Question>> how soon do we get to see our baby?

paulamcleod

This is my first pregnancy, I have a dr's appointment on Monday with my family dr., I am sure I will find out then but was hoping to get an early answer from one of you...when do they usually book your first ultra sound? I am really getting excited to see and hear what is inside of me:)

MaPetiteFamille

If you do the early screening, the first US is between 11-14 wks. But if your dates are uncertain, they may do one sooner.

Lanatir

With my previous pregnancy and this one, I had one OB appt, then scheduled an u/s for viability.  The first u/s is normally done sometime on or before week 12, so you probably won't see much more than a little bean like baby with a fluttering heart, if everything is progressing well.

After that, some OBs will schedule you almost through the end of your pregnancy for appts, some will only do the next appt, and this OB that I have now is scheduled me through the end of the 1st tri, so maybe groups like that?

The next time you normally have a chance is if you chose to do the genetic tests (I think some of those are u/s guided?  I didn't do them with my first.), or the anatomy scan between 18ish and 22ish weeks.

Megs528812

Depends on your OB mine does the first US at 8 weeks

MaPetiteFamille

If they suspect a problem or if you're measuring ahead or behind, they may do one sooner. But really the earliest thing if all is well is the heartbeat via Doppler at 10-12 weeks. The wait is awful, isn't it?

paulamcleod

I was hoping for one sooner too.

MaPetiteFamille

Megs528812 said:

Depends on your OB mine does the first US at 8 weeks

Yeah, practice will always vary by the provider to some degree. I would guess that some more aggressive providers may want to do a transvaginal ultrasound earlier than the integrated screening ultrasound because by that method, you're able to see the heartbeat by 6-7 weeks (whereas you can't typically hear it until 10-12 weeks). I know my midwife didn't feel that was necessary to do on a routine basis. Other providers that I know professionally feel the same way. Keep in mind, too, that these things aren't free. I think that after insurance we still had to pay something like $350 per ultrasound out of pocket. Of course, that varies, too. And I totally get wanting the peace of mind of seeing that heartbeat right where it's supposed to be, so it's totally a decision that should be made between you and your provider.

emmyg65 said:

It depends on your provider. Mine doesn't do an ultrasound until 18-20 weeks unless otherwise indicated, like you're unsure how far along you are. We'll be able to hear the heartbeat sooner though.

Just to clarify, the ultrasound at 18-20 weeks is for the anatomy scan. If you opt not to do the integrated screening test, this will be the first ultrasound (again, assuming everything is going well). I believe each state mandates that the integrated screening tests are available to all women. Not all practices are able to do it, but they should be able to refer you to a facility that can.

LadyXaverian

Megs528812 said:

Depends on your OB mine does the first US at 8 weeks

This is me, too. Somewhere between 7 and 8 weeks.

myrainbowbaby2015

I'm having ultrasounds at 6,9,12,15 and 20 weeks but that's because I have a history of recurrent miscarriage do I'm having 2 extra before the 12 week one and them I'm having an elective at 15 weeks to find out the sex I've already had my 6 week one and got to see the heartbeat it was amazing and I have my 9 week one next week

Megs528812

Its so crazy to hear all the differences in midwives, OBs and insurance issues. I had like a billion the first time and it's just normal practice here where I live. I wasn't high risk or anything. Weeks 8, 11,13,20,27, 32. Also very lucky that I have excellent insurance. Just a normal copay each time. 15$

IHeartScience

Last time we had an us at the first visit )11 wks) because they couldn't find a heart beat in the office. After that it was nt scan and anatomy scan, so 13 and 18 weeks.

mpiemont

Totally depends on your OB. I had one at my first visit with DS1- around 10 weeks. With DS 2 my dates were a little screwy and I had one at 5 weeks (only saw a sac(, then another at 9 weeks. You might get one at your 6week visit but just may not see much. If you really want to know what to expect, you can call and ask the office.

