Early Pregnancy Scans at Starlight Ultrasound
Early Reassurance
When?
Starlight Ultrasound offers early pregnancy scans from as early as five weeks.
This means five weeks from the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP), rather than conception.
A gestation sac can usually be identified at this stage and sometimes even a yolk sac.
It is normally from six weeks that the fetal heartbeat can be detected, meaning six weeks is the earliest a pregnancy can be confirmed as viable.
You can see our real-time availability and book an early pregnancy scan here.
Why?
As a diagnostic clinic, Starlight attracts people, who may or may not have a difficult obstetric history, seeking extra reassurance.
The reasons people come for early pregnancy scans can be varied and include IVF pregnancies and those who have experienced ectopic or molar pregnancies previously.
Irregular cycles, whether caused by issues such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or other factors, can also mean some people don't know how far along they are.
Similarly, gynaecological conditions such as endometriosis or adenomyosis can contribute to someone looking for additional support and guidance in pregnancy.
For early pregnancy scans, where it is too early to detect a heartbeat, Starlight offers a complimentary scan one week later to assess viability.
It is true that a scan at five or six weeks - or even at 10 weeks cannot ensure the pregnancy will progress smoothly throughout or rule out subsequent pregnancy loss.
However it can provide reassurance at that time, rule out an ectopic pregnancy as well as confirm a multiple pregnancy.
Unfortunately some pregnancies will not develop as hoped and having that confirmed, however unpleasant, can be better sooner rather than later.
This applies in a practical sense that avoids bonding over a non-viable pregnancy for weeks or months which can make bad news feel even worse.
Additionally where hormones or medication are being taken on the basis of a viable pregnancy, it can have adverse effects should it not be the case.
A standard NHS dating scan usually takes place between 10 and 14 weeks of pregnancy and for some people it can feel a very long wait for that first scan appointment.
It is common for people to feel anxious particularly if they have experienced previous pregnancy loss.
Other factors such as pain or bleeding can give further cause for concern and sadly not every NHS early pregnancy unit is able to offer reassurance scans to all who requests one.
It can vary greatly between hospital trusts as to how quickly they are able to offer an urgent early pregnancy scan - and it can even change from week to week based on capacity, staffing levels and the person's individual circumstances.
Therefore the availability of a private early pregnancy ultrasound scan appeals to many people seeking that reassurance.
It is also no surprise that as a result of increased demand for private care, more ultrasound clinics have opened across the country.
On the one hand this is good because it gives greater choice to people based on price and proximity. However it also means there are a number of clinics without the staff, experience or processes to offer high quality care safely and effectively.
Starlight is a diagnostic clinic meaning our primary concern is the health and wellbeing of our users as opposed to solely providing scans for souvenir or entertainment purposes.
Our sonographers are able to recognise abnormalities and will refer you to your local Gynaecology Assessment Unit (GAU) or Early Pregnancy Unit (EPU) if necessary.
Starlight was established and is run by Laura Gardner who is a senior and experienced Midwife as well as a Clinical Specialist Sonographer.
How?
Even with such early scans, at Starlight they are initially performed transabdominally (on the stomach) so it is advisable for women to attend with a full bladder, so approximately one pint or half a litre of water at least half an hour prior to the appointment.
All sonographers at Starlight Ultrasound are qualified to perform transvaginal (internal) scans so if the sonographer deems it necessary, a transvaginal scan may be offered.
Starlight only ever employs fully qualified, medically-trained sonographers because we feel it is extremely important that any practitioner fully understands all aspects of the type of scan being offered.
Our booking system is a real-time live diary showing actual availability at both clinic locations meaning you can see appointment slots for any date in the future and any cancellations will show up as soon as they happen.
The system will take a £25 non-refundable deposit when booking online and the balance is due in clinic on the day of your appointment.
As soon as your booking is made the system will send an automated SMS text message and email confirmation to the details provided so if you do not receive anything after a couple of minutes then your booking probably hasn't gone through.
The most likely reason for this is when someone else booked the same slot and because the system does not allow double bookings, it won't have allowed your booking. It can also be if the payment hasn't gone through for any reason. In both cases the deposit might still show as pending on your banking App but it will not leave your account.
Once your booking has been confirmed the system will send timely automated reminders prior to your appointment.
On any of the confirmation or reminder texts and emails, there is a link that allows you to cancel or re-arrange (subject to minimum notice period) your appointment as well as message us about your appointment.
The facility to re-arrange allows you to change to any available time and date with the staff member you are currently booked in with at the location you are booked at. If you need to change location, scan or service type or staff member then you will need to contact us.
You can also contact us via a LiveChat facility on our website, via social media or over the phone.
Please note deposits are non-refundable and cancelling your appointment will NOT result in the automatic refund of any amount paid. Whilst you can amend the time, date and location (between our clinics) of your appointment, please carefully check the details prior to booking as Starlight Ultrasound is not responsible for issuing a refund if you mistakenly book the wrong date or location.
Where?
Starlight Ultrasound has two clinic locations in Greater Manchester which serve people from the north of England. One is in Hale village and the other is in Bury town centre.
In addition to welcoming people from our local areas, we also regularly receive bookings from people who make an exceptional effort to come to Starlight from further afield such as Scotland, Wales, neighbouring counties such as Yorkshire, the North East and the Midlands as well as from overseas countries including France, Germany and Switzerland.
Our first clinic opened in 2019 in Bury town centre and our second clinic was established in 2022 in Hale village.
Bookings can be made at either/both clinics to suit based on location and availability.
It might be useful to check our FAQs before or once you have booked an appointment.
This is general information only and should not be taken as specific advice to your circumstances. Starlight Ultrasound Limited nor any staff member cannot give out advice remotely but does accept bookings without GP or specialist referral.