How many ultrasounds?

silverwings72 · August 2014

I have Kaiser insurance and I just realized that I am only scheduled for the NTS and the AS. Obviously these have already passed. Is there another ultrasound that comes at the end of pregnancy or is that it?

I am suddenly sad that I haven't seen the baby since the AS. Should I just bite the bullet and pay for a 3D/4D elective ultrasound? Or just be patient and wait until November? What are you ladies doing?

moroccojade · August 2014

Ugh. I had to have 3.

I just wanted the NT and the AS but had to get one at 9 weeks due to some bleeding.

Hoping and praying I don't need any more.

SweetMelissa5 · August 2014

The only ultrasound that is standard for every pregnancy is the anatomy scan, so with a low risk pregnancy, chances are you won't get another one. I've already been told that I'm going to get one around 37 weeks so they can get an estimate of the baby's size (which I personally don't think is necessary, but I'm also not going to turn it down), but if I wasn't, I wouldn't go to an elective place but that's mostly because I don't quite get the point of those; I'd rather save my money for something fun after the baby is born.

mander82 · August 2014

I had one around 9 weeks because I was having sharp stabbing pains. Then I had my a/s. I will not get another one unless they feel it is necessary. If they are concerned about the size or position of the baby, they will do another one.

If there are no concerns, I will not get another one.

Unless we pay for the 3d/4d one that is.....we haven't even discussed doing that, so we probably won't.

AnnieRoo13 · August 2014

I believe normally 2 is the standard. I will be having a third as at my a/s my placenta was a bit low and they want to check and see if it has moved later in the third trimester.

missnacholover · August 2014

I've had 4 already (viability, one quick one at the OB's office for HB, A/S, and Fetal Echo) and get 3 more to monitor growth.

I'm glad I have all the extras and that I get to see my little taquito but at the same time, it's more time off work that I have to juggle for appointments.

ETA, I forgot about the NT Scan. So 5 total.

sweetbabyrahe · August 2014

My OB only does the A/S as a standard with uncomplicated pregnancies. I had to have one early on ~6-7 weeks because I was was having a lot of side pain and they were concerned about ectopic pregnancy, then I had to have a dating u/s because my cycle is very irregular. Then I had the a/s and a repeat a/s because at the first they couldn't view the heart very well. Unless there is another issue or they are concerned about baby's position, I will not have another u/s this pregnancy.

ccam · August 2014

From here on out, the only reason I'd have another u/s is if my OB is concerned about something. For example, I had a pretty big baby last time so if I'm measuring big in the next few weeks, they might do an extra u/s.

melsod · August 2014

I'm in Canada so it's a little different here. I'm also high risk so in total, if I carry to term I will have 14 ultrasounds. When I count them all out it's a little crazy but I'm not going to complain. Considering everything that has happened with this pregnancy (my health, not baby thankfully) I will take all of the extra relief that they bring when I see our little baby kicking away on the screen.

JustJainey · August 2014

Four so far (fertility confirmation at 7wks; worry wart bedside one in ER at about 11wks; A/S and a follow up A/S because baby was moving too much to get all the captures they wanted) No mention of anymore, so I'm assuming that's it. Sure is nice to see the LO though.

jess123456 · August 2014

I had a bunch with my RE but with the OB I just had the NT and A/S. I am getting one done in a couple weeks due to loss history but I don't think that's typical.

shan24 · August 2014

I have already had 4. A quick one at the OB clinic, my NT scan, my AS, another one to check the size of my uterine cyst (and they let me see baby) and I'm scheduled for a fifth in September to check the placement of my placenta, as it was showing low during my AS.

My sister had a very uncomplicated pregnancy and she had two - a dating ultrasound and her AS. The NT scan wasn't available to her because she was young and had no other risk factors.

While I love seeing LO, I wish that I didn't have problems which force more ultrasounds.

jac409 · August 2014

I have had four already, but one was due to some bleeding (partial placenta previa) and another was because I have Graves Disease and they want to keep an eye on the baby's thyroid as a result. I will have one more at 34 weeks for the same reason. If I wasn't high risk, I wouldn't pay out of pocket for the extra ultrasounds. I would save my money for something I really want or need after baby arrives.

absolutelymaybe · August 2014

Well I go in for ultrasound #12 Monday and then every two weeks for a while. Then I'm sure it will go to once a week as my due date gets closer.

