No ultrasound until 20 weeks?

rkirk87 · July 2015

First timer here- my doctor said they only do an ultrasound at 20 weeks... Does that sound normal? Some of my preg friends who are as far along as me have already had at least 1 (they go to a different office). I have my 12 week appt next week and he told me they would just use a Doppler to detect the heartbeat. Am I crazy to want to request an ultrasound to be done at 12 wks? Not sure I can wait until 20 weeks! Getting a little anxious if you can't tell lol. Thanks!

ainverso · July 2015

Yes this is very common. some people who have ultrasounds earlier are high risk or have had losses before. Others have earlier ultrasounds due to bleeding or history of other issues. Doppler will let u hear the heartbeat and make sure baby is doing well plus the doctor will feel and measure how u are growing to see if u are measuring on track.

sgraham1589 · July 2015

Yes I had one at 7 weeks and they won't do it again until 20 weeks that hurts my feelings I want to see my baby so bad

BethP321 · July 2015

Insurance won't pay for more than that. Most clinics only do one at 20 weeks, some at the early stages between 6-9 weeks if they feel necessary. You can always find a business that does ultrasounds separately. They are not covered by insurance but are under $100 (mine is $79 first visit, and $30 after that).

kmcc14 · July 2015

The practice I am going to only does the 20 week scan. I was surprised, since it seems like everyone has a dating ultrasound anymore. We opted to do the NT scan so that we could see the baby and make sure that everything was ok before breaking the news.

DylansCandyBar · July 2015

sgraham1589 said:
Yes I had one at 7 weeks and they won't do it again until 20 weeks that hurts my feelings I want to see my baby so bad

It hurts your feelings? Seriously?

It's an expensive medical procedure. Not something done for funsies.

You're about to be a parent, learn some patience. It will serve you well.

steph_pegasus · July 2015

Yeah one is normal unless you're high risk. They'll give you pictures from the anatomy scan though.

If you really don't want to wait and you're willing to pay, there are private clinics that will do them just so you can see your baby.

mcrane8 · July 2015

mine would have been 20 weeks had I not had bleeding and also been classified as high risk. Even with all that, I've had 1 from my doctor (almost 13 weeks).

mollyj931 · July 2015

Yep very common. I won't see baby until 20 weeks too and same with my last 2 pregnancies.

amama3 · July 2015

I received a free ultrasound at a pregnancy clinic in my 7th week. They referred me to my OB who only does ultrasounds around week 20 unless if there are any complications or concerns. I'm in my 15th week now and my US is on August 5th. I can't wait to see my LO and I'm hoping she/he will cooperate. Just hold in there Mama! It's definitely difficult to be patient but it will be worth it in the longrun.

StringBn31 · July 2015

Same one at 8 weeks and one at 20/21 weeks and my friends were all the same way unless they were high risk.

holocene · July 2015

Totally normal. Ultrasounds are used for diagnostic and preventative measures. They are not for parents pleasure. The misconception regarding the 20 scan is huge. It's an anatomy scan, to see how your baby is developing, to ensure there are no pressing issues, and to prepare for potential issues at birth. Finding out the gender, if you wish, is merely a happy bonus of the procedure. So, while ultrasound exposure hasn't been found to be harmful in small doses, there is speculation about how much exposure is "safe". Because of this, a lot of Doctors prefer to keep the number of scans to the minimum. (Unless an issue has presented, of course.)

holocene · July 2015

sgraham1589 said:
@DylansCandyBar RESPONSE NOT NEEDED! If I said it makes me want to jump off of a bridge or slit my wrist what is it to you??? No it doesn't literally hurt my feelings that is just the choice of words that I felt like using! Some of you people on here really need to just shut up cause some of the responses are just being assholes or just wanting To say something! Go get some friends and Find someone else to be a smart ass with I'm not her nor do I need your asshole advice!

This was highly dramatic.

nickicb7 · July 2015

Totally normal. I was actually starting to wonder if it was a Canadian thing, as so many mamas on here seem to have multiple US early on, it was a bit surprising. My midwife said there is no need to do anything before 20 weeks unless you are unsure of your dates - then you do the 10-12 week dating ultrasound, or if you are doing the genetic testing. Really when our mothers were pregnant, it was rare to even get an ultrasound. My mom did but my husbands mom had none with three pregnancies. It just depends on the risk factors, even now. If you have a healthy pregnancy, you shouldn't have anything to worry about. Its just hard to wait....

