What can you see at a 6 week scan?
At 6 weeks your sonographer expects to see the pregnancy sac inside the womb, the yolk sac, and usually a tiny embryo (the fetal pole) a few millimetres long with a flickering heartbeat. Everything is small and the scan is about confirming the pregnancy is in the right place and developing, not about seeing the baby in detail; that comes at later scans.
Is 6 weeks too early for a scan?
Not for reassurance, but it is right at the edge of what can be seen; this is the scan often called a viability scan. From about 6 weeks a heartbeat is usually visible on an internal scan; before that it is often too early. If your dates are uncertain or your cycle is long, waiting until 7 weeks gives a clearer answer. Tell us your dates when you book and we will advise.
Can you see the heartbeat at 6 weeks?
Usually, yes, on an internal (transvaginal) scan once the embryo measures around 5 to 7 mm, which is typically from 6 weeks. Through the tummy it can take another week to be visible. If no heartbeat is seen and the embryo is still very small, it is most often simply too early, and a repeat scan in 7 to 14 days settles it.
What if there is no heartbeat at my early scan?
It depends on what else is seen. A sac and a small embryo with no heartbeat yet is common before 7 weeks and usually means the scan is a little early, so we arrange a repeat scan rather than draw conclusions. Only when the embryo is large enough that a heartbeat should be visible, or on a repeat scan, can a miscarriage be confirmed. If that is the finding, your sonographer tells you gently in the room and we arrange the right support and referral the same day.
What does it mean if my baby is measuring behind my dates?
Most often that ovulation happened later than you thought, so the pregnancy is simply younger than the calendar suggests. If the heartbeat is present and development looks normal, a difference of a few days is not a concern and your dates are adjusted. A larger difference, or no heartbeat, is checked again with a repeat scan.
Will I need an internal scan?
Yes, as standard: a slim transvaginal probe gives a far clearer picture of such a small pregnancy than a scan through the tummy. It is not painful, takes a few minutes, and is only done with your consent: your sonographer explains it first. If you would prefer a tummy scan, tell us when you book and arrive with a full bladder.
Do I need a full bladder for an early pregnancy scan?
No. The scan is performed transvaginally as standard, so your bladder should be empty: please use the toilet just before you go in. Only if you ask for the scan through the tummy do you need a full bladder, drinking a litre of water 45 to 60 minutes before.
Can an early scan detect twins, or miss them?
Twins are usually visible from 6 weeks as two sacs or two heartbeats. Occasionally identical twins sharing one sac are only seen a week or two later, so a very early scan can miss a twin. If there is any doubt, your sonographer says so and the dating scan confirms it.
Can an early pregnancy scan be wrong?
Scans are very reliable at confirming where a pregnancy is and whether a heartbeat is present, but early pregnancy changes week by week, so a scan done before 7 weeks sometimes cannot give a definite answer either way. That is not an error; it is why a repeat scan is offered rather than a guess. Your sonographer is always honest about what can and cannot be concluded today.
Is an early pregnancy scan safe? Can it cause bleeding or miscarriage?
Yes, it is safe. Ultrasound uses sound waves, not radiation, and decades of use in pregnancy have shown no harm to babies. An internal scan does not cause miscarriage; a little spotting afterwards can occasionally happen from the cervix and is not a sign of a problem. If you are bleeding before your appointment, tell us: the scan is still the right thing to do.
Can an early scan detect an ectopic pregnancy?
Yes: confirming that the pregnancy sac is inside the womb is one of the main purposes of the scan, and that finding effectively rules out an ectopic pregnancy. If no sac is seen in the womb, your sonographer explains what that could mean and, if an ectopic pregnancy is suspected, arranges urgent assessment the same day.
When should I have my early scan after IVF?
Around 6 to 7 weeks of pregnancy, which is usually about 4 to 5 weeks after your embryo transfer. Because your dates are known precisely, the scan can confirm the heartbeat and number of babies with confidence. Bring your transfer date and the clinic will not change it based on the scan.
Can I find out the sex of my baby at an early scan?
No. The sex cannot be seen on a scan until around 16 weeks. If you would like to know early, NIPT can report the sex from 10 weeks from a blood sample, alongside screening for Down’s, Edwards’ and Patau’s syndromes.
How much does a private early pregnancy scan cost in London?
£160 at Harley Street Ultrasound, all fees inclusive: the scan, performed transvaginally as standard, your sonographer’s time, your printed images and your written report the same day. Book online without a referral; same-day and next-day appointments are usually available.
Can I get an early pregnancy scan on the NHS?
Only with a clinical reason, usually pain or bleeding, through an early pregnancy unit; the first routine NHS scan is at 10 to 14 weeks. A private early scan gives you reassurance before then without affecting your NHS care, and if anything needs attention we write to your GP or refer you to an early pregnancy unit the same day.
What if something needs a closer look?
Your sonographer tells you in the room, gently and in plain English, and explains exactly what it means. You are never sent home to wait for a letter. Most of the time a finding simply needs a repeat scan in a week or two, or a measurement checked again at the next routine scan.
If something genuinely needs attention, a consultant review is available the same day, and we arrange the next step for you: a referral to a fetal medicine specialist or early pregnancy unit, with your report and images, through our hospital partners. You will not be left alone with a worry.
Do I need a referral?
No. Harley Street Ultrasound is a private clinic, so you can book an early pregnancy scan in London directly online or by phone, with no GP or midwife letter and no waiting list. Same-day and next-day appointments are usually available, and we are at 99 Harley Street, a short walk from Regent’s Park and Oxford Circus stations.
The price is published before you book: £160, all fees inclusive, covering the scan, your sonographer’s time, your printed images and your written report. Pregnancy scans are usually self-pay; if you are insured, check whether your policy covers pregnancy scanning before you book.
How soon will I have the written report?
The same day. You will already know what was seen, because your sonographer explains everything on screen as the scan happens, and your written report is published to your secure patient portal with your images before the day ends, ready to share with your midwife, GP or consultant.
Your printed scan pictures come home with you on the day.
Is ultrasound safe for my baby?
Yes. Ultrasound uses sound waves, not radiation, and has been used in pregnancy for more than fifty years with no confirmed harmful effects on babies. Our sonographers keep scan times to what is clinically needed and use hospital-grade equipment, so a scan can be repeated safely whenever it is useful.
Can I still have my NHS scans afterwards?
Yes, completely. A private scan with us never affects your NHS maternity care: keep every NHS appointment as planned. Many parents book with us for extra reassurance between NHS scans, or for a scan the NHS does not routinely offer. If anything needs attention, your sonographer writes to your midwife or GP so that you re-enter the NHS pathway with the findings already in hand.
