You may also meet with a genetic counselor who could recommend having additional tests done to verify the ultrasound results. Keep in mind that ultrasound screenings for other genetic disorders or anatomic abnormalities become more accurate further into the pregnancy. Ultimately, the decision is up to you. Here are some good questions to ask yourself as you decide whether to have the genetic screening:. Whether you choose to have genetic screening done at this time is entirely your decision.
Some women prefer to have as much information as possible as early as possible, while other women do not. This is the ultrasound that people look forward to the most! The full anatomy ultrasound is typically performed at about 20 weeks, or 5 months. The full anatomy scan is a transabdominal ultrasound. It uses a transducer that looks a lot like a store checkout scanner. The ultrasound technician will put warm ultrasound gel on your stomach and then slide the transducer in the gel around your stomach.
The gel helps the sound waves travel through your skin. Tip: Come to your appointment with a relatively full bladder. This will make it easier for your ultrasound technician to get better images of your baby. Because there are so many things to look for, this ultrasound will take at least 45 minutes—if your little one cooperates!
During the full anatomy, week ultrasound, you can find out if your baby is male or female. When the scan is complete, Meriter will even send you a link to view some fun photos of your baby! After your ultrasound technician has captured all these images and measurements, your OBGYN will review the pictures and look for abnormalities such as congenital heart defects or cleft lip or palate.
In the meantime, you can enjoy those 2D or 3D photos of your baby! Sometimes, women need additional ultrasounds during pregnancy. Please feel free to check out the different options of scans that we offer in the first trimester:.
Early Pregnancy Scan. Advanced Early Pregnancy Scan. Non-invasive Prenatal Testing. First Trimester Screening. Your email address will not be published. Bray: 01 Grafton St: 01 Gorey: info theultrasoundsuite. Advantages of an Early Pregnancy Scan There are many advantages of getting an early pregnancy scan done. An early ultrasound can confirm your pregnancy and also let you know how far along you are. It can confirm if your pregnancy is in the uterus or ectopic.
An ectopic pregnancy is where the egg is fertilised in the Fallopian tube rather than the uterus. An early ultrasound has the ability to assess the viability of your fetus through detecting a heartbeat and calculating the beats per minute.
A sonographer can measure your fetus and with that information can tell you your estimated date of conception and also be able to give you an expected delivery date. The accuracy of dating a pregnancy reduces the further along the pregnancy is. The best time to date a pregnancy is under 12 weeks. If you've had worrisome results from other ultrasounds, or if there's any other cause for concern, the sonographer will do a more thorough level II scan to check even more details of your baby's body.
This can take anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes or more. You may have only one ultrasound your mid-pregnancy ultrasound at 18 to 22 weeks. Or you could have several ultrasounds, for example:.
Numerous large studies done over the last 35 years have found no evidence that ultrasounds harm developing babies, or that there's a cumulative effect from having multiple scans. Ultrasounds don't involve radiation, like X-rays do. At the same time, experts caution against unnecessary ultrasounds, pointing out that while there are no known negative effects to date, ultrasounds are a form of energy, and it's conceivable that they affect a developing baby. This may be especially true during the first trimester, when the embryo or fetus is more vulnerable to external factors.
Some centers often found in malls and private offices sell packages of 3D ultrasounds and 4D ultrasounds as keepsakes. While it can be tempting to get realistic photos and videos of your baby in a non-medical setting, experts recommend against it.
There's no guarantee that staff at these clinics are trained properly — or that the ultrasound operator will be qualified to help you if you have questions, or if your ultrasound reveals a problem. If problems are suspected in your pregnancy, or there's something concerning in your ultrasound results, you may be referred for a more detailed ultrasound that will be interpreted by a radiologist or maternal-fetal medicine specialist MFM.
In the unlikely event that your baby has a health problem, information from your ultrasound can help you and your provider determine how to give your baby the best outcome possible. For example, serious heart rhythm problems can be treated with medication while a baby is still in the womb.
Other abnormalities, such as a urinary tract blockage, can be treated with surgery even before birth. And knowing about any birth defects can help your provider deliver your baby safely and determine what care your baby will need right after birth. If your baby has a dire health problem, being informed allows you to consider all the options, whether that means making the difficult decision to terminate a pregnancy , intervene medically, or prepare for the birth of a baby who needs special care.
There are people who can help you navigate the results of a concerning ultrasound. A genetic counselor can help answer a lot of your questions and guide you through your decision-making process. Many high-risk pregnancy providers can refer you to a social worker for guidance, too. Prenatal tests: An overview. BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world.
When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals.
We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies. Abramowicz JS. Ultrasound in reproductive medicine: Is it safe? Ultrasound Imaging in Reproductive Medicine
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