Viability scan/dating scan in London in as early as 6 weeks. Pre-NIPT consultation included.
The viability scan is the first early pregnancy scan in your journey. It is sometimes referred to as the “dating scan”, however our viability ultrasound scan findings provide much more information about the fetus than just dating the pregnancy.
If you are planning to have NIPT, we offer free pre-NIPT counselling with our private viability scans in London. There are different NIPT options and making the right choice can be very confusing. We will explain how different non-invasive prenatal tests work, and you can choose which test is right for you.
At 8 weeks of pregnancy, the fetus is just as big as a grape and has started to develop the majority of its organs. The main purpose of the early dating scan is to confirm the heartbeat as well as:
* For multiple pregnancies (i.e. twins, triplets, etc.) it is extremely important to know the type of placentation (do the babies share the same placenta or do they have separate placentas?). This is important for the prediction of certain complications.
The short answer is yes. The long answer is that early ultrasound scans between 4 weeks and 5 weeks of pregnancy are generally too early to be informative. At week 4, the embryo is extremely small, about the size of a poppy seed, and will appear as a speckle on the ultrasound scan even with our advanced technology.
By week 5 the gestational sac and the yolk sac have both developed significantly and can be seen on the ultrasound screen. However, the most important early fetal development, ‘the heartbeat’, which helps us confirm the pregnancy, won’t occur till around 6 weeks.
Therefore, while a pregnancy test can confirm pregnancy, an ultrasound at 4 weeks may not provide much useful information and we recommend waiting till week 6/7 of pregnancy for your first private scan.
We use an advanced pregnancy ultrasound scanner with unique high-resolution transabdominal or transvaginal probes. The best time for this vaginal scan is week 7 of pregnancy.
The benefits of our viability scan include:
The gestational sac, which has been nurturing your baby since conception, is usually visible and continues to grow. It’s the fluid-filled space where the embryo develops. By 8 weeks, the gestational sac is well-defined, and its size is an important indicator of a healthy pregnancy.
The yolk sac is also visible on the ultrasound. This small, round structure provides essential nutrients to the developing embryo until the placenta is fully formed. By 8 weeks, the yolk sac is usually starting to shrink as the placenta takes over its role.
The fetal pole, which is the first visible sign of a developing embryo, is clearly seen at this stage. The fetal pole is the embryo itself, and by 8 weeks, it measures approximately 15 to 20 millimetres from crown to rump. This is the length of the embryo from the top of the head (crown) to the bottom (rump).
One of the most reassuring aspects of the 8-week sonogram is seeing and hearing your baby’s heartbeat. The heartbeat should be strong and rhythmic, and its presence is a crucial indicator of a viable pregnancy.
By 8 weeks, the embryo’s limbs are beginning to form. You might be able to see small buds that will become arms and legs. These early limb formations might also show slight movements, although you won’t be able to feel them yet.
The amniotic sac, which surrounds the embryo, is also visible during an 8-week ultrasound. This sac contains the amniotic fluid, which cushions and protects your developing baby.
The umbilical cord, which connects the embryo to the placenta, can sometimes be seen at 8 weeks. It plays a vital role in delivering nutrients and oxygen to the developing baby.
Overall, an 8-week sonogram provides a detailed and reassuring view of your baby’s early development, offering the first clear evidence of a growing life. This scan not only confirms the health and viability of the pregnancy but also allows expectant parents to connect with their baby in a meaningful way.
For a closer look at what you can expect during an 8-week scan, be sure to watch our video on the London Pregnancy Clinic’s YouTube channel. The video offers a detailed walkthrough of an actual 8-week ultrasound, giving you a firsthand view of the incredible developments taking place in your baby at this stage.
What we check
Have a question about your viability scan or want to arrange an appointment? Speak to our team on 020 3687 2939 or book your scan online.
The nuchal translucency (NT) / dating scan is the first pregnancy scan offered by NHS hospitals. The NT scan is performed relatively late, only at 11-13 weeks, when you are already three months into your pregnancy.
The early viability scan will:
London Pregnancy Clinic clinicians are leaders in the field of fetal medicine – all the scans are performed by our fetal medicine specialist doctors and specialist sonographers.
We have a unique and individual approach in that we do not ‘leave any stone unturned’ – we provide the most comprehensive assessment of the development of your baby as possible at each stage of pregnancy.
The short answer is yes.
The long answer is that early ultrasound scans between 4 weeks and 5 weeks of pregnancy are generally too early to be informative. At week 4, the embryo is extremely small, about the size of a poppy seed, and will appear as a speckle on the ultrasound scan even with our advanced technology.
By week 5 the gestational sac and the yolk sac have both developed significantly and can be seen on the ultrasound screen. However, the most important early fetal development, ‘the heartbeat’, which helps us confirm the pregnancy, won’t occur till around 6 weeks.
Therefore, while a pregnancy test can confirm pregnancy, an ultrasound at 4 weeks may not provide much useful information and we recommend waiting till week 6/7 of pregnancy for your first private scan.
No, a viability scan at 10 weeks is not recommended. Viability scans are best performed between 6 and 9 weeks, with 7 weeks being the ideal time. The primary goal of this scan is to confirm a viable pregnancy, detect the baby’s heartbeat, check the number of fetuses, and accurately date the pregnancy. Additionally, if you are considering NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing) for Down syndrome screening, a viability scan helps in scheduling this test, which can only be done from 10+ weeks.