Twins are so much fun! I'm like an OB office groupie.

dh2613 · August 2014

I have had 9 already, it honestly worried me having so many because I don't want anything to hurt the baby and even though they say it is safe enough it is scary. However, because of our fertility treatments and how we became pregnant I had to have one every 2 weeks for 12 weeks. Then I had one at my first official OB appointment after leaving the RE. I also had to have 2 A/S ones because baby was being stubborn and we did not get to measure or view 1/2 the things on the first one. We almost ended up needing a 3rd because he is just a very very stubborn little boy.

I think 3 or 4 is probably the norm. I think my OB schedules one more around 34 weeks or so, but that would be the last one.

abbyful · August 2014

I'm on track to have 4.
8 wk - dating u/s
12 wk - NT scan
20 wk - AS
28 wk - 3D (only because it's offered free at my doc office if your prenatal care bill is paid off by this time, otherwise I wouldn't get it)

With DS I had 4 too.
6 wk - in ER for bleeding
11 wk - dating u/s (switched docs, previous doc didn't do dating u/s so that's why it's so late)
20 wk - AS
36 wk - growth check because I was measuring small

scarlet3egonias · August 2014

I've had like 7 or 8...

Viability, then some light spotting, then another when they realized it was twins, the A/S where we found issues with Twin B, then then a few followups after that to make sure Baby A was all good even though Baby B didn't make it. Now I'm a "regular patient" and totally thankful but I was getting used to getting an ultrasound every time I went it. I actually paid for an elective last week because I'd never gone so long without one and I was making myself crazy.

I think that the norm at my dr's office is viability, 12w, A/S, 28w and then size growth later on. So maybe 5?

mrsodonnell12 · August 2014

Dating and a/s for Me. I'd only have another if there was a problem.

NLJ82 · August 2014

My dr's office regular appts are:

12wks

20wks

34wks

--------------------------

HOWEVER, If they have any inkling of something that could be a problem, my midwife doesn't hesitate to send me for one. I told her that I didn't feel a whole lot of kicking but what I felt was really low and while she said that's normal, she wants to check the fluids so I'm going down next week for a "just because/lets see" u/s.

It's good bc it puts my mind at rest but sucks bc my insurance pays for next to nothing so there's another $150 or so out of my pocket.

We also went for an elective scan at 15 weeks to determine the gender (yes, gender) bc we're impatient like that.

Allisonville · August 2014

I will only have 2. A dating ultrasound at 8 weeks (standard practice at my OB) and then the anatomy scan at 20 weeks. Best case scenario, everything is good and no further ultrasounds are necessary, so I think you should count yourself lucky that the 2 you've had are all that are needed.

sAAmFam · August 2014

I'm with @missnacholover‌ I have had a lot. I'm on my way now for another! I don't want to go. I feel like I am missing out on a surprise now. I don't know why. I had 3 ultrasounds in beginning, nt scan, a/s, another a/s, a fetal echo, and one a month now. I'm trying to get out of it but no such luck. There's no mystery now.

meeshybee · August 2014

Here it's common to only have the AS, unless there is a problem or (in my case) baby is in a position where they can't see something they need to check. I just had my 2nd one last week and since baby looks perfect I won't get another unless there is a problem.

Personally, I wouldn't get a 3D/4D. That translates to a lot of diapers!

erinwithtwins · August 2014

I'm high risk with twins so Ive had one every two weeks from 6-12 (4) then once a week since (14) so about 28-30 when done. Most of them are super quick less than 5 minutes. HBs etc. Once a month there's a long hr+one. Measurements every 2 weeks

KMW08 · August 2014

My first 3 were with my RE. I had my first one at around 5weeks -- my ovulation date was waaaay off compared to LMP dating. Then I had another, viability, at 7weeks. I had a third at 9 weeks, then I was released to a regular OB.

I didn't do the NT scan. So my next US was at 19wks for a/s. I had a follow up a/s to get more pictures at 23weeks.

So overall I've had 5 US's, could have been 6 if I would have done the NT. I don't think my OB usually does any more ultrasounds unless they are warranted.

lovingaddi · August 2014

I think 2 is usually the norm, although one girl I know only had her AS because she knew the first day of her last period (& her doctor didn't feel an 8 week ultrasound was necessary). I would not have been happy to say the least! I wouldn't want someone to "guess" how far along I am.
With DD1 I had 3...this time I've had 4, today will be #5.

krgriffin26 · August 2014

I have only had 2. First was at 7 weeks and the A/S at 19 Weeks. We will be paying for the 3D/4D in a couple of weeks as a treat for ourselves and our mothers. But I shouldn't be having anymore with my Dr as far as I know.

MindyAndRyan · August 2014

I know that truly only 1 is standard - the anatomy scan.