DylansCandyBar · July 2015

@sgraham1589

ETA: Oh and whoever love titted that, your on my BSC post it too.

steph_pegasus · July 2015

holocene said:

sgraham1589 said:
@DylansCandyBar RESPONSE NOT NEEDED! If I said it makes me want to jump off of a bridge or slit my wrist what is it to you??? No it doesn't literally hurt my feelings that is just the choice of words that I felt like using! Some of you people on here really need to just shut up cause some of the responses are just being assholes or just wanting To say something! Go get some friends and Find someone else to be a smart ass with I'm not her nor do I need your asshole advice!
This was highly dramatic.

And reported.

Hrc724 · July 2015

I had one at 8 weeks but I'm 41, so I'm high risk. I get a second one at 20 weeks. But I'm actually getting one for a totally different reason next week at 13 weeks ordered by my pcp as a follow up to one done for abdominal pains prior to pregnancy, I'm hoping they'll give me a pic.

sgraham1589 · July 2015

**Removed for TOU Violation**

Sovvy · July 2015

steph_pegasus · July 2015

SummerOH · July 2015

Wow. Someone's hormonal. I can only imagine what will happen when REAL things that are hurtful occur. Not getting an ultrasound isn't a personal insult to you. Sheesh.

I've had two - one at 6 weeks and one at 9 weeks - because I have a history of losses. If I didn't, I'd only get one around 20 weeks. If you want an earlier one, you can always get an elective 3d/4d one. They can tell you the sex as early as 14 weeks. Around here it's pretty cheap, too - just $65.

DylansCandyBar · July 2015

**Removed for TOU violation**

danasphillips · July 2015

holocene said:

sgraham1589 said:
@DylansCandyBar RESPONSE NOT NEEDED! If I said it makes me want to jump off of a bridge or slit my wrist what is it to you??? No it doesn't literally hurt my feelings that is just the choice of words that I felt like using! Some of you people on here really need to just shut up cause some of the responses are just being assholes or just wanting To say something! Go get some friends and Find someone else to be a smart ass with I'm not her nor do I need your asshole advice!
Well it was a stupid choice of words.

Barley26 · July 2015

I had three ultrasounds before 12 weeks due to bleeding/low hormone levels and now I don't have another until 20 weeks. Counting down to August!

jrouge12 · July 2015

My practice said the same thing (just the anatomy scan at 20w) but one of the midwives thought I might have my dates wrong so she scheduled me for one. She was right! I went from 12w to 13w!

xomeredith · July 2015

They did two vaginal ultrasounds on me. I used to work for an OB so I expected the first one to see how far along I was, but not the second. That caught me by surprise and they didn't tell me why I had it. The next ultrasound for me would be at 20 weeks for the anatomy scan, but we want to find out the gender so my doctor only once a week does those and it's an out of pocket fee ($65) for that. I understand they can't just do them for fun, but it is nice to see the baby. They explained to me at my last appointment how many insurance will cover if everything is healthy. I work at a doctors office now so I get the whole insurance thing.

Baby will be here before we know it and I'll be able to look at him or her as much can as I want.

rkirk87 · July 2015

Thanks for the feedback guys! I think I just worry because I am adopted and know nothing about my biological parents medical history. I think that's why I thought it strange when the doctor didn't offer genetic testing or a NT scan, In-depth ultrasound, etc. Again I am new to this ... So I could be totally wrong!

nanamp · July 2015

@rkirk87 - I did a genetic test before trying to conceive. If you are concerned about any of these things, maybe just request them?

Rakastajatar · July 2015

i had my 4th today. saw the little alien moving so much! it was hard to get a photo but we got one.

reason why i had so many, the first three were with my reproductive doctor. I used clomid, they follow closely during the first 9 weeks.

today with my regular OB it was to check heart beat. still vaginal which is fine. i still get to see the baby, next one is within two weeks for genetic testing and to measure baby's neck. i feel kind of spoiled but i'm enjoying it

neonpotatoes · July 2015

I had one done at 9 weeks because at the time they thought I was 12w and found no heartbeat. Next one won't be until 20w.

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