Dating scan: your 12-week pregnancy scan
Polly Logan-Banks
Content EditorThis page contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small amount of money if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase. All our articles and reviews are written independently by the Netmums editorial team.
Your dating scan – also known as your 12-week scan – is your first routine ultrasound scan. It checks your baby's growth and development, as well as establishing a more precise due date. Here's what to expect.
Once you find out you're pregnant, you'll want to tell the world your amazing news. But, lots of mums-to-be tend to wait until they've had their dating scan.
Why? Because it offers that first important look at how your baby's growing and developing, detecting their heartbeat and taking those first measurements, ready to chart their growth.
It also takes place around the key 12-week milestone, when your chances of miscarriage significantly reduce.
FREE NEWBORN NAPPIES
Of course it's entirely up to you when you share the good news. But, many find that once they've seen that everything's OK in there, they can spread the word with a huge weight off their mind. Not only that, but you'll probably have a scan photo, ready to show people!
So if your dating scan is approaching and you're feeling nervous – don't worry, it's perfectly natural.
To help ease your worries, here's a look into what your dating scan involves, when to have it and what you can expect from the appointment.
When will I have my dating scan?
The NHS recommends that your dating scan occurs when you're between 8 and 14 weeks pregnant.
Even though it's referred to as the 12-week scan, don't worry if it's a little later or earlier than this.
Once you've had your booking appointment with a midwife (which should happen before you're 10 weeks pregnant), you should receive a letter inviting you for a dating scan.
Where will I have my dating scan?
It will usually take place at the ultrasound department of your local hospital.
Will I have to pay for the scan?
You won't have to pay for the scan appointment as it's part of your NHS antenatal care. However, you may have to pay if you want to take home a scan photo as a souvenir.
If you're driving, it's also a good idea to make sure you have some change on hand for the hospital car park.
What will happen at the 12-week scan?
When it's time for your scan you'll go into a fairly darkened room, where you'll meet the person who will do the scan, known as a sonographer.
The sonographer will ask you to lie down on a hospital trolley. You won't need to take off your clothes, but will need to pull up your top or push down your bottoms so the sonographer can access your stomach. This might not be the day to wear a dress!
The sonographer will apply some cold gel to a scanner head, to help it glide across your tummy.
You'll see a black-and-white picture appear on a screen. Once your sonographer has got the measurements they need and seen a heartbeat, they'll point it out to you.
This is also where you'll find out if you expecting twins or more.
Your sonographer will also give you a more precise due date, which could mean you're further along than you had thought. This will now become your official due date.
The whole thing usually lasts about 20 minutes. The sonographer will tell you the results there and then, so you won't have to wait.
A dating scan shouldn't hurt, but sometimes the sonographer does have to press quite hard on your tummy, which can be a bit uncomfortable, and may leave you with a few bruises.
If your baby is moving around a lot, or if you're overweight or obese, it can be more difficult for the sonographer to get a good view of your baby. The scan may last a little longer, or you may be asked to come in and try again at another time.
Will I get a picture of my baby?
You'll usually be offered a picture to take home with you. Some hospitals charge to print out – often about £5 – and you may need to pay with change, so make sure you have some with you.
We love this adorable frame that's designed especially to hold scan photos. See more details here at Amazon.
You can also have your baby's scan photo made into a keyring. See more details here at Etsy.
What does the dating scan look for?
According to the NHS, your dating scan checks:
- how many weeks pregnant you are, to work out your due date
- whether you're expecting more than one baby
- that the baby is growing in the right place
- your baby's development.
Although looking for abnormalities is usually done with the 20-week anomaly scan, the dating scan can be used to check for some early problems, such as issues with your abdominal wall or early signs of spina bifida.
Can I find out my baby's sex at the dating scan?
No, it's still too soon to see if it's a boy or a girl. You'll be able to find this out at your 20-week anomaly scan, if you wish to.
If you can't wait that long, many private scan companies offer a gender scan from about 16 weeks. However, the NHS generally advises against these.
