Scans in Pregnancy: What’s Offered (and How to Decide What’s Right for You)
Updated: Apr 10
Scans in Pregnancy: Understanding Your Options
At different points in pregnancy, you may be offered a number of scans. Some are part of standard NHS care, others are optional and accessed privately.
You may already have a sense of what you’d like to do. Or you may be unsure — wondering what each scan is for, and whether it’s something you want.
As with all aspects of maternity care, there isn’t one “right” approach. This is about understanding your options, so you can make decisions that feel informed and right for you.
Early pregnancy scans: reassurance or uncertainty?
Some women choose to have an early scan, often between 6–9 weeks.
For some, this brings reassurance — seeing a heartbeat, confirming the pregnancy is in the right place.
For others, it can introduce uncertainty, particularly if dates are earlier than expected or findings are unclear.
Some women also find that initially the scan brings a sense of comfort. But as the days and weeks progress and you are waiting for your next scan, anxiety can increase, as the scans do not predict the future. All they can tell you is what was happening at the time of having the scan.
If, however, you are experiencing abdominal pain / fresh vaginal bleeding (bright red on wiping rather than brown), it is advisable to have an early scan, to ensure that your baby has implanted into your uterus rather than elsewhere.
These scans are not routinely recommended for everyone.
So whether you choose to have one or not, you haven’t missed anything — and you haven’t done anything wrong.
...scans do not predict the future. All they can tell you is what was happening at the time of having the scan
The dating scan (around 11–14 weeks)
This is usually the first scan offered within the NHS.
Despite the name, the idea of “dating” a pregnancy can be a little misleading. The estimated due date is based on measurements taken at a single point in time — and while it provides a helpful guide, it isn’t an exact science.
This can sometimes matter later in pregnancy, as due dates can influence how care is managed.
If this is something you’d like to understand more deeply, Sarah Wickham has written helpfully on this topic.
At this scan, you would usually be offered:
Confirmation that the pregnancy is progressing
An estimate of gestational age
Identification of whether you’re expecting one baby or more
Measurement of nuchal translucency (if you choose screening for Down's syndrome)
Finding out your baby’s sex
Some parents choose to find out their baby’s sex earlier, often through a private scan at around 16 weeks. Others prefer to wait until the anomaly scan — or not find out at all.
This isn’t something that is medically required. It simply comes down to personal preference.
The anomaly scan (around 20 weeks)
This is a more detailed scan, looking closely at your baby’s development. It includes assessment of structures such as the brain, spine, heart, abdomen, and limbs, as well as the placenta and amniotic fluid.
If you haven't had an ultrasound to find out your baby's sex yet, there is usually an opportunity to do so at this scan (as long as your baby is cooperating).
For many, this scan feels reassuring. But it’s also important to understand its limitations. It can identify some structural differences — but not all.
And occasionally, findings may be unclear or raise questions that require further monitoring, even if everything later turns out to be normal.
Growth scans later in pregnancy
Some women are offered additional scans later in pregnancy to assess their baby’s growth.
This is more common if certain factors are present — such as previous small / large baby, medical conditions such as coeliac disease, or concerns that arise during pregnancy such as gestational diabetes.
For low-risk pregnancies, routine growth scans are not always recommended. Instead, growth is often monitored using measurements of your bump (fundal height).
How accurate are growth scans?
This is where things can feel a little more complex.
Both growth scans and fundal height measurements provide estimates, not exact answers.
There is currently no completely accurate way to determine a baby’s size before birth.
Research has shown that:
Babies estimated to be “large” during pregnancy are often born within a normal weight range
In studies such as the Big Baby Trial, around 60% of babies thought to be large were not actually large at birth
This doesn’t mean scans aren’t useful. But it does mean their findings need to be understood in context.
There is currently no completely accurate way to determine a baby’s size before birth
When more information doesn’t always feel reassuring
For some women, more information brings a sense of calm.
For others, it can feel overwhelming — particularly when results are uncertain or lead to further testing.
Sometimes, scan findings raise concerns that later turn out not to be significant. But they can still lead to additional monitoring or decisions along the way.
Because of this, it can be helpful to gently ask yourself:
Will this information feel reassuring to me?
Might it create more anxiety?
There’s no right or wrong answer — just what feels right for you.
A choice, not an obligation
Every scan offered in pregnancy is just that — an offer. Not a requirement.
I am happy to support you in your maternity journey, regardless of whether you opt for every scan going or none.
My role is to make sure you have clear, balanced information, and to support you in whatever decisions you make. Because your care should feel informed, considered, and aligned with what matters to you.
My role is to make sure you have clear, balanced information, and to support you in whatever decisions you make.
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