Reviewed by Dan Brennan, MD on July 18, 2022
Anticipation is a big part of pregnancy. You wonder what your baby will look like, and more important, whether he or she will be healthy. An ultrasound offers an early peek inside the womb, and a chance to learn a bit more about your baby’s expected due date and well-being. A first-trimester ultrasound is usually done 7 to 8 weeks from the first day of your last menstrual period, says Rebecca Jackson, MD, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. “The main thing is to confirm pregnancy dating to make sure we have an accurate due date, to make sure that we’re able to see the baby’s heartbeat, and to see if there’s one, or more than one, fetus.” Your doctor can also use this test to screen for genetic problems, as well as to find any issues with your uterus or cervix. If you’re anxious to learn the baby’s sex, you’ll have to wait a bit longer. The gender reveal, as well as more info about your baby’s anatomy, will come at your next ultrasound, which happens between weeks 18 and 22 of your pregnancy. The typical ultrasound creates a two-dimensional cross-sectional image of your baby. Some facilities advertise 3D and even 4D ultrasounds, which produce a more photograph-like image of your baby. These high-tech scans aren’t necessary, but they may be preferable if you suspect your baby has an abnormality like a cleft palate that’s harder to see clearly with 2D imaging. A prenatal ultrasound can be done in one of two ways -- transabdominally (over your belly) or transvaginally (into your vagina). You may get a transvaginal ultrasound if it’s very early in your pregnancy, because it produces a more accurate image of your still tiny baby. For a transabdominal ultrasound, you’ll come in with a full bladder. A full bladder tilts your uterus up and moves your intestines out of the way for easier viewing. The technician will put some gel on a handheld device called a transducer and move it across your belly. The transducer releases sound waves, which bounce off the fetus’s bones, fluids, and tissues to create an image of the baby in your womb. You’ll be able to see your baby on a video screen. During a transvaginal ultrasound, you’ll undress from the waist down and put your feet up in stirrups, just like you would for a pelvic exam. The technician will cover the transducer with a condom-like sheath and lubricant before placing it inside your vagina. Having an ultrasound during your pregnancy is important, because it can give your doctor a lot of information about your baby quickly. “It’s very safe in pregnancy,” Jackson says. “There’s no risk.” If the technician discovers any problems, you may need to come back for a second ultrasound or other tests. 1958: The year doctors performed the first ultrasound. 2: Number of ultrasounds, on average, women in the United States get during the course of their pregnancies. 120 to 160 beats per minute: A normal fetal heart rate. 75%: How accurate ultrasound is at determining the baby’s sex in the first trimester. 100%: How accurate ultrasound is at determining the baby’s sex in the second trimester. Find more articles, browse back issues, and read the current issue of WebMD Magazine. Ultrasound scans use sound waves to build a picture of the baby in the womb. The scans are painless, have no known side effects on mothers or babies, and can be carried out at any stage of pregnancy. Talk to your midwife, GP or obstetrician about any concerns you have. Having a scan in pregnancy is usually a happy event, but be aware that ultrasound scans may detect some serious health conditions, so try to be prepared for that information. See What if a screening test finds something for more information on if a scan or other screening test suggests your baby may be more likely to have a condition.
If you're well, it's really important you go to all your appointments and scans for the health of you and your baby. If you're pregnant, hospitals and clinics are making sure it's safe for you to go to appointments. If you get symptoms of COVID-19, or you're unwell with something other than COVID-19, speak to your midwife or maternity team. They will advise you what to do. Find out more about pregnancy and COVID-19 Most scans are carried out by sonographers. The scan is carried out in a dimly lit room so the sonographer is able to get good images of your baby. You'll be asked to lie on your back and reveal your tummy. The sonographer will put ultrasound gel on your tummy, which makes sure there is good contact between the machine and your skin. The sonographer passes a probe over your tummy and a picture of the baby will appear on the ultrasound screen. During the exam, sonographers need to keep the screen in a position that gives them a good view of the baby. The sonographer will carefully examine your baby's body. The sonographer may need to apply slight pressure on your tummy to get the best views of the baby. A scan usually takes around 20 to 30 minutes. However, the sonographer may not be able to get good views if your baby is lying in an awkward position or moving around a lot. If it's difficult to get a good image, the scan may take longer or have to be repeated at another time. There are no known risks to the baby or the mother from having an ultrasound scan, but it's important that you consider carefully whether to have the scan or not. This is because the scan can provide information that may mean you have to make further important decisions. For example, you may be offered further tests, such as amniocentesis, that have a risk of miscarriage. Hospitals in England offer at least 2 ultrasound scans during pregnancy:
The first scan is sometimes called the dating scan. The sonographer estimates when your baby is due (the estimated date of delivery, or EDD) based on the baby's measurements. The dating scan can include a nuchal translucency (NT) scan, which is part of the combined screening test for Down's syndrome, if you choose to have this screening. The second scan offered during pregnancy usually takes place between 18 and 21 weeks of pregnancy. It's sometimes called the mid-pregnancy scan. This scan checks for 11 physical conditions in your baby. You may be offered more than 2 scans, depending on your health and the pregnancy. You can find out more about the 12-week dating scan and the 20-week or mid-pregnancy scan. The sonographer will be able to tell you the results of the scan at the time. No, not if you do not want to. Some people want to find out if their baby is more likely to have a condition, while others do not. The 12-week dating scan and 20-week scan will be offered to you, but you do not have to have them. Your choice will be respected if you decide not to have the scans, and your antenatal care will continue as normal. You'll be given the chance to discuss it with your maternity team before making your decision. An ultrasound scan can be used to:
Yes. You may like someone to come with you to the scan appointment. Most hospitals do not allow children to attend scans as childcare is not usually available. Please ask your hospital about this before your appointment. Remember, an ultrasound scan is an important medical examination and it is treated in the same way as any other hospital investigation. Ultrasound scans can sometimes find problems with the baby. Most scans show that the baby is developing normally and no problems are found. This is because most babies are healthy. You can continue with your routine antenatal care. If the scan shows your baby is more likely to have a condition, the sonographer may ask for a second opinion from another member of staff. You might be offered another test to find out for certain if your baby has the condition. If you're offered further tests, you will be given more information about them so you can decide whether or not you want to have them. You'll be able to discuss this with your midwife or consultant. If necessary, you will be referred to a specialist, possibly in another hospital. Finding out the sex of your baby is not offered as part of the national screening programme. If you want to find out the sex of your baby, you can usually do so during the 20-week mid-pregnancy scan but this depends on the policy of your hospital. Tell the sonographer at the start of the scan that you'd like to know your baby's sex. Be aware, though, that it's not possible for the sonographer to be 100% certain about your baby's sex. For example, if your baby is lying in an awkward position, it may be difficult or impossible to tell. Some hospitals have a policy of not telling patients the sex of their baby. Speak to your sonographer or midwife to find out more. You will need to check if your hospital provides this service. If they do, there may be a charge.
In this video, a midwife explains what happens at your ultrasound scans during pregnancy. |
When to get ultrasound for pregnancy
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