Although there's no evidence that ultrasounds pose any risk to you or your baby, healthcare professionals prefer to only use them when they're really necessary, to be on the safe side.
The cost of private scans varies dramatically depending on the type of scan, but on average, expect to pay about £50-£100.
Some people think they can tell the sex of a baby from the dating scan photo, using a technique called skull theory. There isn't much evidence to back this up, but it can be fun to guess!
What else can I expect from my dating scan?
If you're far enough along when you have your dating scan, you'll be able to have your Nuchal Translucency (NT) scan at the same time.
This is a screening test that estimates the risk that your baby has a chromasomal problem. The nuchal translucency test is sometimes known as the screening test for Down's syndrome, though it also estimates the risk of Patau's syndrome and Edwards' syndrome.
During the scan, the sonographer will measure your baby's 'nuchal translucency', which is a pocket of fluid at the back of your baby's neck. If this pocket is larger than usual, there's a higher chance that your baby could have a chromasomal problem.
A nuchal translucency scan can't tell you for sure if your baby has Down's, Patau's or Edwards' syndrome, but it can estimate your chances. It's part of the combined test that also includes a blood test. Results from the scan and the blood test will be combined to estimate your baby's risk of chromasomal problems.
If you're found to be high risk, you'll be offered other tests to find out for definite – either chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis. These involve using a fine needle to take a sample of placenta or amniotic fluid, which can tell you for sure if your baby has Down's, Edward's or Patau's syndrome. The tests carry a small risk of miscarriage, so they're not offered to everyone.
If your dating scan reveals that you're earlier than 10 weeks pregnant then you may need to come back a few weeks later to have your NT scan as this needs to be done when you're 10-14 weeks pregnant.
If you're more than 14 weeks pregnant, you'll be offered a quadruple blood screening test to estimate your risk of Down's instead, and a mid-pregnancy scan to look for physical signs of Edwards' and Patau's syndrome.
Can I have an early scan before the dating scan?
For most women, the 12-week dating scan will be the first scan you're offered during your pregnancy.
You're only likely to be offered a scan on the NHS earlier than this if you're experiencing problems with your pregnancy, such as unexplained pain or bleeding, or if you've had three or more miscarriages in the past.
Are ultrasound scans safe for my baby?
Pregnant women have been having ultrasounds for many years now, and there's no evidence of any risks to you and your baby. That includes 3D and 4D scans.
Nonetheless, experts still recommend only having a scan when it's really necessary (ie when recommended by the NHS), just to be on the safe side.
You don't have to have the scan if you don't want to.
Tips for getting the best from your 12-week scan
First of all, it's a good idea to drink a glass of water before the appointment. As the baby's still so tiny at this stage of your pregnancy, having a full bladder can help the sonographer (who does the scan) get a clearer look at things.
It's also a good plan to bring someone with you for support, although children won't usually be allowed in to the appointment, so best to leave them with someone else during it.
During the coronavirus pandemic, there may be extra restrictions about who you can bring into the room with you – some hospitals might not have space for your partner to attend. So do call and check beforehand. Even so, it's a good idea to have someone wait for you outside, so you can share your excitement or discuss any concerns.
Coping with bad news after a dating scan
Most scans show that the baby is developing normally, and no health problems are found. But in some cases, a scan can suggest or reveal a medical problem.
If this is the case for you, your sonographer may ask for a second opinion to be absolutely sure. Or you may be offered extra tests to check on your baby's health.
This can be a very scary time, and it can be difficult to know where to turn.
The charity Antenatal Results and Choices has a helpline for advice and support. Call 0207 713 7486 between 8-10pm on Tuesday or Thursday, or email info@arc-uk.org to arrange a call back.
You can find out a bit about all the ultrasound scans available in pregnancy here.
And you can always share your experience and talk to other mums-to-be about their scan appointments in our chat forum.
Related stories
What to expect if you're pregnant with twins
