Pregnancy

Your scans & tests, in plain language

5 min read · MyBloomingBelly editorial

Dating scan (6–9 weeks): confirms the pregnancy is in the uterus, checks the heartbeat, and measures baby to fix your due date — early measurements are the most accurate dating you will ever get.

NT scan + first-trimester screening (11–14 weeks): measures the fluid at the back of baby’s neck (nuchal translucency) and, combined with a blood test (the “double marker”), estimates the chance of chromosomal conditions. Optional add-on: NIPT, a highly accurate blood test that reads fragments of baby’s DNA in your blood.