Are you pregnant and wondering how many ultrasounds you will have over the next nine months? Here’s a complete breakdown of what your pregnancy ultrasound schedule will look like.
Ultrasounds are pretty incredible when you think about it. Using just sound waves and a computer screen, you are able to see your baby in the womb. Pregnancy ultrasounds are completely safe and help your doctor see how your baby is growing and developing.
This post will break down everything you need to know about what your pregnancy ultrasound timeline will look like, when your first ultrasound during pregnancy will occur and answers the question about what specific weeks do you get ultrasounds during pregnancy.
This post is all about the pregnancy ultrasound schedule.
Why Is A Pregnancy Ultrasound Important?
A pregnancy ultrasound (or sonogram) is a prenatal test offered to pregnant women. It uses soundwaves to show you your baby in the womb and track your baby’s growth and development.
Ultrasounds are one of the very exciting parts of pregnancy! Your doctor will probably use a fetal doppler during your prenatal visits to listen to the baby’s heartbeat but getting to see your baby’s face, arms and legs in the womb during an ultrasound is pretty incredible.
Pregnancy ultrasounds always make pregnancy feel even more real to me too, especially in the early stages of pregnancy when you aren’t physically showing yet.
Some common reasons for having an ultrasound include:
- To confirm you’re pregnant
- To confirm how many babies are in your uterus
- To check your baby’s growth and predict the due date
- To examine your ovaries and uterus
- To check your baby’s heartbeat, muscle tone, movement and overall development
- To screen for birth defects
- To help with prenatal tests like chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis
- To check for any pregnancy complications
- To make sure your baby is in the correct position for birth
Types Of Ultrasounds
Transvaginal Ultrasound
This type of ultrasound is done through the vagina and is usually the type of ultrasound you will have initially.
You will lay on your back with your feet in stirrups. The ultrasound technician will use a thin wand-like probe to perform this ultrasound and although it is being done internally, you will still be able to see the classic black and white picture of your little baby on the screen.
You can expect to feel a little pressure but no pain. I recommend emptying your bladder beforehand or else it can be uncomfortable trying to hold it in.
Transabdominal Ultrasound
This will be the more common type of ultrasound you will have in your pregnancy ultrasound schedule. Once you get past six to eight weeks, it will be much easier to view your baby and a transvaginal ultrasound won’t be needed.
For this type of test, you will lay on the exam table and the ultrasound technician will put a thin layer gel on your stomach. This will help the transducer move across it.
You may be required to have a full bladder for certain tests but more times than not I was offered to use the bathroom beforehand. An ultrasound is painless but dealing with a full bladder can be pretty uncomfortable.
Doppler Ultrasound
This is another noninvasive test that is used to look at blood flow. It is usually done in the third trimester but in some cases it may be done earlier.
It uses a handheld scanner that’s connected to a computer and uses soundwaves to make pictures of your major arteries and veins. A regular ultrasound uses soundwaves to produce images but it cannot detect blood flow.
You may get this type of test if you have Rh disease. Rh disease is a blood condition that can cause problems for your baby if it’s not treated.
3D Ultrasound
This type of ultrasound creates a three dimensional image of your baby that is almost as clear as a photograph.
Oftentimes, it’s used to check that your baby’s organs are growing and developing normally and to check for any abnormalities on your baby’s face.
4D Ultrasound
A 4D ultrasound is similar to a 3D ultrasound except it creates a live video effect. Not all women will have a 4D ultrasound during their pregnancy but those who desire to have one can find an office that offers them and pay to have one done.
Pregnancy Ultrasound Schedule
6-8 Weeks: Early Pregnancy Ultrasound
The first ultrasound is an exciting one! It confirms your pregnancy and how many babies you are carrying, predicts your baby’s due date, and allows you to hear your baby’s heartbeat for the first time.
Given how small your baby is at this point in pregnancy, the ultrasound is usually done vaginally using a wand-like probe. The probe transmits high-frequency sound waves through your uterus which allows you to see and hear your baby. So cool!
10-13 Weeks: 2nd Pregnancy Ultrasound
The second ultrasound in your pregnancy ultrasound schedule usually occurs at the end of your first trimester.
This ultrasound re-confirms your due date, measures your baby from head to bottom, and allows you to hear the fetal heart rate again.
14-20 Weeks: Nuchal Translucency Ultrasound
Checks for Down syndrome, heart defects and other chromosomal abnormalities.
Look at the thickness of the back of the baby’s neck. A thicker neck can be an indicator of increased risk for birth defects such as Down Syndrome or Trisomy 18. A blood test is also done at this time to measure hormones and proteins.
18-20 Weeks: Anatomy Scan
This pregnancy ultrasound is a BIG one.
It’s one of the longer but more exciting pregnancy ultrasounds because you can usually find out the sex of your baby (if you choose).
It is typically a much more detailed and thorough scan and can last anywhere from 25 to 45 minutes or more.
The major things your doctor will be looking for include:
- Check baby’s heart rate
- Look for abnormalities in your baby’s heart, brain, kidneys and liver
- Count fingers and toes
- Check for birth defects
- Examine the placenta
- Measure your amniotic fluid
- Determine the sex of the baby (if you choose)
27-40 Weeks: Third Trimester Ultrasound
This ultrasound isn’t always necessary but many doctors like to include this in your pregnancy ultrasound schedule, especially if you’re considered high risk.
A pregnant woman can be considered high risk due to high blood pressure, bleeding, low levels of amniotic fluid, preterm contractions or if she is over the age of 35 among other things.
Additional Pregnancy Ultrasounds
Breech baby
By 36 weeks, most babies’s heads are pointing down into the birth canal with little room to move. But a small percentage of babies end up with their head up and bum down, otherwise known as a breech baby.
If this is the case, there are a few things you can do to try to flip the baby which may or may not be successful. But by 36 weeks, your doctor will most likely schedule you for a planned c section if your baby is in a breech position.
You will usually have an ultrasound a few days before the scheduled c section to confirm your baby is still breech and then again at the hospital before your procedure to confirm the same thing.
If for some reason your baby flips, your scheduled c section will usually be cancelled so you can deliver vaginally.
Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)
An ultrasound is required to perform a CVS. It helps guide a tube into the cervix to the chorionic villi. Cells will be suctioned through the tube into a syringe. More than one sample may be needed for testing. You can expect to feel a twinge or slight cramping during the prenatal test.
The chorionic villus sampling can help reveal whether or not the baby has a chromosomal condition (such as Down’s Syndrome) or other genetic conditions (such as cystic fibrosis).
Amniocentesis
An amniocentesis involves withdrawing a sample of amniotic fluid, which contains fetal cells and chemicals produced by the baby. An ultrasound is used to show a baby’s position in the uterus on a monitor so the doctor can safely withdraw the amniotic fluid.
This prenatal test is also used to detect any genetic or chromosomal conditions (such as Down’s Syndrome).
How much do pregnancy ultrasounds cost?
Ultrasounds aren’t cheap and can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Thankfully most insurance companies cover them (fully or partially) as part of your prenatal care.
It’s important to talk to your insurance provider if you are unsure about what is covered under your plan.
This post was all about the pregnancy ultrasound schedule.
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