Most scans are carried out by sonographers. You may need to have a full bladder for this scan, as this makes the ultrasound image clearer. You can ask your midwife or doctor before the scan if this is the case. The dating scan usually takes about 20 minutes.

How long do dating ultrasounds take?

What happens at a dating scan? The dating scan usually takes about 30 minutes (NHS 2015a, Healthlink BC 2019, SOGC 2019). Nearly all ultrasounds after 10 weeks can be done through your tummy (Butt and Lim 2014). Most hospitals or ultrasound clinics ask you to arrive with a full bladder.

Can I eat before a dating scan?

You can eat before your ultrasound. You are required to have a full bladder. It is necessary to drink 600-800ml of water two hours prior to the scan and refrain from going to the toilet before the scan.

Can you tell the gender at 12 week scan?

The earliest time we can assess the babys sex is at 12 weeks gestation/pregnancy: We can tell the sex of the baby at the 12 week scan by assessing the direction of the nub. This is something that can be identified on babies at this stage and if it points vertically then it is likely to be a boy.

Does an empty sac mean no baby?

If your doctor discovers an empty gestational sac on an ultrasound, he may confirm that your pregnancy is nonviable—in other words, that the pregnancy will not result in the birth of a baby as it is not progressing normally.