8 weeks pregnant ultrasound: Is it too early to have one?

Being 8 weeks pregnant can be an intense time. You may be in the thick of early pregnancy symptoms, anxious about miscarriage, or trying to decide when to tell friends and family your news. These circumstances can be a lot to handle, so please be extra gentle with yourself. 

All the uncertainty may have you wondering whether an 8-week ultrasound could bring you some comfort and reassurance. But how much would an ultrasound actually tell you about your baby this week? Is 2 months pregnant still too early for a scan? We spoke to Dr. Jennifer Boyle, obstetrician and gynecologist, Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts, US, to find out. 

Key takeaways: 8 weeks pregnant ultrasound

• By 8 weeks pregnant, it can be a good time to have an early “dating and viability scan,” according to Dr. Boyle. In nonmedical terms, this means ultrasound to determine your due date and whether or not your pregnancy is expected to develop normally. 
• The timing of your first scan largely depends on where you live, but it’s often when you’re around 12 weeks pregnant. However, your doctor may want to perform an 8-week ultrasound (or earlier) if you’re experiencing any bleeding or pain or if you’ve previously had fertility problems. 
• Some people choose to have an ultrasound at 8 weeks pregnant for reassurance. If the doctor can detect your baby’s heartbeat at 8 weeks, research suggests that your risk of miscarriage drops. 
• You can use a pregnancy tracking app like Flo to follow baby’s milestones and to learn how your own body is changing.

Is 8 weeks too early for an ultrasound? 

A scan could tell you some pretty important information about your pregnancy this week. “Eight weeks is a great time for confirming dating and viability,” says Dr. Boyle. By dating, we mean determining your due date by ultrasound, which will also confirm how far along in your pregnancy you are. 

“Dating scans are most accurate when done [at] 7 weeks and 0 days [or later],” says Dr. Boyle. They’re still considered accurate until the end of 13 weeks of pregnancy, which is why routine 1st-trimester ultrasounds happen within that bracket.

The viability of your pregnancy in the 1st trimester means whether or not it’s expected to develop normally. Doctors can look at your ultrasound results plus hormone levels to figure this out. “When we see cardiac activity [a heartbeat] in an embryo [the group of cells that form after fertilization and implantation have happened], we say the pregnancy is viable,” says Dr. Boyle. “This means it is possible for it to result in the birth of a child.”

While some people will have their first ultrasound scheduled as early as 8 weeks pregnant as part of their routine prenatal care, it’s common for this scan to happen a bit later, at around 12 weeks pregnant. This is why many people may choose to book an 8-week ultrasound for reassurance — that extra four weeks can feel like a long wait. “I tried to be patient, but the anxiety got the better of me,” said one Flo member while discussing their 8-week scan in the app’s Secret Chats space. “I’m going for reassurance.” 

Dr. Boyle sees this often. “People love to know as soon as possible that everything is OK with their pregnancy. They may [want to know if] they are having twins. Or, if their period is irregular, they may not know exactly how far along they are. Some people are at higher risk of miscarriage because they have had miscarriages before or because they are older. Knowing the pregnancy is viable is a huge relief.” 

In fact, if your pregnancy is viable, your chance of miscarriage drops significantly. Varying research has found slightly different results, but one study suggests the chance of miscarriage falls to just 1.5% by the end of 8 weeks of pregnancy. According to the same research, this figure falls again to 0.5% by the end of 9 weeks pregnant. 

Hopefully, a positive scan this week would bring you some much-deserved peace of mind. However, it’s completely normal if you continue to feel anxious about your pregnancy. In fact, some people find it hard to relax until they’ve had their anatomy scan, which tends to happen around 20 weeks pregnant. This is the ultrasound that checks your baby for abnormalities like birth disorders and serious conditions related to their brain, heart, bones, or kidneys. This can sound scary, but know that in most pregnancies, the scans don’t reveal any problems. 

Why get an ultrasound at 8 weeks?

In some instances, having an ultrasound at 8 weeks is medically necessary. “One of the reasons doctors do a pregnancy ultrasound [earlier] is to investigate problems, such as pain or bleeding,” says Dr. Boyle.

As you may know already, bleeding and/or pain can be a sign of miscarriage. But it’s important to remember that bleeding during early pregnancy can also be normal. If you’re between 6 and 12 weeks pregnant, your doctor will likely want to look into any unexplained bleeding by performing an ultrasound. 

