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

You may be feeling particularly sensitive at 9 weeks pregnant. Not only are your pregnancy hormones at their peak around now (hello, nausea and vomiting), but there’s a lot of change that can bring uncertainty around what’s happening to your baby and body. 

A pregnancy tracking app like Flo can help you to understand the changes better. But you might still be in need of some reassurance about whether everything is OK and may be considering whether an ultrasound could put your mind at ease. So, what exactly could a 9-week-pregnant ultrasound tell you? We speak to Flo expert Dr. Jennifer Boyle, obstetrician and gynecologist, Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts, US, to find out. 

Key takeaways: 9 weeks pregnant ultrasound

• At 9 weeks pregnant, an ultrasound would allow your doctor to figure out your due date and whether or not your pregnancy is viable (i.e., if it’s expected to develop normally).
• Many people will have their 1st trimester ultrasound around 12 weeks pregnant, but the exact timing largely depends on where you live. In some cases, your doctor may recommend doing an early scan — such as if you have any bleeding or pain or if you have a history of fertility issues. 
• If the doctor can pick up your baby’s heartbeat at 9 (completed) weeks pregnant, your risk of miscarriage drops significantly. This is one reason why some people choose to have an additional scan around this time.
• You can use a pregnancy tracking app like Flo to keep track of all your baby’s growth milestones and to find out how your own body is changing, too.

Is 9 weeks too early for an ultrasound? 

Nine weeks pregnant is definitely not too early for an ultrasound — in fact, there are some good reasons why you may want to do a scan around this point in the 1st trimester.

• To confirm how far through your pregnancy you are 

Figuring out your due date by ultrasound can be done at 9 weeks. Known as pregnancy dating, Dr. Boyle explains how it’s calculated: “They will measure the fetal pole [your baby in one of their first stages] and get what is called a crown-to-rump length,” says Dr. Boyle. “The crown-rump length is used to determine the gestational age. Doctors compare this to the gestational age based on the last menstrual period and can then tell a person their due date.” 

At 9 weeks pregnant, the fetal pole would have been visible on a scan for a few weeks already (from as early as week 6, although it can’t always be seen that early), making this a good time for pregnancy dating. It’s thought to be an accurate method until the end of 13 weeks of pregnancy, in fact. But if you want to get a prediction of your due date before your ultrasound comes around, you could try our due date calculator for an early estimate. 

• To check whether your pregnancy is “viable”

“When we see cardiac activity, also called cardiac motion, in an embryo, we say the pregnancy is viable,” says Dr. Boyle. “This means it is possible for it to result in the birth of a child.” 

It’s possible to detect the flicker of a heartbeat via ultrasound as early as week 6. However, some people may find 9 weeks pregnant a preferable time to look for cardiac activity because it may offer a little more reassurance about your risk of miscarriage. We’ll explain. Research shows that your risk of miscarriage decreases week by week. And, according to one study, once you get to 9 (completed) weeks of pregnancy, your risk of miscarriage falls to just 0.5% (although other research has found slightly higher figures). So if you’re looking for peace of mind, having a scan at 9 weeks pregnant may provide more reassurance than previous weeks. 

Some people will have their first ultrasound scheduled as early as 9 weeks pregnant as part of their routine prenatal care. However, it often happens a little later than this, at around 12 weeks pregnant. 

For some people, this wait is too long, and they may decide to schedule a 9-week ultrasound for reassurance. “Knowing the pregnancy is viable is a huge relief,” says Dr. Boyle. Take one Flo member’s experience for example. “I started to cry when I could see the baby wiggle at only 9 weeks! Such a wonderful moment,” they shared on the Flo app’s Secret Chats space. 

Wanting to feel confident in telling friends and family your pregnancy news and due date can also be a factor in deciding to have a scan at 9 weeks pregnant. “I had my first ultrasound yesterday!” says another person on Secret Chats. “We are very excited. Measuring 9 weeks exactly yesterday. We told my family last night and are telling my partner’s family next!”

However, if you’re hoping to have a 9-week scan for prenatal genetic testing (these are optional tests that can tell if your baby might have a genetic condition or birth abnormality), this probably isn’t the right time.

