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Seeing a positive pregnancy test brings a rush of emotions. You might feel overjoyed, overwhelmed, or a little anxious. Consequently, you likely have one big question, “When do I actually get to see my baby?” or “Is Pregnancy Ultrasound required?” or “Is My Baby Moving Enough?“. At Athena Women’s Clinic in Bentley, we understand your excitement. We know the early weeks of pregnancy feel incredibly long. Therefore, we want to help you understand the next steps.
Your first major milestone is the early pregnancy scan. Many people call this a dating scan. Read on to learn when to book your first pregnancy ultrasound. We also explain exactly what our sonographers look for.
A dating scan is your very first pregnancy ultrasound. Specifically, our sonographers perform this medical check in the first trimester. It confirms your pregnancy and ensures everything progresses safely.
Your baby is still incredibly tiny at this stage. Because of this, the scan requires true precision. We provide a calm, reassuring environment for this exact reason. Furthermore, this scan gives our doctors vital baseline information. They use this data to guide your ongoing antenatal care.
The ideal window for a dating scan ultrasound is between 6 to 11 weeks. However, most doctors recommend aiming for the 7 to 8-week mark. Here is why timing matters so much:
Before 6 weeks: It is often too early to detect a fetal heartbeat. As a result, having a scan too soon can cause unnecessary anxiety. The sonographer simply cannot see the baby clearly yet.
At 7 to 8 weeks: By this point, the fetal pole usually appears clearly. This is the early shape of your baby. We can also easily detect a steady heartbeat.
If your periods are irregular, you might feel unsure about your dates. Please do not worry. You can simply visit one of our GPs. We will organize a quick blood test. This checks your hormone (hCG) levels accurately. Then, we write your referral for an early pregnancy scan in Perth. We make sure the timing is absolutely perfect.
Preparation for this scan is very simple. Usually, our sonographers perform an early pregnancy scan transabdominally. This means they glide the ultrasound probe across your stomach.
The Golden Rule: You must arrive with a full bladder. A full bladder acts like a window. It gently lifts your uterus out of the pelvis. This gives the sonographer a clear view of your baby.
What to Do: Drink two to three glasses of water before your appointment. Do this about an hour beforehand and hold it.
Occasionally, your baby might hide. Or, it might just be very early in the pregnancy. If this happens, the sonographer might recommend a transvaginal scan. This provides a much closer, clearer look. We will ask you to empty your bladder first. Your comfort and consent always remain our top priorities.
When you come in for your first trimester ultrasound, our experienced sonographers are checking for four crucial things:
The Heartbeat (Viability): Seeing and measuring the tiny flutter of your baby’s heartbeat is the primary goal of this scan. It provides massive reassurance that the pregnancy is viable.
The Location: We check to ensure the pregnancy is safely located inside the uterus. Consequently, this rules out an ectopic pregnancy (when a fertilized egg implants in the fallopian tubes), which requires immediate medical attention.
How Many Babies? This is the moment you find out if you are expecting one baby, twins, or even triplets!
Your Estimated Due Date (EDD): Because ovulation cycles vary, your last menstrual period is not always an accurate way to date a pregnancy. By measuring the length of the baby (from crown to rump), we can calculate a highly accurate due date.
At Athena Women’s Clinic, our state-of-the-art imaging suite is fully equipped to provide you with the reassurance you need during those early weeks. We offer comfortable, GP-led care with experienced female sonographers right here in Bentley.
If you have a referral from your GP (we accept all valid referrals from any clinic) or need to see one of our doctors to get started, we are ready to help.
Call us on (08) 6116 1285 or use our secure online booking system to schedule your scan. Contact us for more information.
We are thrilled to announce that our state-of-the-art imaging suite is opening very soon at Athena Women’s Clinic in Bentley. Whether you need a pregnancy ultrasound or a pelvic scan, you will soon have access to comfortable, GP-led care right here in our clinic.
If you have a referral or anticipate needing an ultrasound in Perth, reach out to our team now Or Call us at (08) 6116 1285