No ultrasound until 20 weeks?

fishercm

I am currently 12 weeks and went in to meet the midwife at 10 weeks. I was told because I have no prior miscarriages or family history of problems that my insurance will not cover an ultrasound until 20 weeks. I have multiple coworkers that are pregnant as well (under the same insurance and are perfectly healthy) and got their first scan at 10 weeks. Is this a new normal for OB practices? I have a strong family history of multiples and I sure as hell want to know if I were having multiple children before 20 weeks comes along! It just seems ridiculous. It must just be this particular practice. Any thoughts?

sillysarak

From what I hear most midwives avoid ultrasounds as much as possible. An OB would more likely give you an ultrasound in the first trimester, but it really varies between practices. Some OBs avoid it in the beginning too. If you are super concerned you could always request one out of pocket. You should probably find out how much it actually costs....if you are really worried about mulitples it could totally be worth it for peace of mind. Did they not offer you genetic testing? The genetic testing happens between 11-14 weeks and is two parts. An ultrasound and blood test. I actually passed but that would be another way to get an ultrasound before 20 weeks. I'm not sure if insurance covers that... good luck!

silverspring81@hotmail.com

I actually had 3 before my 20 week with my son and will have my 2nd at 16 weeks and then the big one at 20. I didn't find out I was having #2 until 13 weeks so my OB scheduled asap.

tgortney

It varies with offices. I had my first ultrasound at 7-8 weeks, 12 weeks, then one at 18-20 weeks (I'm 14 weeks now). But we also did an NT scan and a Verifi genetic screening test. All of it will be covered under insurance except the Verifi test because it's out of network but we already looked into how much that costs out of pocket. If I'm not mistaken, multiples are usually under high risk. Therefore, I would address that with your midwife. Insurance (I have BCBS) will usually cover scans and tests your doctor/midwife deems necessary. Also, my office charges $75 for an out of pocket scan (usually for early sex reveal). We're also doing the 3D one for $99 so I will have 4 ultrasounds by the end of this pregnancy

gemini2005

Unless you have a problem or aren't sure of your dates you normally don't get an early ultrasound where I'm from. Even though I was reasonably sure about my dates I insisted on an ultrasound just to confirm my due date. Did you share your concerns about having multiples with the midwife? Maybe that will be enough to get an ultrasound?

dsmith211

If you are low risk there really is no reason for an ultrasound before 20 weeks. That's when I get my first. You mentioned family history of multiples though, so if you haven't mentioned that to your doctor I would. They'll most likely do an ultrasound earlier. It is still possible it might not be covered by insurance though unless your doctor can make the case it's medically necessary.

JessicaB0627

I don't mean this to sound rude, but I am genuinely curious. Isn't one of the reasons people choose to see a midwife because they want a low-intervention pregnancy and birth? So unless an ultrasound was medically necessary I would assume midwives would choose to not do them.

Again, sorry if I sound stupid. I wouldn't ask if I wasn't curious.

concreteayngel

Not exactly. The midwives at the hospital I will deliver at are there to carry out your desired birth plan as closely as possible. That could mean anything from an unmedicated birth to a scheduled c/s.

OP, were you not offered a Nuchal Transluceny scan (usually at around 12 weeks) to check for Downs? I have Kaiser, and that's pretty routine there. It would also be able to tell you if you were having multiples.

alijeff2313

I use an OB and with the last pregnancy and with this one as well, we won't have one until 18-20 weeks unless something is wrong. That will also be the only unless there are issues in the later months. Pretty normal.

nay09

When I was pregnant with my 2nd the practice I went to only offered 1 u/s at 20 weeks, this was a large office with a team of 8 ob's and 4 midwives. I saw the midwives but I'm pretty sure even if you saw the ob's they still only did 1 u/s. We moved across the state and it was the same way at the new office. I ended up getting an early one because i was bleeding around 8 weeks. But after that only the 20 weeks u/s.
Where I live now I already had 2 and will have another at 20 weeks. This is also a midwife.

fishercm

I opted not to have the NT because I am not considered high risk for defects (no family history) and my OB told me it would cost thousands of dollars out of pocket even with my good regence plan. I feel like I'm just left in the dark, all of my friends and Co workers are being offered all of these scans and tests and I'm not. Maybe I should find a different office. Although I do want to stay with a midwife as I like their model of care. I just want to be reassured that everything is ok this early on

kami09

Yep. Totally normal. I actually thought how abnormal it was when everyone kept talking about all the ultrasounds they were getting.

Although..I did have a friend who found out she was having twins at 20 weeks. It was a shock to her to say the least!