3rd trimester ultrasound?

Kat&Rich

Are ultrasounds during the 3rd trimester standard?  Someone just told me she had her 36 week ultrasound and they were able to see how the baby was positioned and estimate the weight.  I swear my Dr. said the 20 week ultrasound was the last one we would have, unless we opted to pay for a 3D one, so I'm wondering if I heard wrong or if it just varies depending on the practice.

We have our 35 week checkup on Thursday...time is flying

JandR07

It usually depends on the practice. My sister doctor gives a 20 week and a 36 week u/s with a healthy pregnancy. My good friend only got a 20 week u/s.

I on the other hand had multiple u/s but that was b/c of possible problems that turned out to be nothing big. I think I had 13 ultrasounds.

beewltched

We had a ultrasound around that time and a few over the course of the whole pregnancy because I had some trouble.  My dr wanted me to have a ultrasound close to my due date because baby wasn't cooperating and wanted to know what was going on and get an estimate on how big he was.

kellelle01

My practice doesn't do an ultrasound in the 3rd trimester unless they have reason to believe there's a problem.  I ended up going to L&D for dehydration a few weeks ago and had one done there.  And we're paying for a 3D one on Thursday of this week.

tlc7068

My practice does u/s at 8 weeks, 20 weeks and 35 weeks.  with my ds we had more than that for a few different reasons,

jsmo

I believe at my practice you get one at 8 weeks and one at 20 weeks, unless there is a problem.  You will get one in triage most likely once you are in labor. 

ballerina06

My practice is only 8 weeks and 18 weeks.  I got one at 11 weeks because I couldn't hear the hb on the dopplar, but my doc did, but so I wouldn't worry she just did a quick u/s for me.

mary811

Next week will be my fourth ultrasound, and I was told that I will have another one in the third tri.  I was told that one ultrasound per tri is normal at the practice I go to.  I had a few extra due to a surgery at the beginning, and was told I'll probably have 2 at the end.

Lisa&Taylor

Our 20 week ultrasound was our last one (unless we had an issue, which thank goodness we didn't). I think it just varies from doctor to doctor.

35 weeks - you're in the home stretch! How exciting!

KBabySmiles

I had one at 19 weeks and then not another one until I was 40 weeks 2 days to check my fluid levels. 

BabyBean

With my DD, I was told most insurances only pay for one (at 20 weeks) so the others need to be medically necessary, and it's up to your doctor as to what he/she considers necessary. I had one at 7 weeks to date the pregnancy and another at 20 weeks. I had to fight my insurance company to pay for the one at 7 weeks.

I've already had three this time around--mostly b/c my new doctor's office has the ultrasound machine in the office and will do it as part of a normal office visit if they think you need it.

Spin313

I had an u/s around 34 weeks, but I think that was only because the doctor was unsure of DS's position and wanted to make sure I wouldn't need a c/s. 

KayLee77

my drs office will only do them if they think there is a problem.  With my first pregnancy I had one at 37 weeks, but it was because I had decreased fetal movement, and they wanted to make sure everything was ok in there.

Ritzy19

I only got two ultrasounds, one at 8 weeks and one at 20 weeks.

Kat&Rich

Thanks ladies!  I had my 35 week appointment today and they were a little concerned the baby might be measuring small, so it turns out I'll have another u/s next week to get a more accurate measurement.  

minifalda

I only had one around 20 weeks. I had a Henry Ford ob/gyn, and one ultrasound around 18-20 weeks is all they do for healthy, normal pregnancies. However, it was found that I had an anterior placenta and my Dr. did mention the possibility of doing another around 36 weeks, but I ended up not having one.

You don't really need to have and ultrasound to estimate the baby's weight and position. The Dr. should be able to give you a rough guess based on measurements and feeling your uterus.