Does anyone know how early is too early for 12 weeks scan?

[lou19]

I am due for my 12 weeks scan next week, when I will be "officially" 12 weeks, but I reckon I am about three weeks less- will they still be able to see something? does it help if I drink lots before the scan?really really REALLY been looking forward to seeing babi and will be so disappointed if I can't
thank you!

will be fine
purpose of 12 week scan is for dating. This is considered reliable after 9 weeks.

If you are actually only 9 weeks, they will still be able to see a baby with a heartbeart - just looks a bit more like a kidney bean with legs than a proper baby at that stage! Will be too early for all the screening tests (if you are having those) though, so if you're right you'll hopefully end up getting a second scan later on

I had a scan at about 6-8 weeks and they saw the baby.

They dated mine wrong as well because GP didn't believe that I actually had a 6 week cycle. So at the '12' week scan they dated him as only being 10 weeks (which was in line with my dates ). So they couldn't do the nuchal scan thingy and I had to come back for another peek at my little one 2 weeks later! I wasn't complaining then!!!

I was told my bladder was too full. Yes drink lots as it acts like a window.

You will be able to see something if you're at 9 weeks instead of 12. If you're planning on having the nuchal scan, then that needs to be done between roughly 11 and 13+6 weeks, so the fact that you think you're measuring ahead of your actual dates won't be a problem - they'll just readjust if they need to.

At my dating / viability scan at 6+4, we saw a little tiny wormy thing and could see and hear the heartbeat; at 11+4 we could see an actual baby-shaped baby! So I'm not sure exactly what you'll see if you're 9 weeks but it will definitely be something!

Is it a nuchal scan? If not then it doesn't matter if 3 weeks early. If it is I think you need to be 11 weeks.

Agree with the above posters - it doesn't matter too much for dating but will definately matter if its also a nuchal scan.

What is the NHS policy in your area? Lots of hospitals don't do nuchal, but at mine, the dating scan was also the nuchal scan (plus nasal bone and DV flow) and the day of the double bloods, so it had to be done between (I think) 11+4 and 13+6. Outside that window will not be accurate.

Yuo need to check with your midwives what type of scan it will be.

If its also nuchal etc etc, you should have also have some pre-scan session about the choices involved and the fact that (although I am sure all will be fine for you) it might not just be seeing the baby and all nice... At my hospital (Princess Alexandra, Harlow), as well as your 10 week booking appointment, you also have to attend before your 12 week scan an obligatory 1 hour group session (on a Saturday so partners can come too) about the choices and implications of having the nuchal fold and bloods, what high risk means, the choices you would then have etc etc...

I had an early scan as wasn't completely sure on dates. Bubs was 10+3 at the time, could see a tiny bubba and heartbeat no problem at all

It also meant I got to go back 2 week slater for another scan for exact measurements etc. Which was fab!