I thought they only do one ultrasound, to find out the sex.
Why do people get them so early on, like in the first trimester?
2007-10-30 08:10:29 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
The early ultrasound is to make sure that the baby is developing properly and nothing is wrong. Early ultrasounds can detect the beginnings of a miscarriage before you know there is a problem.
They also use early ultrasound for dating. This way they have better idea of when the baby was conceived.
2007-10-30 08:19:30 · answer #1 · answered by Agia 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had an ultrasound done early with my daughter cause i thought i was 5 months along but found out had a miscarriage and then got pregnant right away so i was only 9 wks along. With the baby I have now i had one to see how far along i was but they couldnt see anything so i am going to have another one done in a couple of wks to check and see how far along I am. I will also have to have some more through out the pregnancy cause i have a heart condition and am taking meds for it so they need to monitor the baby and make sure everything will be ok with it. Ultrasounds can be done to make sure the baby is the right size, find out the sex, or if something is wrong they monitor it.
2007-10-30 08:17:48 · answer #2 · answered by Mrs. Coster 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some doctors are very proactive in using ultrasound technology to monitor fetal growth. Ultrasounds are safe and increasingly more affordable than before, which leads many offices to offer more than a 12 week scan and 20 week scan.
The 12 week scan is normally done to check for early fetal abnormalities, such as Down's Syndrome or spina bifida. The 20 week scan is done to check fetal growth, to make sure the abdominal organs are normal, and to check for the placement of the placenta. Getting to find out the sex of the baby is just a bonus, not the purpose of the scan.
My doctor required many ultrasounds. We had one at 6 weeks, 8 weeks, 11 weeks, 19 weeks, 23 weeks, 32 weeks, and at 37 weeks. Ours is not a high risk pregnancy, our dr. just used the available technology in his office. Many insurance companies actually put a restriction on the number of ultrasounds given, usually allowing for 2, but at the doctor's discretion additional ultrasounds can be requested.
I hope this helps.
2007-10-30 08:20:32 · answer #3 · answered by Jessica S 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Doctors normally give an ultrasound at your first appointment to confirm the pregnancy and also that everything is developing normally. The ultra sound in the 2nd trimester normally is for screening purposes, to make sure the baby is developing normally. Any others are done case by case.
2007-10-30 08:18:32 · answer #4 · answered by *Me* 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I was pg I had 6 ultrasounds done. The first one when I was 10 weeks along to see how for a long I was and to make sure I wasn't caring multiplies. Then another at 20 weeks to determine the sex and check development. They could see everything they wanted at the 20 week u/s and sent me to a specialist for another u/s . Everything was fine, but still I had three more during the remainder of my pregnancy. I'm overweight and that can effect the babies development so I needed several u/s to make sure everything was going ok. I hope my story helps.
2007-10-30 08:27:55 · answer #5 · answered by Amber K 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here in England they do 2 ultrasounds, the first one at 12 weeks is a dating scan, the second one at 20 weeks is not only to find out the sex of the baby but is to take measurements and check baby's spine, facial features, brain and so on. hope this helps
2007-10-30 08:15:56 · answer #6 · answered by Baby Dee 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My OBGYN is having one done in the first trimester to get an accurate due date. Going off of last monthly period alone can sometimes pretty inaccurate. Due dates from ultrasound are most accurate when done early on in pregnancy.
2007-10-30 08:15:27 · answer #7 · answered by Just Me 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on the doctor, where you live, what your insurance covers if you are in the US, if you're high risk, etc.
We Canadians typically only get one at approx 20 weeks to do the measurements, and some places will tell you the sex, some won't. Additional ultrasounds are typically only given if there's any concern about the pregnancy.
2007-10-30 08:14:54 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I observed a heartbeat at 5 weeks 5 days. i understand that's notably early, as some do not see a heartbeat until eventually 8 weeks or greater. yet at 4 weeks (2 weeks after thought) a yolk sac will each now and then take place on an ultrasound. that's the earliest. familiar is 5-6 wks.
2016-09-28 02:00:00 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Often if you do not know when your last period was or you have irregular periods they will do an early ultrasound.
Also, you can have one at 12 weeks to see the nuchal fold for downs syndrome and to check for other abnormalities, although this if often done after the age of 30.
My previous ob gave me one every appointment.
2007-10-30 08:27:07 · answer #10 · answered by REBECCA 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