HCG-levels and Ultrasounds.

Emma • Born in Sweden but now living in the Netherlands with my partner and son (2014) Expecting a daughter in February 2016.
Hi! I am just curious, I see a lot of women writing their hcg-levels and that they got confirmation on their pregnancy by ultrasounds already at 5 weeks. I'm just wondering, how common is this? And where do you live who does this? With my first pregnancy (In England) I didn't get confirmation until my first ultrasound in week 13. Hcg-levels were never measured. Now, during my second pregnancy here in the Netherlands, I have my first visit with the midwife in week 9 but no US until week 12.