Dating Scan (6-12 Weeks): What to Expect & Cost

A dating scan is usually the first ultrasound of your pregnancy, done between about 6 and 12 weeks. Its main job is in the name: measuring your baby to work out how far along you are and estimate your due date.

Measurement in early pregnancy is very accurate, because babies grow at a highly predictable rate in the first trimester. Many parents also remember it as the first time they see the heartbeat.

As well as confirming your dates, the sonographer checks:

• The heartbeat • Whether you're having one baby, twins, or more • That the pregnancy is developing in the right place (inside the uterus) • Early anatomy appropriate for the stage

If your dates are uncertain, or your doctor wants to confirm everything is progressing normally after symptoms like bleeding, a dating scan is often the first test ordered.

Most dating scans are done between 6 and 12 weeks, and around 8-9 weeks is a common sweet spot - early enough to date the pregnancy accurately, late enough that the heartbeat and measurements are clear.

Very early scans (before about 7 weeks) sometimes can't show everything yet, and you may be asked to return a week or two later. That's common and usually not a cause for alarm.

Usually yes. Early pregnancy scans are typically done through the abdomen, and a full bladder lifts the uterus into a clearer position. Most clinics ask you to drink around two glasses to a litre of water in the hour before your appointment and not empty your bladder.

Sometimes a clearer view is needed early in pregnancy, and the sonographer may recommend a transvaginal ultrasound - an internal scan using a slim probe. It's safe in pregnancy, only done with your consent, and the clinic will explain everything on the day.

Follow the specific instructions your clinic gives you when you book.

With a valid referral and Medicare card:

• Bulk billed: many radiology clinics bulk bill dating scans - no out-of-pocket cost. • Private fees: other clinics, particularly specialist obstetric practices, may charge a gap of roughly $100-$200 after the Medicare rebate.

The same scan can be free at one clinic and cost $200 at another, so compare before you book. Radly shows prices and bulk-billing status for clinics near you.

Yes. A referral from your GP, obstetrician, or a participating midwife is required, and it's what makes the scan Medicare-eligible.

Your referral isn't locked to any clinic - you can take it wherever suits you best, regardless of whose name is printed on it.

The images are reviewed by a radiologist or specialist and a report goes to your referring doctor or midwife, who will discuss the results with you and confirm your due date.

Your next routine scan is usually the nuchal translucency scan at 11-13 weeks - because its window is strict, it's worth booking ahead once your dates are confirmed. See the full pregnancy scan timeline.