Ultrasounds

Question

I'm curious to get everyones opinon on this. When is the normal time for your doctor to do your first ultrasound? I am moving into my 9th week. I'm currently going to a birthing center for my prenatal care. They said they might not do an ultrsound the whole pregnancy, but that if they did it would be around 20 weeks. Is that normal? 

Maybe it is just me, because this is my first pregnancy, but i think that is a litle weird. We have the possibility of having twins. When would they check for that?

faye83 · Answer

Just like Limonada, I've only had two till now and hopefully it'll stay that way ( meaning I won't need another one for X reason). First one was at 9 weeks and 2nd at 20weeks

mrsweir · Answer

Thank you ladies for all your information. It had really given me peace of mind. I am actually going to see A doctor on Tuesday that I absolutely love. I wasn't aware at first that they took my ins. I'm hoping they will at least examine me. The midwife never did. :( I'm 9 weeks. and I just want to make sure everything is going ok and progressing the way it should. Congrats to all the ladies expecting. Good luck

SliverCheer · Answer

If you are having the baby at a birthing center are you doing it through a midwife? Usually when that is the case they don't do the early ultrasounds but you could go get one done at a regulars doctors office if you want to see it earlier. Birthing centers aren't covered under insurance in GA :( but I'm considering using a midwife, but I am also seeing a regular doctor for now because I really want reassurance everything is progressing ok. I'm 10 weeks best of luck!

Sarah1013 · Answer

my first ultrasounds for my daughter's were both in between 18 and 20 weeks. They usually only do early ultrasounds in a high risk pregnancy, but it does also depend on the doctor.

Sunkissed19 · Answer

here in washington they dont usually scan until 12 weeks for normal pregnancies because thats when your sure to see something. im a high risk pregnancy so i got my first one done at my first appt. with the high risk OB at 10 weeks. my next one is on thursday at 17 weeks but i will get an u/s just about every month because of being high risk they like to check things out all the time i guess....lol i love it though because i get a ton of pictures! i think id have a heart attack if i had to wait until 20 weeks for the first one! do they let you hear the heart beat at least? i think most normal pregnancies get about 2-3 u/s....but idk cuz this is my first one and i dont have a "normal" pregnancy lol but luckily everything is just fine.
congrats on the baby btw!

KeyD · Answer

my doc usually only does one around 18 weeks, unless a problem is suspected

isthisnormal · Answer

I had my first scan at 26 weeks, only because of insurance issues. I then had one at 30 weeks to make sure she was growing properly, and then we did a 3D scan at 33 weeks and 34 weeks.

hopefulLady · Answer

I am 9 wks now, and have not had an u/s yet. My doc had scheduled it for 13th week, saying that unless indicated by any warning symptoms, a normal pregnancy does not need a u/s before 12 wks... I simply had to agree :-|

Limonada · Answer

It seems that a lot of women on this board get quite a few u/s - I'm not sure if it's due to a difference in practice from doctor to doctor and region to region, or if there are underlying reasons.

I've only had 2 with this pregnancy - one at 12 weeks, the other (anatomy scan) at 19 weeks.  If all continues to go well, I won't have any more.

With my last pregnancy, I had 4:  first at 10 weeks to do the nuchal translucency, 2nd the week after because they couldn't get an accurate measurement at the first appointment, 3rd at 19 weeks (anatomy scan) and a biophysical profile at 40+ weeks because I was overdue and my OB wanted to make sure everything still looked good.

thickm · Answer

i had one at 5 weeks, 6 weeks, 7 weeks and go back at 10 weeks but i miscarried in july 09 so hes seeing me more frequently

peytonkaye · Answer

With my son I had one at my first appt. Another at 20weeks and one at 32weeks. This pregnancy I had one at my first appt, 20 weeks and they're going to schedule one for late January or early february. I'm due March 5th.

mrsweir · Answer

Thank you everyone for your advice and input.

tobbeyj · Answer

My doc does her first US at 20 weeks. I had one this time at 10 weeks to check for viability though as I had a missed MC in May. It is normal for a doc to only do it at 2 weeks....I do not think it is normal to not have one at all and I would change docs if this is how yours is going to work. Good Luck!

Victoria01 · Answer

When I had my son, they only did one ultrasound at 20 weeks. Most doctors, at least around here, will not do more than that unless it is deemed medically necessary, or if you are not sure about the date of your LMP. With this pregnancy, since I had a previous miscarriage, they did one at 11 weeks and then did the anatomy scan at 19 weeks.

marie1210 · Answer

Usually, they are done around 8 weeks or a little later b/c then you're most likely going to be able to see something.  They my be done earlier if there are problems or a history of problems.  I can think of three that are done as routine, early for dating purposes, an anatomical one at 20 weeks and to find the gender if you like, and another at 35 to check the position of the baby.  I would think that a 20 week ultrasound would be a definite because they take a lot of measurements at that one and check for overall well being.

Quinns momma · Answer

That is unusual but not unheard of.  My doc did first u/s at btwn 7-8 weeks to check that pregnancy was viable. Another scan at 20 weeks for complete anatomy scan and in my case around 35 weeks to check for growth as I may be induced early due to high blood pressure.

I would find a new practice if I was told I could not have a scan until 20 weeks. There are so many little problems that can be picked up with earlier scans.