How are you already having ultrasounds?

DaniR23 · June 2013

I was told that I wouldn't have an ultrasound until 20 weeks unless I have a nuchal translucency test done. Everyone here is talking about having them already! I feel let down by my OB since we would love to see our Bebe!

Mnelli14 · June 2013

Hmm 20 weeks sounds quite late to me. I had one at 9 weeks and that was the earliest I could get in. Have you asked why? Maybe look for another OB? That's too long to wait!

ScarlettDahlia · June 2013

I'm having my first one on Saturday. I'm not entirely sure when my LMP was (I had bleeding two weeks apart in March and I think my April one was lighter than usual, but I can't really remember). So they are doing an u/s to figure out how far I really am.

ETA: I would also ask them if they could do one sooner. If you aren't particularly attached to this OB, I'd also consider switching.

washyourhandsplease · June 2013

In my area it's normal to have a dating ultrasound and then another at 20 weeks. However from what I've seen from previous bump boards, having just one at 20 weeks is normal.

MiaMyPuggle · June 2013

My friend had her 1 and only us at 20 weeks for the AS with her first. It's just up to the practice. If you have no issues or red flags, those practices don't routinely do them throughout the pregnancy.

JaneW2 · June 2013

Some doctors recommend an early ultrasound to get a solid due date. Still, for a lot of women, the due date is pretty certain, and this first ultrasound isn't all that necessary. The important one is the 20-week anatomy scan, when the doctor looks for problems with the fetus.

I was 100% sure of my due date before I even picked up the phone to call a doctor, but, I admit, I would have been disappointed if my OB hadn't prescribed the "dating ultrasound." It is hard to wait longer to see/hear your baby. (If you can call a tiny grey blur in the middle of a black ball seeing.)

KatelynEA90 · June 2013

Different OBs do things differently. My OB does a dating scan in the beginning. If you're sure of your dates, you can opt out.
My sisters OB only does the 20 weeks scan unless you are high risk or have another complication.

sugarland726 · June 2013

Most normal, first time pregnancies only have one ultrasound at 20 weeks. Many of us are receiving early ultrasounds because we are having cramping or bleeding. We saw a reproductive endocrinologist and need monitoring since we have had frequent miscarriages in the past, or we had IUIs or IVF to conceive and they need to see if the baby is developing as it should. I totally understand wanting to see your baby, but those that have it done early are usually experiencing something pretty scary or negative to warrant that. Generally speaking of course.

LeannFran · June 2013

That sounds very late! I'm very sorry. I hear it varies from office to office but that is the latest I've ever heard of

my OB schedules first u/s at 8 weeks and then I go in again at 12 weeks. I'm sure if you called the office and requested one they should be able to accommodate. If you don't like what they have to say you can always shop around. Good luck and I hope you can keep your mind at ease!

BuckeyeMommy4 · June 2013

My OB only does one at 18 to 20 weeks unless there are complications.

OSUWifey09 · June 2013

With my first pregnancy, I got one at 20 weeks and then another at 34 to check baby's size. I also had my first appointment pretty late [11 weeks], so he opted to try and find the hb with a doppler first, then do a u/s if he couldn't find the hb.

This time, I'm high risk, so I'll have several. My OB did do a dating u/s at my last appointment and said that would've been my only until 20 weeks if I wasn't high risk. I guess it just depends on the practice.

aessary03 · June 2013

I had a loss .... so I had a dating u/s and when we couldn't hear baby on the doppler last appt, he did an u/s to ease my mind. I have an NT scan on Tuesday and then I won't have another u/s until August when they do my 20 week.

halfthetree · June 2013

I'm having one early because my twins didnt make it past 8 weeks. So I need one to assess the viability of this baby. Nothing to be jealous of

BuckeyeANG · June 2013

It's standard at my practice (and most practices in my area) to do an u/s between 8-10 weeks for dating/viability

genaruthp · June 2013

I wasn't supposed to have one till 20 weeks. But I got in with a free clinic for a training. Then I had one with my OB's practice because I thought I was miscarrying. I wish I wouldn't have had to have had that u/s for sure! So glad to be here!

Dishylo · June 2013

washyourhandsplease:
In my area it's normal to have a dating ultrasound and then another at 20 weeks. nbsp;However from what I've seen from previous bump boards, having just one at 20 weeks is normal.

This. I had a scan yesterday which was my dating scan and it seems quite normal to have one by 1012 weeks.

LMCB12 · June 2013

I only had one ultrasound with my first and I will probably only have one with this one unless there are problems. I see a midwife though. I think if you are low risk they don't do extras. I agree that it's hard not to be able to see the baby like a lot of others get to, but I also am thankful that I have had no issues. I would take that over extra ultrasounds any day.