There’s a very small chance that pain and bleeding could be an ectopic pregnancy. This is when a fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus, usually in one of the fallopian tubes. This kind of pregnancy can’t become viable because a baby needs to be inside a uterus to grow, and it can also cause you harm if left untreated, so it requires urgent surgery. This sounds scary, but try not to worry, as ectopic pregnancies are rare. 

The main thing is, it’s important to get checked out as soon as possible if you’re 8 weeks pregnant — or anywhere in your 1st trimester — and you’re experiencing bleeding and/or pain. But remember, these symptoms can also be common in the 1st trimester and don’t necessarily mean that anything is wrong, so try not to panic. 

Some doctors, including those at Dr. Boyle’s practice, may offer you an ultrasound at around 7 to 8 weeks pregnant if you’ve got a history of miscarriages or fertility issues. Similarly, in vitro fertilization (IVF) providers may book a scan around this time to confirm everything is developing as planned. “[Fertility treatment] clinics have their own protocols about when to have 1st-trimester ultrasounds,” she explains.

For example, one Flo member had an 8-week scan after experiencing years of fertility issues. “First pregnancy after trying for three years!” they posted in Secret Chats. “I was so nervous all week, but glad everything looks good.”

Meanwhile, another person opened up about their pregnancy anxiety, having previously experienced a loss. “Currently 9 weeks pregnant, and it went well with our 8-week scan, a healthy strong heartbeat, but still stressing!” the post reads. “Hope this is our rainbow baby.” 

Having an ultrasound can be nerve-racking at the best of times, but it can be especially difficult if you’ve experienced pregnancy loss before. If you’re struggling to manage anxiety about an upcoming scan or any other element of pregnancy, our crisis page can help you find support in your area. 

Most importantly, know that you’re not alone. Many people find the uncertainty of early pregnancy extremely challenging. It can help to remind yourself that one way or another, you will get through it. And, as Dr. Boyle says, “You are stronger than you think.”

What happens in an ultrasound at 8 weeks? 

Pregnancy scans that happen between 6 and 12 weeks are transvaginal ultrasounds, which involve the sonographer placing a wand-like device inside your vagina. The other main type, which doctors use after 12 weeks, is an abdominal ultrasound, where they’ll move a device around your belly. This is the type of pregnancy scan you’ve probably seen in movies. 

The gel-on-the-belly type of scan may sound preferable, but don’t worry; neither scan usually causes any discomfort. You may find you’re so absorbed in the picture on the screen that you don’t notice what the sonographer’s doing anyway. 

At 8 weeks, the sonographer “will look for the embryo and make sure there is only one,” says Dr. Boyle. “They will look for cardiac activity and check the heart rate. They will measure the crown-rump length, which is literally what it sounds like — measuring from the top of what will develop into the baby’s head to its rump or bottom.”

She continues: “The crown-rump length is used to determine the gestational age [how far through your pregnancy you are]. Doctors compare the ultrasound gestational age to the gestational age based on the last menstrual period and can then tell a person their due date.”

When to expect your first ultrasound

The timing of your first ultrasound will depend on your medical team and where you live. For example, in the United States, some health care professionals offer scans at 12 weeks pregnant, while others offer them as early as 7 or 8 weeks. In Canada, a 1st-trimester scan is recommended at 11 to 14 weeks. In the United Kingdom, the National Health Service schedules the 1st-trimester scan for somewhere between 10 to 14 weeks pregnant. Meanwhile, in France, they happen between 11 and 13 weeks and six days. In Australia, the 1st-trimester ultrasound happens between 11 and 13 weeks pregnant, but some women choose to have an earlier dating scan at 8 to 9 weeks. 

While many people across the world will have their first ultrasound around 12 weeks pregnant, you may have one sooner if your doctor thinks it’s a good idea. If you’re not sure about when’s the right time for your scan, don’t hesitate to reach out to your medical team for advice. 

Waiting for your first ultrasound can be tough, whether you’re dealing with anxiety or just feeling impatient to find out more about your baby. To help pass the time, you can try tracking your baby’s development week by week with a pregnancy-tracking app, and you can continue following its progress throughout the whole 40 weeks. For example, Flo can help you celebrate mini milestones like the first time your baby opens its eyes or when you might start to feel it moving. The app can also help you to prepare for your appointments as well as chat with like-minded parents-to-be in our friendly Secret Chats space.