When do you get your first sonogram?

Answer 1

Six or seven weeks - If there is any need to check the viability of your pregnancy you may have a early scan, if you are experiencing pain or bleeding for example.

10 to 14 weeks - It is recommended that all pregnant women have a dating scan in the first trimester at around 12 weeks of pregnancy to confirm their dates. First trimester ultrasonic scans may show 'soft' markers for chromosomal abnormalities, such as the absence of fetal nasal bone, an increased fetal nuchal translucency (back of the neck) to enable detection of Down syndrome fetuses.

About 20 weeks - Some hospitals offer a scan in the second trimester at about 20 weeks (the anomaly scan) to check that your baby is developing normally. A scan performed at 18 to 20 weeks the fetus is large enough for an accurate survey of the fetal anatomy. Congenital malformations, multiple pregnancies can be firmly diagnosed and dates and growth can also be assessed. Placental position is also determined. Further scans may be necessary if abnormalities are suspected.

Good luck

Answer 2

Some doctors will do a sonogram late in pregnancy to 'check position and weight.' Of course such a scan is meaningless. (Position can be determined by feeling the belly, and ultrasounds are VERY innaccurate in determining fetal weight, and tend to lead to many unnecessary inductions and c-sections because the doctor guesses that baby is 'too big.') And yes, some docs routinely do a scan at every visit, and occassionally a woman has a medical need for a late scan. But there is normally no medical reason to do ANY ultrasounds during pregnancy, and especially not during the last weeks.

Answer 3

Usually between 18 and 22 weeks, but an ultrasound isn't really medically necessary. They are still doing studies on the effects of ultrasound waves on the fetus, so with my pregnancies I don't get ultrasounds unless there is a medical reason.

Using ultrasound to "date the pregnancy" is pointless since most women know about what time they conceived anyway. Plus, ultrasound is not an exact science and LOTS of women have been given innacurate due dates from ultrasound.

Listening to the heartbeat is a good assurance for mom and doctor that all is probably well. In my experience with other women ultrasounds often cause more worry than good b/c they will think they see something that may or may not be there and then it turns out to be not true or not as bad as they thought.

Even if there is a problem, there's not much you can do anyway for a baby in utero. You still have to wait until delivery day.

Answer 4

Ultrasounds performed depends on your health and age but for my 3 pregnancies my first U/S was done at 6 weeks to confirm ovulation and estimated delivery date.
The first U/S is normally done around 20 weeks.

Answer 5

If your pregnancy is going ok then usually about 16 weeks I think. I always have a lot of ultrasounds done starting early in my pregnancy so I'm not exactly sure on that.

Answer 6

Most doctors do one on the first visit unless they don't do it in their office. Then they tell you to make an appointment right away with whoever they refer you to. As for any other u/s, that depends on your situation and if they need to monitor your baby more often.

Answer 7

I didnt know how far along i was when i got pregnant because i had just come off birth control. So when my pregnancy test was positive, i had my first ultrasound. Baby was healthy and i was almost through my 1st trimester!

Answer 8

My ultrasound was done at almost 20 weeks. Ultrasounds DO NOT harm your baby or else doctors would not do them!

Answer 9

with my first, i had one ultrasound at 22 weeks.

with my second i had one at 8 weeks and one at 20 weeks.

with my twins i had one at 16 weeks, one at 19 weeks and then every three weeks till they were born.

so basically, it depends on your doctor and insurance.

Answer 10

when you go in for prenatal care for the first time.....or when later down the line something may be wrong, not necessarily in all cases, but in majority. Also if in your 8th month you need a NST exam.