period, LMP).

• 6 weeks: Gestational sac and yolk sac usually visible. Heartbeat may not be visible yet.
• 6.5-7 weeks: Heartbeat typically becomes visible
• 7+ weeks: Heartbeat should be clearly visible with heart rate measurable

If you're unsure of your dates or have irregular cycles, we recommend booking around 7-8 weeks for the best chance of seeing a heartbeat on your first scan.

An early pregnancy scan (6-11 weeks) shows:

• 💗 Baby's heartbeat — visible from around 6.5-7 weeks onwards
• 📍 Pregnancy location — confirm it's in your uterus (not ectopic)
• 🥚 Gestational sac — the fluid-filled structure where baby is growing
• 🌟 Yolk sac — early structure that nourishes your baby
• 👶 Fetal pole — the early embryo (visible from 6+ weeks)
• 📏 Estimated gestation — how many weeks pregnant you are
• 🤰 Number of babies — single or multiple pregnancy

You'll receive printed photos to take home.

Maybe. At exactly 6 weeks, a heartbeat may not always be visible yet.

• 6 weeks exactly: 50-60% chance of seeing heartbeat
• 6.5 weeks: 80-90% chance
• 7+ weeks: Heartbeat should be clearly visible

If we don't see a heartbeat at your first scan, it doesn't necessarily mean something is wrong. It may just be too early. We'll recommend a follow-up scan 7-10 days later when baby will be bigger and easier to see.

The normal fetal heart rate in early pregnancy is 110-170 beats per minute (bpm).

Yes, completely safe. Transvaginal scans are routinely used in early pregnancy and are the gold standard for scanning before 10 weeks.

Why transvaginal?

• The probe is closer to your uterus, giving much clearer images
• Baby is tiny at 6-9 weeks and hard to see from outside
• No uncomfortable full bladder needed
• Better for checking ectopic pregnancy

Safety: The procedure is gentle, uses sound waves (not radiation), and will not harm your baby or cause miscarriage. The probe is only inserted a few centimeters and is much smaller than a speculum used for smear tests.

Many women find it more comfortable than lying with a very full bladder for an abdominal scan.

It depends on the scan type:

Transabdominal scan (through your tummy):

• YES — drink 2-3 glasses of water 1 hour before
• A full bladder pushes your uterus up for better view

Transvaginal scan (internal):

• NO — actually better with an empty bladder
• You can empty your bladder before the scan

At 6-9 weeks, we'll often use a transvaginal scan as it gives much clearer images in very early pregnancy. We'll let you know which approach we'll use when you book.

Yes, absolutely. In fact, bleeding or cramping in early pregnancy is one of the most common reasons women book an early scan.

We offer same-day emergency appointments if you're experiencing:

• 🩸 Vaginal bleeding (light spotting or heavier)
• 😣 Cramping or abdominal pain
• ⚠️ One-sided pain (ectopic pregnancy concern)
• 😰 Severe anxiety about pregnancy viability

What we'll check:

• Is baby's heartbeat present?
• Is pregnancy in the correct location?
• Is there a cause for the bleeding?
• Is pregnancy developing normally?

Call us immediately on 020 3633 4902 and we'll get you seen as soon as possible.

In most cases, early pregnancy scans show healthy, viable pregnancies. However, we may occasionally detect:

⏳ Pregnancy earlier than expected:

• No heartbeat visible yet because it's too early
• We'll recommend follow-up scan 7-10 days later
• Often everything is fine at second scan

💔 Miscarriage (pregnancy loss):

• No heartbeat when one should be visible
• Pregnancy not developing
• We'll provide compassionate support and guidance
• Referral to Early Pregnancy Unit or GP

⚠️ Ectopic pregnancy:

• Pregnancy outside the uterus (usually in fallopian tube)
• Requires immediate medical attention
• We'll arrange urgent hospital referral

We'll support you through any outcome with honest, compassionate care and clear guidance on next steps.

Our private early pregnancy scan costs £89. This includes:

• Full ultrasound examination (transabdominal or transvaginal)
• Check of heartbeat, viability, and pregnancy location
• Estimated gestational age
• Printed photos to take home
• Time with sonographer to discuss findings
• Compassionate care throughout

No hidden fees. £89 all-inclusive.

If you need weekly reassurance scans (common after previous miscarriage), we offer the same price each time.

View all pregnancy scan prices →

The NHS typically does not offer routine early pregnancy scans for reassurance.

NHS will scan early if:

• You're experiencing bleeding or pain
• You're referred to Early Pregnancy Unit (EPU)
• You have a history of ectopic pregnancy
• You have pregnancy complications

NHS will NOT scan if:

• You just want reassurance
• You're anxious but have no symptoms
• You want to see baby earlier than 12 weeks
• You've had previous miscarriage but this pregnancy is symptom-free

This is where private scans help. You can self-refer, book quickly, and get reassurance without needing to explain or justify your anxiety to the NHS.

Your NHS 12-week scan (nuchal translucency screening) is still important — our early scan doesn't replace it.

Yes, absolutely. Your partner is very welcome to join you in the scan room — if you want them there.

Some women prefer to have their partner for support. Others prefer to see what's happening first before sharing (especially if they're very anxious or have had previous loss).

It's completely your choice. There's no right or wrong — do what feels best for you.