I have had 6. The first 3, at 6, 8 and 10 weeks, were due to spotting from week 5 to week 11. The next 3 were at my MFM/perinatologist because I am high risk. My 6th was at 22 weeks, and because my health problems don't seem to be affecting my baby, they don't need to see my back until 32 weeks for a growth check. I don't know if they will do any more after that.

I was whining to my husband that I can't believe we have to go 10 weeks in between seeing LO again, and he sweetly reminded me that most women don't get nearly as many, so I have been thankful for every opportunity to watch him grow.

cyndi1439 · August 2014

I had my 16th yesterday! I'm being watched like a hawk, as you can tell. Being high risk for another preemie (dd was born at 27 weeks less than a year ago) makes my OB practice nervous. We have had all the ultrasounds so that they can detect ANY change in my cervix way before it gets severe. And, I'm glad of it because they've caught my cervix funneling early

and they've also been able to detect contractions and stop them!!

missnacholover · August 2014

sAAmFam said:

I'm with @missnacholover‌ I have had a lot. I'm on my way now for another! I don't want to go. I feel like I am missing out on a surprise now. I don't know why. I had 3 ultrasounds in beginning, nt scan, a/s, another a/s, a fetal echo, and one a month now. I'm trying to get out of it but no such luck. There's no mystery now.

I'm hoping that the monthly ones are quick and easy and not quite as long as the A/S and fetal echo. My fetal echo was horrible. I had to twist in so many different positions so she could get the correct shots. It was so long and not fun. AND I DIDN'T EVEN GET ANY PICTURES.

2ndGeneration · August 2014

I've had several u/s this pregnancy-I'm AMA, but everything is going great!-but in my younger pregnancies, I would have one dating one, one anatomy one, and one around 32-34 ish weeks.

kfo22 · August 2014

My midwife has a machine at her office, and offers to look at baby every time. I think we've done it four times now? But each time is only 10-15 min. I hope that doesn't heat her up too much.

Lilwatz · August 2014

We started at a fertility clinic (but got pregnant naturally between treatments) so we had:

5 weeks at fertility clinic

7 weeks at fertility clinic

8 weeks at ob (for dating)

12 weeks NT scan at high risk doctor

16 weeks elective sex ultrasound because we don't wait well

19 weeks a/s at high risk doctor

27 weeks follow up a/s at high risk doctor (blurry scan before due to abdominal scarring)

29 weeks elective 3D/4D because my husband is begging (I think they are creepy--sorry people who love them!)

No more planned, but who knows?

Lilwatz · August 2014

Also, for funsies...this study shows that a large number of ultrasounds early on can lead to the child being a lefty!

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/store/10.1002/uog.9055/asset/9055_ftp.pdf;jsessionid=B0743569E7C332E930C5B9577F4E454F.f03t01?v=1&t=hyudznx5&s=b53cb7de22bb4d34abf2191133ad0b976b9d2fa0

I'll be curious to see if my little girl is left-handed!

jac409 · August 2014

FhSTAR81 said:

jac409 said:

I have had four already, but one was due to some bleeding (partial placenta previa) and another was because I have Graves Disease and they want to keep an eye on the baby's thyroid as a result. I will have one more at 34 weeks for the same reason. If I wasn't high risk, I wouldn't pay out of pocket for the extra ultrasounds. I would save my money for something I really want or need after baby arrives.

@jac409 did have you the antibody blood test to see if your LO will have neonatal Graves' disease?

I did. My antibody levels are negligible, but they still want to keep checking, just to be on the safe side.

Allyvaughan86 · August 2014

I've had a dating u/s at 10 weeks and an a/s at 20 weeks! I paid for an elective at 16 weeks to determine sex. I recently switched practices and they do an additional u/s at 28 weeks that's 3d to check for cleft lip/palate! I'm looking forward to seeing my little girl again in a couple weeks!

crizz13 · August 2014

I've had 3...
6 week dating ultrasound
18 week anatomy scan
20 week fetal echocardiogram

We are debating doing one more (elective) because DH is still convinced that she could be a boy! Ha!

I will not get another through the doctor unless there is a concern regarding growth, fluid levels, breech, etc.

soulcupcake · August 2014

I had about 10 with my first, and that included two elective 3/4D scans (I had BPPs and NSTs during the last few weeks of my pregnancy). I had five with my second, and it also included two elective scans. I had three with my third, including one elective, and about seven with my fourth, two were elective.

I've had five so far, and will opt for another elective u/s around 32 weeks. That will likely be my last.

mslynn2012 · August 2014

I have kaiser. We see baby at every appointment. Each room has an ultrasound machine (not the best quality). Other than that, just the big AS at 20 weeks.