First of all, congratulations mama, it may feel like you have a long pregnancy journey ahead before you meet your baby, but the great news is you can have plenty of ultrasound scans along the way!
You may be thinking about booking a 6-week ultrasound scan; the great news is the six-week ultrasound can be great for reassurance for mums-to-be who are experiencing brown spotting at 6 weeks or some other worrying symptoms.
Early pregnancy can be a nerve-wracking time for parents even if they don’t have any worrying symptoms.
When Was Your Last Menstrual Period?
At 6 weeks into your pregnancy, you find yourself in the initial stage of your first trimester, the early moments of this incredible journey.
It’s important to note that even though your last menstrual period occurred 6 weeks ago and you were not yet pregnant during the first 2 weeks (as fertilization- where the fertilized egg implants into the lining of the uterus- typically takes place around 2 weeks after your last period), your baby’s gestational age is still 6 weeks. This can be a source of confusion for many first-time mothers.
Typically, the first ultrasound is not offered unless there are signs and symptoms of a potentially life-threatening ectopic pregnancy. However, some exceptions exist. In the NHS system, the first-trimester ultrasounds are generally scheduled at around 12 weeks into your pregnancy. Yet, parents who have faced multiple pregnancy losses or undergone fertility treatments might be considered for their first ultrasound as early as 6 weeks.
What are the Most Common Reasons for an Ultrasound Scan at 6 Weeks:
There are lots of reasons for an early ultrasound, here are some of the most common reasons;
- assess the location of the pregnancy (intrauterine or Ectopic pregnancy)
- assess the number of sacs
- check for the presence of a yolk sac
- check for the presence of an embryo/fetus
- measurement of the embryo if present
- presence of embryo heart pulsations
- assess for any hematomas
- measurement of Mean Sac Diameter (MSD); if the gestational sac is empty or only the yolk sac seen
- extrauterine observations; i.e ovaries, free fluid in the pelvis
Luckily, these days, we have access to a lot of private ultrasound clinics that will usually offer ultrasound scans from 6 weeks onwards.
Early ultrasounds are a great way to reassure you whilst you wait for your first official medical scan.
If you are wondering when you normally have ultrasound scans with the NHS in pregnancy, you can read our article When do you have Ultrasound Scans in Pregnancy?
Things to Remember Before the Six-Week Ultrasound
During the initial stages of pregnancy, such as at 6 weeks pregnant, the sonographer typically begins with a transabdominal scan (on the abdomen) but may opt for a transvagin*l scan if the images aren’t sufficiently clear. In such instances, the ultrasound is conducted via the vagin*, known as a transvagin*l ultrasound.
Let the sonographer know if you have any latex allergies; you will always be asked this question by the sonographer
If you have young children, try not to attend with them at this stage of the pregnancy
Will I have to have a Transvagin*l Ultrasound at 6 Weeks?
You will most likely have to have a transvagin*l scan at 6 weeks, as itis difficult to see your baby on the abdominal scan this early into the pregnancy.
Does the Transvagin*l Ultrasound Probe Hurt?
No, the transvagin*l probe is covered and then lubricated, it only enters the vagin* slightly.
Can a Transvagin*l Ultrasound Harm the Developing Embryo?
No, your baby is tucked right up in your uterus and nowhere near where the probe goes in.
The Early Scan – 6 Week Ultrasound Scan – Frequently Asked Questions
What Should You See on a 6-Week Ultrasound?
At this stage of the pregnancy, if your dates are as expected, you should be able to see a gestational sac with a yolk sac, and an embryo may also be visible at this stage. However, this may not always be the case. A follow-up scan may be advised where necessary.
Will My Baby Have a Heartbeat at 6 Weeks Pregnant?
At 6 weeks pregnant, you will not hear a heartbeat, however, a heartbeat can be visible at 6 weeks gestation. However, if the embryo is still too small to determine an obvious cardiac flicker, you may be asked to wait at least 2 weeks or 7 to 10 days before having another scan to check for viability.
Do I Get an Ultrasound Image at my 6-week Scan?
You will usually get a picture at your 6-week ultrasound if you paid for a private scan, you don’t usually get one at the early pregnancy unit if your scan was for medical reasons.