At 10 weeks, you should opt for a 10-week anomaly scan instead of a viability scan. This scan is designed to detect major anomalies before NIPT, offering earlier reassurance on your baby’s development. It also provides higher-quality 3D imaging compared to earlier scans.
If you are past 10 weeks of pregnancy and have booked a viability scan at London Pregnancy Clinic, we will automatically upgrade you to a 10-Week Anomaly Scan. You will need to pay the price difference at the clinic to ensure you receive the most appropriate scan for your stage of pregnancy.
Viability Scan (6-9 weeks): Confirms pregnancy, detects heartbeat, determines fetal age, but does not assess detailed anatomical development.
10-Week Anomaly Scan: Screens for major anomalies, provides the best imaging for NIPT, and offers the earliest reassurance on fetal development.
If you’re unsure about which scan to book, give us a call and we can help explain why at London Pregnancy Clinic we don’t do viability scans past 9 weeks.
We offer free pre-NIPT counselling with all our viability scans. We perform various NIPT tests, which have different advantages, and price ranges. We know that making the right NIPT choice can be very confusing. We will explain how different non-invasive prenatal tests work, and you can choose which test is right for you, having enough time for your informed decision-making.
We also offer pre-NIPT genetic counselling with Ms Ailidh Watson.
The optimal gestational age for the scan is from 7 weeks.
Early viability scan: we are sometimes able to offer an early viability scan from around 6 weeks for patients who have painless spotting, light bleeding, or brown discharge from the vagina to exclude possible miscarriage.
Low abdominal pains together with bleeding can be associated with ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy is potentially a life-threatening complication for the mother. If you are experiencing severe symptoms such as pain or bleeding, please contact your nearest A&E unit and avoid coming in for a scan.
Good question, they don’t teach that at schools! Pregnancy weeks are counted from the first day of your last menstrual period date. You can use our easy-to-use pregnancy calculator to get an estimate. At your viability scan we will also provide you with an estimated due date based on the size of the embryo.
About 3% of all the babies will have some structural anomalies, or chromosomal or genetic syndromes. Understandably many mothers will be very happy to exclude those conditions as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, before 10 weeks the baby has not finished its primary body formation and development and is still considered an embryo. Therefore, it is not possible to exclude anomalies before 10 weeks.
However, from 10 weeks the baby is considered a fetus, meaning it is fully formed and resembles a tiny human. This means that our ultrasound scanners, which are specially designed to obtain high-resolution images, can be used to examine the fully developed structures of the fetus, such as the heart. Our 10 week scan can be performed as early as 10 weeks of pregnancy; however we will have to use a specifically-designed high resolution transvaginal probe to obtain these images. Please note that the 10 week scan is a much more comprehensive examination of the fetus and has different pricing to the viability scan.
Learn more about our different 1st trimester scans.
Ectopic pregnancy is a condition when the gestational egg implants outside of the cavity of the womb. Ectopic pregnancy is potentially a life-threatening complication for the mother. If you are experiencing severe symptoms such as vaginal bleeding and pain, please contact your nearest A&E unit and avoid coming in for a scan.
Before 10 weeks the baby has not finished its primary development and is still considered an embryo. Therefore, it is not possible to screen for any congenital anomalies.
However, from 10 weeks the baby is considered a fetus, meaning many of its organs have started forming and it begins to resemble a tiny human. This means that our ultrasound scanners, which are especially designed to obtain high-resolution images, can be used to examine the development of structures such as the heart, extremities and spine.
The 10-week scan, can be done at 10-11 weeks and is the earliest anomaly scan out there aimed to screen for 10 structural anomalies. We also recommend taking an NIPT (non-invasive prenatal test) together with your 10-week scan.
NIPT is a cf-DNA blood test and is currently the most accurate screening test (>99% accuracy) for screening for Down’s syndrome, Edward’s syndrome and Patau’s syndrome.
Learn more about our 10 week scan and NIPT packages here.
Yes, of course. We use Tricefy which is a secure cloud system to upload images and videos from your scan to be viewed before you even leave the scanning room! You will also receive a hard and soft copy of your detailed ultrasound report as well as some high-quality colour printouts for you to take home with you on the day!
Tricefy also allows you to download the images and videos from the scan to share with your loved ones via message/social media.
At 8 weeks of pregnancy, a sonogram (or ultrasound) provides a fascinating glimpse into your baby’s early development. Here’s what you can typically expect to see during an 8-week sonogram:
Each of these is covered in detail in the “What we look at” section above.
Yes — we offer compassionate miscarriage support alongside our early pregnancy scans. If a scan brings difficult news, our clinicians take the time to explain your results clearly, answer your questions and talk you through what happens next, without ever rushing you.
We can also advise on follow-up scans, referral back to your NHS team and trying again when you feel ready. You can read more about our miscarriage support, or speak to our team in confidence on 020 3687 2939.
Miscarriage, pregnancy loss and recurrent miscarriage support is available from our gynaecologists, midwives and sonographers.
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The figures and clinical statements on this page are drawn from the sources below. Guidance evolves — always discuss your individual circumstances with a clinician.
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