Why Do We Only Scan From 9 Weeks Onwards?
At Bloom, we only offer elective bonding scans from 9 weeks onwards. This decision has been made with both your and your baby’s wellbeing in mind.
In the earliest weeks of pregnancy, your baby is going through a remarkable developmental period called organogenesis. During this time, the major organs and body structures - including the brain, heart, spinal cord, limbs, eyes and internal organs - are forming and developing at a rapid rate. While medical ultrasounds remain an important and safe tool when clinically indicated, we choose to take a cautious approach and avoid unnecessary elective ultrasound exposure during this critical stage of development.
Waiting until 9 weeks also helps ensure families have had sufficient time to complete their medical Dating Scan. This scan plays an essential role in confirming that the pregnancy is developing in the correct location within the uterus and helps identify potentially serious complications that cannot be assessed in a non-diagnostic setting.
One of the most important conditions a Dating Scan helps identify is an ectopic pregnancy, where a pregnancy develops outside of the uterus, most commonly in a fallopian tube. Ectopic pregnancies can become life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated appropriately. Other important conditions that may be detected or investigated through medical care include pregnancies of uncertain location, significant bleeding, molar pregnancy, and other early pregnancy complications requiring medical oversight.
By waiting until 9 weeks, we are not only taking a cautious approach during a significant stage of baby's development, but we are also helping ensure that families have received the appropriate medical care and assessment first.
As a non-diagnostic bonding ultrasound studio, our role is to complement - not replace - your medical pregnancy care. We believe the safest approach is to have your Dating Scan completed first, receive confirmation that everything is progressing appropriately, and then visit us to enjoy seeing your baby in a relaxed, family-focused environment.
We know how precious your babies are because many of us are mums ourselves. That's why we live by a simple philosophy:
"We wouldn't do something to your baby that we wouldn't do to our own."
We encourage families to carefully consider the place they choose for their elective ultrasound experience. While seeing your baby is an exciting milestone, your safety and wellbeing should always come first.
When choosing who to visit, we recommend asking - Does this business have my best interests at heart? Do they encourage appropriate medical care? Are they operating within their scope? Are they conducting their scans safely and responsibly? A reputable elective ultrasound provider should never position themselves as a replacement for your healthcare team and should always place the wellbeing of both you and your baby above all else.
At Bloom, every decision we make - from requiring a completed Dating Scan to waiting until 9 weeks gestation - is guided by one simple principle: doing what we believe is best for you and your baby. Sometimes that means making decisions that are not the easiest, but we believe they are the right ones. Your trust is something we never take for granted, and we will always strive to provide an experience that is safe, ethical, transparent and centred around the wellbeing of your family.