From Positive Test to First Doctor Visit — A Calm Plan for Early Pregnancy

Seeing a positive pregnancy test can bring a mix of excitement, uncertainty, and many questions.

Common thoughts many patients share include:

When should I see a doctor? Is it too early for a scan? What should I be doing next?

Early pregnancy does not need to feel rushed or overwhelming. Understanding what usually happens in the first few weeks can help you move forward with confidence and less anxiety.

Step 1: When to see a doctor after a positive test

Many patients are surprised to learn that it is common to see a doctor as early as 5–6 weeks of pregnancy.

An early consultation can help to:

• check that the pregnancy is developing in the right place

• assess what can reasonably be seen at this stage

• guide the timing of the next review

• provide reassurance during a naturally uncertain phase

If you experience pain, bleeding, or have a complex medical history, it is advisable to seek medical review earlier.

Step 2: What to expect at the first ultrasound

At the very early stage of pregnancy, what we see on ultrasound can vary, depending on how early the scan is done.

Sometimes, the scan may not yet show very much. At other times, it may show early signs that the pregnancy is developing, but it may still be too soon to see everything clearly.

This is normal.

For this reason, a repeat scan in 1–2 weeks is often recommended. This allows time for natural progression and gives more reliable information about how the pregnancy is developing.

Many patients feel understandably anxious if the first scan is done very early. This does not necessarily mean that something is wrong. Often, it simply means the timing is early and the pregnancy needs a little more time.

Not sure if it’s the right time to see a doctor?

An early pregnancy consultation can help clarify what to expect and when to review again.

👉 Book an early pregnancy consultation

Feeling curious about your pregnancy timeline? Here’s a pregnancy due date calculator to help you estimate when your baby may arrive.

Step 3: Why early pregnancy often involves more than one visit

Early pregnancy develops rapidly, sometimes week by week. Repeating scans and reviews is not about “doing more”, but about seeing the right things at the right time.

Once early development is clearer, gestational age can be estimated more accurately. This is important because it helps plan:

• the timing of screening tests

• future visits

• decision-making later in the first trimester

Many patients find that having a clear plan for early pregnancy, rather than guessing what comes next, makes this stage far less stressful.

Step 4: Planning screening and the next milestones

As the pregnancy progresses, visits become more about planning and reassurance rather than just confirmation.

Around 8–9 weeks, a brief review scan is often done to check that the pregnancy is continuing to develop as expected. This is also usually when screening options are discussed.

Some patients choose to do additional screening tests during pregnancy, while others prefer not to. Your doctor will explain the available options and help you decide what suits you best.

If screening tests are chosen, blood tests are typically arranged around 10–11 weeks, followed by a review of results. A further scan is usually done around 12–13 weeks to check early development and overall progress.

By this stage, many patients feel more reassured and have a clearer sense of how their pregnancy is progressing.

Unsure how to plan the next few weeks?

A consultation can help you decide on timing of scans and screening in a calm, personalised way.

👉 Speak to our clinic team or book a visit

Step 5: Moving forward after the first trimester

Once early scans and screening results are reviewed and everything is progressing normally, care becomes more predictable.

This is usually when:

• visits become more spaced out

• decisions feel less urgent and less emotionally charged

• longer-term antenatal care planning is discussed

For many patients, this transition happens naturally around 16 weeks.

A note on early pregnancy care

Early pregnancy care is often a step-by-step process, rather than a single visit.

Some patients prefer to take things one visit at a time, while others find reassurance in having a clear plan through the first trimester. Both approaches are reasonable.

What matters most is that you feel informed, supported, and comfortable at each stage.

When you might consider booking your first visit

You may wish to arrange an early pregnancy consultation if:

• your pregnancy test is positive and you are unsure what to do next

• you would like reassurance during the early weeks

• you want guidance on the timing of scans and screening

• you prefer a calm, structured approach to early pregnancy care

Taking the next step

If you are newly pregnant and feeling uncertain about what comes next, a consultation can help clarify the path forward without pressure.

Early pregnancy care should feel supportive, unhurried, and tailored to you.

If you’re newly pregnant and unsure what to do next, you don’t have to figure it out alone.

An early consultation can help you take the next step calmly and confidently.

👉 Book your first pregnancy consultation

TL;DR — Early pregnancy, simply explained

• It is common to see a doctor as early as 5–6 weeks

• Early scans may not show everything clearly at first, and this can be normal

• Repeat scans are often done to allow time for natural progression

• Visits in the first trimester help with reassurance, timing, and planning

• Screening options are usually discussed around 8–10 weeks

• By 12–13 weeks, many patients feel more reassured

• Ongoing antenatal care is usually discussed from 16 weeks onwards

If you’re unsure where you are in this journey, an early consultation can help you take the next step calmly and confidently.