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First ultrasound (échographie de datation)

The first of the 3 ultrasounds offered during a French pregnancy, usually between 11 and 13 weeks — counted from your last period, as French dating does, which runs about 2 weeks ahead of “weeks pregnant” in English. It dates the pregnancy, checks how many babies there are, and includes the nuchal measurement used in first-trimester screening. Checked against service-public.gouv.fr on 22 September 2026.

Who it applies to

Everyone having a baby in France

On your timeline

Paperbump schedules this usually between week 11 and week 14 of the pregnancy

Official source

service-public.gouv.fr

Last checked

22 September 2026

What else to know

Reimbursed at 70%, not 100%: the first 2 ultrasounds, both taken before the end of your 5th month, sit outside the full cover. Ultrasounds only move to 100% from the first day of your 6th month, so a mutuelle usually picks up the rest of this one.

Work out your own dates — free, nothing is sent to us

Part of

• Pregnant in France: the first things to do 4 steps
• Pregnancy scans and appointments in France 6 steps
• What pregnancy care actually costs you in France 5 steps
• What it costs to have a baby in France including what basic insurance already covers, so you do not budget for this twice
• French pregnancy and baby words, in English échographie and 15 others explained

Around the same time

• Acknowledge the baby before the birth (reconnaissance anticipée) from around week 10 of the pregnancy until the birth
• Early prenatal interview (entretien prénatal précoce) usually between week 14 and week 18 of the pregnancy
• Monthly prenatal consultations (consultations prénatales mensuelles) from around week 14 of the pregnancy until the birth