Pregnancy scans · 8–12 weeks
Dating Scan
Pins down your due date by measuring the baby, and confirms an ongoing single or multiple pregnancy. Useful if your cycle is irregular, you are unsure of your dates, or you simply want an accurate date before your first maternity appointment.
Performed and reported by accredited clinicians.
- When
- 8–12 weeks
- Duration
- 20 minutes
- Price
- €110, report included
About this scan
What this scan involves
A dating scan is performed between eight and twelve weeks. Its main purpose is to establish how far along the pregnancy is, and from that, your expected due date.
Why measuring is more accurate than counting
Due dates worked out from the first day of your last period assume a regular cycle and ovulation on day fourteen. Many pregnancies do not fit that pattern. Measuring the baby directly in the first trimester, when all babies grow at a very similar rate, is generally accurate to within a few days.
What else is checked
As well as measuring the crown-rump length, the sonographer confirms the heartbeat, checks whether there is one baby or more and, if there are twins, looks at how they share the placenta and sac, which matters for how the pregnancy is looked after.
When to have it
The best time for this scan
Ideal timing: Nine to eleven weeks.
-
8 to 9 weeks
Accurate dating and a clear heartbeat, though the baby is still small on screen.
-
9 to 11 weeks
The best balance: precise measurement and a recognisable baby with head, body and limbs.
-
11 to 12 weeks
Still accurate. If you are in the 11 to 14 week window, the Nuchal Translucency Scan includes dating and adds screening.
What we check
Looked at during the scan
- The crown-rump length, to establish your dates and due date
- The heartbeat
- Whether there is one baby or more
- For twins, how they share the placenta and sac
- That the pregnancy is inside the uterus
- The uterus and ovaries
What's included
€110, nothing added at reception
- The ultrasound examination, performed by an accredited sonographer or consultant
- A written report by a consultant radiologist, stating the estimated due date
- Printed images to take home
The price you are quoted is the price you pay. No separate reporting fee, no consultation surcharge.
Why people book it
You might choose this scan if
- You are unsure of the date of your last period
- Your cycle is irregular or you conceived soon after stopping contraception
- You want an accurate due date before your first maternity appointment
- To confirm the pregnancy is progressing before telling family
- To check for twins
What to expect
Before, during and after
Before your scan
Attend with a comfortably full bladder. If you know the date of your last period, bring it, along with any earlier scan results.
During the scan
The scan is done through the abdomen with warm gel and a hand-held probe, and takes around twenty minutes. Occasionally a transvaginal scan is suggested for a clearer view; if so, it is explained first and only done with your consent. You can watch the screen throughout.
After your scan
You are told the findings and your estimated due date on the day. The written consultant report follows, typically within three working days, and goes to your GP or maternity unit with your consent.
How to prepare
Attend with a comfortably full bladder.
Book your Dating Scan
€110 including the consultant report, 20 minutes. Choose a time online, or send an enquiry and we will call you back, usually within one working day. If you need to reschedule, please let us know as early as you can.
Questions
Frequently asked
Do I need a referral?
No. You can book this scan yourself.
My dates from the scan are different from my own. Which is right?
In the first trimester the scan measurement is the more reliable of the two, and it is what maternity units generally use to set the due date. Your report will state the scan-based date so you can bring it to your first appointment.
Can the scan tell the baby's sex?
Not at this stage. The Gender Scan is offered from sixteen weeks.
Can I bring someone?
Yes. One adult guest is welcome in the room.
Does this replace my hospital booking scan?
No. A private scan complements the antenatal care provided by your maternity unit; it does not replace it.
Also consider
Other pregnancy scans
From 6 weeks
Early Pregnancy & Viability Scan
Confirms the pregnancy is within the uterus, checks the heartbeat and the number of babies, and provides reassurance after bleeding or previous loss.
€100 · 20 minutes
11–14 weeks
Nuchal Translucency (NT) Scan
Measures the fluid at the back of the baby's neck as part of first-trimester screening, alongside an early structural review.
€145 · 30 minutes
From 16 weeks
Gender Scan
A short scan to determine the baby's sex, with a wellbeing check and heartbeat confirmation included.
€110 · 15 minutes