MaPetiteFamille

I'm wondering if the providers who have US machines in their offices do them earlier and more frequently. At many practices around here the ultrasounds are done separately in the hospital radiology department, not during the appointment. That would explain the difference in charges as well. Interesting to hear how much it varies!

kaybeeknits

My first appointment was just informational with the nurse. I actually briefly met the doctor who was on his way home. 

They check for the hb at my next appointment, which will be almost 10 weeks. I don't know if they do an US or just check for hb.

mshepherd20

My doctor does 2 ultrasounds: the first between 8-10 weeks and the second at 20 weeks. If we opt to do genetic testing (which we've never done), he performs another ultrasound around week 14.

rainbows

We will get to hear the HB at 12 weeks, get our first us at 18 weeks and our 2nd at 30+ weeks.  Apparently insurance around here only cover 2, unless medically necessary.

letsgox

MaPetiteFamille said:

I'm wondering if the providers who have US machines in their offices do them earlier and more frequently. At many practices around here the ultrasounds are done separately in the hospital radiology department, not during the appointment. That would explain the difference in charges as well. Interesting to hear how much it varies!

Maybe, but not in my case. The practice I go to has an u/s and tech at each of their locations and they still do not do dating u/s or early viability u/s unless there is an issue. The earliest offered is the NT scan, otherwise it's the AS.

Christina_Diane

My provider has an US machine in is office, but only does them for certain insurance carriers. With my last pregnancy, I had one at 8 weeks to date and confirm the pregnancy and then another at 12 weeks for my first tri screening. I really wish going into my 8 week one that I knew it was a vaginal US. That was a shock!

alibc123

I got a vaginal ultrasound (sorry if that's TMI) at 7w2d I think it was. Got to see the baby and hear the heartbeat then.

christyp42

i had a transvaginal ultrasound this past friday at 7w6d .. will have another around 13 weeks with the nt scan and then the anatomy scan around18-20 weeks..and prob one more towards 37 weeks only because my first dd was born early and had been measuring small

BookitBoo

With DS I had my first ultrasound at ~8 weeks. With my last pregnancy I had an US at 4 1/2 weeks (a dating us I think) and again around 6 weeks.

For this pregnancy my first us is next Monday, 5w5d. I think she's being cautious since my recent miscarriage but I won't complain.

paulamcleod

I did see my dr. And normally they do 2 ultra sounds in Canada, one at 11-14 weeks and the other at 18-20 weeks. But I asked if I could get one sooner and I am booked in for Monday I don't have pregnancy symptoms other than tender breasts so for me....I think this will make it feel more real:)

Babytime1778

I had one at 6w4d because of bleeding and HCG levels and my first scheduled one was today 8w5d

longcat07

with DS, the only u/s i was supposed to have was the 20w/anatomy scan.  i wound up having 3 others...one early on because i had bleeding (6.5ish weeks), one just a few days before my anatomy scan because the doc couldn't find the HB on the doppler (18ish weeks), and one toward the end just a couple days before i delivered (37ish weeks) because they couldn't get a good look at his lower spine and kidneys at the anatomy and just took that long to schedule another scan.

ETA: this time i'll have a dating u/s next friday (7w3d, if my O date is correct) because i got pregnant right after a loss, and my O date is a bit uncertain because i was sick around O AND i broke my thermometer, so i missed some temps and a bunch were thrown out due to poor sleep and fevers.  i'll probably be offered the integrated screening but i haven't decided if i'm going to take it or not...probably not, so i expect to only get the anatomy scan after this one.

SpaceGirlSpiff

My first pregnancy and also this pregnancy they scheduled an early ultrasound around 8 weeks for viability/dating purposes.

Some people it's not until between 11-14 weeks when they do a NT scan (I actually did not do this with my first one because I missed being able to schedule in the window...stupid insurance confusion)

Some practices don't do one until the Anatomy scan around 20weeks

It just varies