A due date scan, an NT scan, a morphology scan — it's easy to lose track of which is which, especially with everything else on your mind right now. This page walks you through every common pregnancy scan, so you don't lose track: the weeks they're usually done, and what each one actually checks, plus a summary table to keep it all straight. Once your own scans are booked, you can keep track of the dates and results right in the BabyQuil app.
At a glance, by trimester: first trimester — early scan if needed, dating scan, NT scan/NIPT; second trimester — the morphology scan; third trimester — further scans only if there's a specific reason.
Scan schedules aren't identical everywhere — the UK, US, and Australia each offer scans a little differently, and your own provider may adjust things based on your history. But underneath those differences, most low-risk pregnancies follow a broadly similar pattern: one or two scans early on, one essential scan in the middle of pregnancy, and further scans only if there's a specific reason to look closer. This guide walks through each one.
| Scan | Typical weeks | Routine or as-needed | What it checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early / viability scan | 6–9 weeks | As-needed only | Confirms the pregnancy is developing in the uterus, checks for a heartbeat, and looks for twins |
| Dating scan | 8–14 weeks | Common, but not everyone needs one | Estimates your due date and confirms early development |
| NT scan (combined screening) | 11–14 weeks | Offered as a choice | Screens for chromosomal conditions alongside a blood test |
| NIPT | 10+ weeks | Offered as a choice | Blood test alternative to the NT scan; more sensitive, often not covered by insurance |
| Morphology / anatomy scan | 18–22 weeks | Routine — the essential scan | Detailed check of your baby's organs and development, placenta position, and fluid; can reveal sex |
| Third-trimester growth scan | 28–32 or 34–36 weeks | Only if there's a reason | Checks growth, position, placenta, and fluid when a specific concern comes up |
Exact timing and what's offered as routine varies by country and provider — this table shows typical ranges, not a guaranteed schedule.
This isn't a routine scan for most people — it's usually only offered if there's a specific reason to look early, such as bleeding or pain, uncertainty about your dates, a history of ectopic or early pregnancy loss, or a pregnancy conceived through IVF. It can help confirm the pregnancy is developing inside the uterus, check for a heartbeat, and identify a twin or multiple pregnancy.
This is usually the first scan most people have, though not everyone needs one — if your cycle is regular and your dates are clear, your provider may decide it isn't necessary. When it is done, a sonographer measures your baby — typically the crown-rump length at this stage — to estimate your due date, which is generally more accurate than dating from your last period alone, especially if your cycle is irregular. It also confirms your baby's heartbeat and checks how many babies you're carrying.
The nuchal translucency (NT) scan measures a small pocket of fluid at the back of your baby's neck. The measurement can be combined with a blood test and other information as part of combined first-trimester screening, to estimate your baby's chance of having a chromosomal condition such as Down syndrome, Edwards' syndrome, or Patau's syndrome.
NIPT, combined first-trimester screening, and NT measurements can estimate the chance of certain conditions, but they don't diagnose them. A higher-chance result means your provider can discuss further options, such as a diagnostic test like CVS or amniocentesis — it isn't a confirmed diagnosis on its own.
It's easy to blur these together, so it's worth being clear: an ultrasound uses sound waves to create images of your pregnancy, and some ultrasounds (like the NT scan) are also used for screening. Screening tests like NIPT use a blood sample instead, with no imaging involved at all. Diagnostic tests — CVS or amniocentesis — are different again, and are the only ones that can confirm a chromosomal condition rather than estimate the chance of one.
Worth knowing about here even though it isn't an ultrasound: NIPT is a blood test that screens for the same kinds of chromosomal conditions as the NT scan, generally with greater sensitivity, from around 10 weeks. It's often not covered by insurance or Medicare and can be a meaningful out-of-pocket cost. We cover it properly, along with the related RhD NIPT test, in our antenatal tests guide.
This is the one scan consistently recommended across the UK, US, and Australia. Often called the anomaly scan, morphology scan, or anatomy scan, it's a detailed, top-to-toe look at your baby's brain, heart, spine, limbs, kidneys, and other organs, along with the placenta's position, your cervix length, and the amount of amniotic fluid. Depending on your baby's position, you may be able to find out their sex at this scan, if you want to know. It's thorough, but not exhaustive — ultrasound can't detect every possible condition, and a clear scan is reassuring without being an absolute guarantee.
Here's something worth knowing: major medical guidance in the UK, US, and Australia all agree that a routine ultrasound late in pregnancy hasn't been shown to improve outcomes for low-risk pregnancies, so it generally isn't offered to everyone. Where it is used, it's because there's a specific reason to check further — concerns about your baby's growth, reduced movements, bleeding, twins, gestational diabetes, or a previous pregnancy complication. Being offered one doesn't necessarily mean something is wrong; it usually just means your provider wants a closer look at something specific.
Depending on your pregnancy, you might also have a presentation scan near term (around 36 weeks) if it's unclear whether your baby is head-down, or Doppler studies that check blood flow through the umbilical cord if growth restriction is a concern. These are targeted scans for a specific question, not part of a standard schedule.
If you've compared notes with someone overseas and your schedules don't match, that's not unusual. The UK's NHS offers two routine scans to everyone — a dating scan and the anomaly scan. US guidance from a multi-specialty consensus of obstetric and radiology bodies treats the mid-pregnancy anatomy scan as the one essential examination, while first-trimester scanning is more provider- and situation-dependent. Australian guidance follows a pattern closer to the UK's. The common thread across all three: the mid-pregnancy scan is considered essential everywhere, and none of them recommend a routine scan late in pregnancy for a low-risk pregnancy.
Scans are only part of the picture — see our antenatal tests guide for blood, urine, and swab tests. Once you know your due date, put together your birth plan, look at your birthing options, and start on your hospital bag.
This page draws on NHS guidance (UK), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists alongside the multi-specialty consensus of ACR, AIUM, SMFM, and SRU (US), and Pregnancy, Birth and Baby, an Australian Government health information service. Scan availability, timing, and cost vary by country, provider, and individual pregnancy — always confirm your own schedule with your doctor or midwife.
This page provides general information and is not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Scan schedules, availability, and cost vary by country and provider — confirm your own schedule with your doctor or midwife.
BabyQuil logs your appointments and doctor's notes alongside your due date and pregnancy records, so nothing gets lost between visits.
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