If you are eager to meet your unborn baby, are worried about how your pregnancy is progressing or would just like more information in advance of your first NHS scan appointment, our early scans are the ideal solution. Available within your first trimester, a private early scan will give you reassurance, valuable prenatal information and the opportunity to ask our expert sonographer any questions that might be bothering you.

If this is your first pregnancy, or you have not had an early scan before, here we present some information on what to expect, so you can come fully prepared, aware of what will happen and what you can hope to find out.

When can you have an early scan?

Early pregnancy scans are available from 7 weeks into your pregnancy. Although your baby is in the very early stages of development, a scan gives you the opportunity to get vital reassurance that the pregnancy is progressing well.

What information will you get from an early scan?

A private early scan is often referred to as a ‘reassurance scan’ because in most cases that is what it will be delivering - the comfort that you are pregnant, having one or multiple babies and the dating of your pregnancy, helping you to understand when your baby will be due.

Which early scan should you choose?

At Early Life we offer two private early pregnancy scans from 7 weeks into your pregnancy:

Early Pregnancy Reassurance Scan with Sonographer - an early reassurance scan to help confirm whether your baby is in the right place, establish the number of babies, date the pregnancy and assess the ovaries and pelvic area. This scan is just £99 and makes a great gift for parents to be.

Early Pregnancy Scan & Consultation with Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist - an early scan featuring a consultation with our experienced consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist. This scan is ideal for parents to be with additional concerns such as those who have previously experienced a miscarriage or those having extreme pregnancy symptoms.

What do you need to do to prepare for an early scan?

Early reassurance scans are generally carried out transabdominally, so it is important that you arrive for your appointment with a full bladder to give the sonographer the best chance to see your baby. If they cannot see clearly, it may be better to carry out an internal scan, but you can of course decline this.  In some cases it may be beneficial to have a follow up scan, but you will be advised about this during your appointment.

Prior to your appointment we also ask that you familiarise yourself with our Covid-19 procedures, so that you understand the measures we have in place to take care of you and our staff, and also so that you can contact us if you have any concerns about feeling unwell before your appointment.

Why choose early life?

• We offer a warm welcome with a spa-like atmosphere.
• We are committed to offering the very best service to our patients and have recently won Best Private Ultrasound Practice - South West England & GHP Healthcare Dedication Excellence Award Winners 2021.
• We place special emphasis on the safety and well-being of all of our clients ensuring that all safety procedures and policies are adhered to at all times.
• We offer empathy and patience in addition to our expertise - our Sonographer's undergo extra counselling training on top of their existing medical ultrasound qualifications.
• We are registered with and have been inspected by the Care Quality Commission under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Book your early scan now

Please click here to view our full range of early scans and follow the links to book your chosen scan online. Alternatively, you can call our friendly team on 01242 300810 and they will be happy to help you make a booking or answer any questions you might have.