when to do first pregnancy scan?

Pregnancy Ultrasounds Week by Week
As it turns out, most people only need a couple of ultrasounds during pregnancy. Read on to learn more about these important prenatal scans.
By Tricia O'Brien
Updated on June 14, 2022

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Most pregnant people have a couple of ultrasounds over the course of their prenatal care, but some have them more frequently. Routine pregnancies will typically have fewer ultrasounds than high-risk pregnancies but how many you receive will vary according to a number of factors such as your provider's preference, access to ultrasound machines, your medical history, and any complications that may arise during your pregnancy.

During a pregnancy ultrasound, your doctor or a skilled technician uses a plastic transducer to transmit high-frequency sound waves through your uterus. These sound waves send signals back to a machine that converts them into images of your baby.

Ultrasounds can provide your doctor with lots of valuable information. For example, they can monitor your baby's growth, detect abnormalities, help predict your due date, determine whether you're carrying multiples, show the position of your placenta, and indicate the sex of your baby.
What to Expect at Your First Ultrasound

To prepare you for these important scans, we broke down the most common types of pregnancy ultrasounds week by week and when you should expect them.
Early Pregnancy Ultrasound (6–8 Weeks)

Your first ultrasound, also known as a baby sonogram, could take place as early as six to eight weeks into your pregnancy. Some doctors use ultrasounds to confirm pregnancy instead of or in addition to a blood pregnancy test.

But not every pregnant person will get this early scan; some doctors only conduct early ultrasounds for certain high-risk pregnancy conditions like bleeding, abdominal pain, or a history of congenital disorders or miscarriage, and most midwives don't order early ultrasounds for routine pregnancies.

An early pregnancy ultrasound is most likely to be done transvaginally, which gives doctors get a clearer picture of your baby at this early stage. In this case, the provider will place a thin wand-like transducer probe—that transmits high-frequency sound waves through your uterus—into your vagina. The sound waves bounce off the fetus and send signals back to a machine that converts these reflections into a black and white image of your baby.
First Trimester Ultrasound Pictures

At six weeks gestation, it's possible to see the baby's heartbeat. Your provider will also use the ultrasound to predict your baby's due date, track milestones, determine the number of babies in the womb, and confirm the location of the baby (to rule out ectopic pregnancy).
Dating Ultrasound (10–13 Weeks)

Those who don't get an early ultrasound between six and eight weeks might instead have a "dating ultrasound" around weeks 10 to 13 of pregnancy. This gives you and your provider the same type of information, including an estimated due date, your baby's "crown-rump length" (measurement from head to bottom), the number of babies in the womb, and fetal heart rate.
Nuchal Translucency Ultrasound (14–20 Weeks)

Between 14 and 20 weeks, you may also have a nuchal translucency (NT) test to check for Down syndrome, congenital heart disorders, or other chromosomal abnormalities, says Joanne Stone, M.D., a professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive science at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. Typically, people are encouraged to get an NT ultrasound if their screening test revealed a potential problem, they're 35 or older, or they have a family history of certain congenital disorders. People can also choose to have this ultrasound to allay any concerns they may have about the health of their baby.

In a nuchal translucency screening, the provider will use an abdominal ultrasound to gauge the thickness at the back of the baby's neck (they'll also measure hormones and proteins with a blood test). A thicker neck may indicate an increased risk for disorders like Down syndrome and trisomy 18.
Are You at Risk of Having a Baby With Down Syndrome?
Anatomy Scan (18–20 Weeks)

This detailed pregnancy ultrasound, which generally happens between weeks 18 and 20 in the second trimester, lasts 20 to 45 minutes for a singleton pregnancy and longer if you're pregnant with multiples. It's the most thorough check-up your baby will have before they're born.

During the anatomy scan, which is sometimes referred to as a level 2 ultrasound, the doctor will check your baby's heart rate and look for abnormalities in their brain, heart, kidneys, and liver, says Jane Chueh, M.D., director of prenatal diagnosis and therapy at Lucile Children's Hospital Stanford, in Palo Alto, California.

They'll count your baby's fingers and toes, check for congenital abnormalities, examine the placenta, and measure the amniotic fluid level. And they'll probably be able to determine your baby's sex, although it's not a slam dunk; an experienced tech gets it right more than 95% of the time which leaves some room for error. (If you don't want to know your baby's sex, be sure to let them know ahead of time.)
Sex Ultrasound: Are You Having a Boy or Girl?
Third Trimester Ultrasound

Many parents-to-be don't need an ultrasound in the third trimester. But if your pregnancy is considered high-risk, it may be recommended. For example, if you have high blood pressure, bleeding, low levels of amniotic fluid, preterm contractions, or are over age 35), your doctor may perform in-office, low-resolution ultrasounds during some of your third-trimester prenatal visits for reassurance, says Dr. Chueh. You'll also get a follow-up ultrasound for monitoring if your cervix was covered by the placenta (a condition known as placenta previa) at your 20-week scan.
Doppler Ultrasound

While a regular ultrasound uses sound waves to produce images, Doppler ultrasound bounces high-frequency sound waves off circulating red blood cells to measure blood flow and blood pressure. The test will determine if your baby is getting enough blood.

Fetal Doppler ultrasounds are commonly done if there is a concern about the placenta or your baby's blood circulation.
Other Pregnancy Ultrasounds

Your provider may also order other pregnancy tests that require ultrasounds. These might include chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis, which check the baby for genetic abnormalities. Fetal echocardiograms, which show the baby's heart rate and detect abnormalities, also use ultrasound technology.
Your Guide to Baby Ultrasound Exams
How Many Ultrasounds During Pregnancy Are Safe?

Ultrasound is considered safe for both you and your baby when it's used for medical purposes. Although ultrasounds require no radiation, only a trained professional who can interpret the results with accuracy should perform them. Your technician should be schooled in obstetrical ultrasound, preferably at a center accredited by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.

Some medical practices now offer 3D (high quality and lifelike) and 4D (moving picture) ultrasounds, which may help doctors detect certain fetal abnormalities and congenital disorders. However, these types of exams are also available at fetal portrait studios in places like shopping malls. Experts discourage these "keepsake" ultrasounds since untrained personnel may give out inaccurate information, says Michele Hakakha, M.D., an OB-GYN in Beverly Hills and author of Expecting 411: The Insider's Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth.
Are Ultrasounds Safe for Baby?

Plus, although ultrasounds are safe in medical settings, they might heat tissues or produce bubbles (cavitation) during use if not performed correctly. Experts aren't sure about the long-term effects of heated tissues or cavitation when ultrasounds are conducted outside of a medical need with non-trained professionals. "Therefore, ultrasound scans should be done only when there is a medical need, based on a prescription, and performed by appropriately-trained operators," according to the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) in a December 2014 statement.
How Much Does an Ultrasound Cost?

Ultrasounds aren't cheap procedures; they can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, depending on your location and provider. However, most health insurance plans will cover the cost of the ultrasound (at least partially) if it's for medical purposes. Always ask your medical provider and insurance company if you're unsure about how much you will need to pay.
Updated by Nicole Harris