Would you be able to see the baby’s gender at 6 weeks?
No, this is not possible with an Ultrasound scan at 6 weeks.
Would you be able to see if I have had a miscarriage at 6 weeks?
At 6 weeks, during the initial scan of your pregnancy, it’s important to note that determining a missed miscarriage may not be definitive. Depending on the findings of the first scan, a follow-up scan may be recommended. Typically, a follow-up scan is scheduled approximately 2 weeks later to evaluate any significant growth since the initial scan.
According to NICE guidelines, if an embryo measures 7mm or more at your first scan (around 6 weeks and 4 days) and there’s no heartbeat, it might be termed a missed miscarriage- which is a miscarriage without any accompanying symptoms.
In cases where a miscarriage is suspected, it can be challenging to make a definitive diagnosis based on a single scan. Hence, a follow-up scan may be arranged to reassess the situation and provide more clarity.
Does an empty sac at 6 weeks mean miscarriage?
If an empty sac is seen at 6 weeks gestation; then a re-scan in 7 to 10 days or 2 weeks will be advised.
What does no fetal pole at 6 weeks mean?
This can either mean that you are too early, or it could also mean a pregnancy of uncertain viability.
You will be advised to wait at least 2 weeks before having a second scan to determine the viability of your pregnancy.
What type of Ultrasound is usually available to new mums?
You will either be offered a transabdominal ultrasound or a transvagin*l Ultrasound depending on your gestational age at the time of your scan. A transvagin*l scan may also be recommended at a very early stage of the pregnancy, depending on the position of your uterus, in cases where a uterus is, for example, a retroverted uterus.
What week could I find out our baby’s gender?
Normally a gender scan can be performed around 16 weeks gestation. You can also have a DNA blood test at 6 weeks gestation or a non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT) from 10 weeks gestation, where fetal sexing is optional, with this test for those who request to know the gender of their baby.
Can you See the Baby at 6 Weeks?
At 6 weeks pregnant, you might be able to see the fetal pole and the fetal heartbeat. This will be the earliest time you will be able to see your baby.
Your baby will not look like a baby at 6 weeks, this is likely to be your first ultrasound and your baby will change a lot.
You can see some 6 week ultrasound pictures here.
Can My First Ultrasound Discover Twins?
In most cases, a twin pregnancy is visible at 6 weeks, however, this is not always the case.
Should I Tell My Doctor About My Pregnancy at 6 Weeks?
You should call your doctor as soon as you find out you are pregnant so that they can register you with your midwife.
They will usually ask for your last period to calculate a rough due date, it is likely your dates will change slightly as your pregnancy progresses but that is completely normal.
If you are having an ultrasound scan at 5 weeks instead, you can check out our articles 5 Weeks Pregnant Ultrasound Showed Nothing, Can you hear a heartbeat at 5 weeks pregnant, and 5 weeks pregnant ultrasound scan. Alternatively, if you are having a seven week ultrasound scan, you can read this one instead: 7 week ultrasound.
For information about ultrasound scans at other weeks, you can visit:
- 5 Week Ultrasound Scan
- 6 Week Ultrasound Scan
- 7 Week Ultrasound
- 8 Weeks Ultrasound Scan
- 9 Week Ultrasound Scan
- 10 Week Ultrasound Scan
- 12 Week Ultrasound Scan
- 13 Week Ultrasound Scan
- 14 Week Ultrasound Scan
- 15 Week Ultrasound Scan
Dalson Parminter, sonographer- Director/ Sonographer Mybaby4d Watford
Hebziba Fredrik, nurse-sonographer- Mybaby4d Watford
Carla Lett
Carla is the founder of MyBump2Baby. Carla has a huge passion for linking together small businesses and growing families. Carla’s humorous, non-filtered honesty has won the hearts of thousands of parents throughout the UK.
She has previously written for the Metro and made appearances on BBC News, BBC 5 live, LBC etc. Carla is a finalist for Blogger of the Year award with Simply Ladies inc. Carla is also the host of the popular Fifty Shades of Motherhood podcast and The MyBump2Baby Expert podcast.