Cewilliams207554 · June 2013

With my first pregnancy with my son, i had one at 6 weeks for viability, 10 weeks because of implantation bleeding, a couple weeks after that for dating, 20 weeks for the sex, and about three more after that for size, my son was in the 95 to 100th percentile and they were trying to determine if i would have a csection or not. I guess it depends on your doctor and insurance..

bregrobb · June 2013

I had an ultrasound to find out how far along I was. My periods have never ever been normal or regular so we couldn't go by when my last one was because that was in March and I would be much further along by now if we went by that date.

My last pregnancy my Dr waited too long before she ordered the dating ultrasound so we were not able to do some prenatal testing etc, so this time as soon as I told her I was pregnant she ordered an ultrasound immediately so it doesn't happen again.

rowanthefrog · June 2013

Sometimes it depends on your insurance but usually you get a dating u/s or something in the first trimester. I've had several due to recurrent pregnancy loss.

A

adunkin · June 2013

I got my first when I had a week of spotting. Then I was traveling internationally and when I came back the doc wanted to do another to make sure everything was OK. Now we're moving on to the more standard ultrasounds.

I'm sure it's hard to wait so long for a scan, but at least it means you've had a complication free pregnancy so far!

Finallypreggers · June 2013

I had one at 8, due for another at 12 and then 20.
I would be too excited to wait till 20 weeks if that was my only scan!
Definitely go for the nuchal screening if you get one earlier

baby2ra · June 2013

BuckeyeMommy4:
My OB only does one at 18 to 20 weeks unless there are complications.

this is the way my OB was when I had my first DD. now they are also doing an early ultrasound. I know it's hard to wait that long but hearing the heartbeat at each appointment really helps!

LexGator · June 2013

That's normal. My practice does a dating u/s at 8-10 weeks and the anatomy scan at 20 weeks. Many just do the 20 week scan, especially if you are low-risk and don't have a history of loss.

steph782 · June 2013

Don't worry...you don't want it! I had two early ones because I have a uterine abnormality and a loss. Believe it or not, it's a good thing if they think you don't need one.

Galaxy8227 · June 2013

My doctor's practice gives you a dating ultrasound, an ultrasound at your nine week apt (since you usually can't hear heartbeat on the Doppler), NT ultrasound at 13 weeks (if you opt to do it), one at 20 weeks for anatomy scan and then usually a growth ultrasound around 34-35 weeks. My doctor is part of a hospital practice and had an ultrasound machine in his office.

bethughknee · June 2013

I think it just depends on your OB, as other PP's have said. With my 1st pregnancy, I saw a really old school guy at first and was in the same boat. I did not have an u/s until the anatomy scan. I was 19 so I didn't know if this was "odd" and hadn't had any friends who had been pregnant either.

I live in a different state now and see a different OB. (It's also 6 years later.) My current OB does one at your first appointment but then not again until anatomy unless something goes wrong. If you're unhappy with their plan, now would be the time to shop around for a new practice!

jamiecal · June 2013

BuckeyeMommy4:
My OB only does one at 18 to 20 weeks unless there are complications.

This. Most doctors will only do one if you don't have high risk. I just had my first appt. at 10 weeks, and I'll go back at 14 weeks for a quick check and then at 18-20 for my u/s. It's entirely normal to only have the one u/s, and most of the ladies on here who have had several already have had complications or have some current health issues that the doctors want to watch carefully, generally speaking, of course. Nothing to worry about!

leighkinpa · June 2013

DaniR23:
I was told that I wouldn't have an ultrasound until 20 weeks unless I have a nuchal translucency test done. Everyone here is talking about having them already! I feel let down by my OB since we would love to see our Bebe!

I think some doctors do dating ultrasounds. Ours does not. We're having one next week, but its the NT Scan. Otherwise, they only do the a/s at 20 weeks. I may try to push for a growth one at 35 weeks since I had low fluid last time.

angiek1 · June 2013

My last OB didn;t do an ultrasound until 20 weeks. As long as my blood work was fine that is all she needed. There is an elective test done at 13 weeks for a screening and you'll get an u/s there. If what you learn doesn't change your mind about having the baby she didn't recommend having the elective test, but if it does she told her patients to do it.

My new OB (last one no longer does L&D) does an internal u/s for all patients on their first visit. So this was new to me.

Don't be discouraged.

yogi1012 · June 2013

I see an RE, so I had my first u/s this week with him.

My OB will do an ultrasound at 8 weeks to date, the N/T scan at 12-13 weeks, the anatomy scan at 18-20 weeks and non-stress testing starting at 39 weeks; however, there are u/s machines in the office and last pregnancy, we were able to see the baby at a few other visits.

I couldn't wait until 20 weeks!

I know someone that thought she was going in for her 8 week appointment and when they went to the dating ultrasound, she was actually 12 weeks (has PCOS I think). It was good she had the appointment when she did, because she was still able to get the N/T scan done!

CaliCarly77 · June 2013

My OB just did one when I went in at 5 1/2 weeks, then did another one two weeks later. Thank God since how else would I know I was pregnant with twins!?!

I have another one scheduled at 10 weeks then the NT Scan at 14.

DaniR23 · June 2013

Thanks everyone!

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