Does a maternal fetal medicine perform dating scan?

A dating scan is an early pregnancy ultrasound. It can help assess the location of the pregnancy, whether a heartbeat is visible, the number of pregnancies, and an estimated gestational age based on measurements. It may also be called an early pregnancy or viability scan. A maternal-fetal medicine doctor may provide the scan when there is uncertainty about dates, a previous pregnancy concern, a medical condition, or a need for detailed review. Early findings can change as the pregnancy develops, so the clinician may recommend repeat imaging.

Bring the date of your last menstrual period if known, information about cycle timing, previous scan reports, and a list of medicines. Ask whether the scan is abdominal, internal, or may use both approaches, and how the result will be explained. Tell the team about pain, bleeding, or earlier pregnancy complications before the examination begins.

Seek urgent medical assessment for severe one-sided abdominal pain, heavy vaginal bleeding, fainting, shoulder-tip pain, or feeling very unwell in early pregnancy. These symptoms need prompt assessment regardless of whether a scan is already booked. Contact the pregnancy service for new or worsening symptoms that are less severe.

Ask what the scan can establish at this stage, whether the pregnancy location and development were seen, how gestational age was estimated, and when a repeat scan might be useful. Confirm who will receive the report.