In a few weeks, your doctor would be able to use combined results from an ultrasound and blood test to calculate the risk of genetic conditions like Down Syndrome (trisomy 21). But it’s too early at the moment. “An early screening for fetal anomalies can only be done between 11 and 14 weeks,” says Dr. Boyle. Then, in your 2nd trimester, usually between 18 and 20 weeks pregnant, your medical team will offer you an ultrasound to check for birth abnormalities, like a cleft palate, and other health conditions. 

It’s up to you to decide if you want to have prenatal genetic testing. But if you’re worried, it can be helpful to know that pregnancy ultrasounds usually don’t reveal any problems, and most babies are born healthy. 

Why get an ultrasound at 9 weeks? 

In some cases, your doctor would want to do a 9-week ultrasound to check out potential medical issues. “Bleeding or pain are the biggest medical [reasons] for doing an ultrasound at this time,” says Dr. Boyle. 

Pain and/or bleeding are common 1st trimester pregnancy symptoms, which means they may not signal anything serious. However, in some cases, these symptoms can be a sign of miscarriage. Doing an ultrasound would allow your doctor to confirm what the cause is, so it’s important to get checked out. And go easy on yourself — these things can be stressful to go through.  

One possible cause of bleeding is an ectopic pregnancy, which is when a pregnancy grows outside of the uterus, usually in one of the fallopian tubes. These pregnancies can’t continue because they can be dangerous for you if left untreated. “Early ultrasound can identify ectopic pregnancy and literally save a woman’s life,” says Dr. Boyle. 

It can be difficult to read about ectopic pregnancies, but know that they are rare. And it’s perhaps easy to say, but try not to panic too much if you notice bleeding or pain while pregnant. Instead, try to focus on getting care from your doctor, who should be able to figure out what’s going on.

Similarly, if you’ve had previous miscarriages or are going through in vitro fertilization (IVF), your doctor may schedule a scan at 9 weeks or earlier. “Clinics have their own protocols about when to have 1st-trimester ultrasounds,” Dr. Boyle says.

If you’ve found any of this triggering to read, or you’re struggling with anxiety about your baby’s development in general, know that help is out there. Our crisis page has information on how to find support in your area. 

What happens in an ultrasound at 9 weeks? 

At 9 weeks pregnant, you will most likely have a transvaginal ultrasound. This type of scan involves having a wand-like device inserted into your vagina — but don’t worry, it shouldn’t be painful. The type you may have seen on TV — where the doctor runs a device across your pregnant belly — aren’t suitable until you’re a little further along, usually from around 12 weeks pregnant.

So, what will the sonographer be looking for during a 9-week ultrasound? “They will look for the embryo and make sure there is only one [multiple embryos means twins or more]!” 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.”

When to expect your first ultrasound

You’ll be offered a 1st-trimester ultrasound as part of your routine prenatal care, but exactly when this will be depends on your medical team and where you live. For example, in the United States, some doctors offer scans as early as 7 or 8 weeks, with others offering them at 12 weeks pregnant. Meanwhile, in Australia, the 1st-trimester ultrasound usually happens between 11 and 13 weeks pregnant, but some people choose to have an earlier dating scan at 8 to 9 weeks. In Canada, they tend to happen at 11 to 14 weeks, in the United Kingdom, between 10 to 14 weeks, and in France, between 11 and 13 weeks. 

So, globally, it’s common to have your first ultrasound around 12 weeks pregnant. However, your doctor may want you to have one sooner if you experience pain and/or bleeding or if you have a history of fertility issues. If you’re unsure when the right time would be for you, your doctor should be happy to discuss this with you. 

The uncertainty of early pregnancy and nerves about scans can be difficult to handle, especially when your hormones are running wild. As hard as it can be sometimes, taking each day as it comes can help. Tracking your baby’s development week by week with Flo can also help you celebrate each step of your journey, prepare for your appointments, and give you the chance to share stories with other parents-to-be on our safe Secret Chats space. It can be a comfort to know that many, many others have been here before — you’re most definitely not alone.