Next Ultrasound at 20 weeks?

Knottie80968440 · October 2015

Hello there,

I had my first ultrasound at 8 weeks which was very exciting! My next appointment is tomorrow at 12 weeks and I called to ask about the details and she told me that I would not be having another ultrasound until my 20 week appointment. This seems like forever to wait to see that little baby again! Is this normal?

Thank you!

Lauren

rebelone · October 2015

Unless your doctor schedules anything in between for other situations, this is pretty normal. It's usually scheduled 6-8 weeks after your 12 week one.

amandac12581 · October 2015

Hi Lauren!

I think it all depends on your doctor, or maybe even your insurance. I couldn't say if that's normal or not, but from what I've seen from other posts on here there are some women who don't get them as frequently as others. Maybe you can find a private ultrasound place and pay to have one done in between your appointments?

BreannaaaMarieee · October 2015

It's normal at my doctors office. I actually don't get my first ultrasound until I'm 20 weeks! The only reason they would do multiple ones or before that is if I were to be high risk or they suspect something is wrong! It'll fly by till you see your little peanut again!

dkny155 · October 2015

So far I have had one at 8wks, 12wks, and next one is 20wks, these were scheduled. I know I will def have at least one more after the 20wk sono but I can't remember with my 1st pregnancy if I had 1 or 2 after the 20wk one . Every dr is different though

AmadorRose · October 2015

Many places only have a 20 week ultrasound, which is used to do a full anatomy scan to check for things like heart defects. My clinic also does a dating scan, but any others are just extra and insurance generally won't pay for them unless you're high risk. Hopefully they'll use the Doppler though!

littleredx2 · October 2015

Yes that is normal, many women only get the 20 week anatomy scan during pregnancy (for a low risk pregnancy). My OB's practice is the same as yours, I get the 8 week dating scan and then the 20 week anatomy scan and that's it since I opted for no early genetic testing. You should get to hear the heartbeat at each appt though with the doppler so that's always fun.

mrsmtothek · October 2015

littleredx2 said:

Yes that is normal, many women only get the 20 week anatomy scan during pregnancy (for a low risk pregnancy). My OB's practice is the same as yours, I get the 8 week dating scan and then the 20 week anatomy scan and that's it since I opted for no early genetic testing. You should get to hear the heartbeat at each appt though with the doppler so that's always fun.

This. If you didn't opt for genetic testing, then its completely normal to only have one dating ultrasound and then an anatomy ultrasound.

huskerfan246 · October 2015

This is normal at my dr's office. They also offered an additional service called "Sweet Peeks" in which we could choose a certain u/s package that isn't covered by insurance. Our 12 week appt was just a well-being appt and bloodwork, but we purchased a package where we go in every 4 weeks for an u/s that also includes a CD with pictures and video clip. I'm not sure if all offices have something like that but maybe inquire with them about an elective u/s.

Jules08 · October 2015

It all depends on the practice and the pregnancy. Many practices only do the anatomy scan at 20 weeks.

(My OB's practice does the dating scan between 8-10 weeks and then the anatomy scan at 20 weeks, unless you are high risk; that's me. So with DS I had 10 ultrasounds; with DS I had 10 ultrasounds ... this one I've already had 2; being watched for pre-e again)

mumidi · October 2015

Mine only does the 20 week scan unless you get the sequential screening. No dating ultrasound or anything else later in pregnancy unless there is a problem.

Ready4theParty · October 2015

Mine only does the 20 week and then right before they schedule your induction....should you need one. Don't love it, but once you start feeling lo move it's not so bad.

NachosAndPeaches · October 2015

I'm still shocked that it's not standard practice to offer the NT exam. Aside from trisomy risk there are so many important things that can be found at this ultrasound (like spina bfida etc) that could lead to needing prenatal surgery earlier on etc. I would encourage every woman to ask for one even if they would never terminate. There are other things this ultrasound finds that can really be important.

imrachellea · October 2015

Just be glad you got one at 8 weeks! This isn't standard practice everywhere. I got my first u/s at 12 weeks, but the only reason I got it was because there was a misunderstanding in what they communicated to me about ultrasounds and the first tri screenings (I thought I was supposed to get an u/s with it, but when I called day of they said no, so I had to beg a little to get it...got a quick bedside ultrasound so the quality wasn't great but I saw my beautiful little bean). The only standard ultrasound at my practice is 20 weeks. I have several more with my DD because we had extra monitoring due to something they thought they might have seen at the anatomy scan (which wasn't there)...trust me, the less you have the less concerned doctors are.

UnbreakableKimmySchmidt · October 2015

Same situation as many of the PPs. I don't get my first ultrasound until 20 weeks too. The doctor does find the heartbeat at all the upcoming appointments for us, so that's nice.

Pinguinageddon · October 2015

I'm high-risk, and I'm still only going every three-four weeks. As long as you're having a healthy pregnancy, they won't need to see you as often as you might think. They'll pretty much just call you in when there's something new they can show you (baby's developing properly, gender, making sure baby is turning down) or if there's something that is bothering you. Honestly, it's an as-needed basis, which I know can suck when you want to see your baby as often as possible!

eastdurian · October 2015

With DD it was 8 weeks and 20 weeks (A/S) as the standard. They couldn't find the HB at the 12 week appointment though and just did an U/S to check, I didn't ask for it but I certainly wasn't disappointed.

With this LO it is 8 weeks and 20 weeks (A/S) as the standard. They couldn't find the HB at the 10 week appointment but I was like... yeah, I expected that and neither of us brought up an U/S, I had DD with me and just didn't really even want to do it because I wasn't worried. I did have the NT scan done at about 12 weeks this time but that was elective and isn't standard.

cmjenkies · October 2015

My office does a dating scan and then the anatomy scan at 20w. I will be having an additional scan at 16w only because I have a placental blood clot that my OB wants to recheck. Never been asked about an NT scan.

Edited because words are hard.

MrsSLC · October 2015

My doctor does one every four weeks, then every two weeks closer to the end, then every week in the last month. I'm happy about it because I love seeing my little baby every month and seeing how it's changing.

amandac12581 · October 2015

Mine does the same as @mrsslc. I love it, my husband and I look forward to it each month.

Samantha0089 · October 2015

In the UK it's 12/13 weeks and then again at 20/21 weeks. And at the 12 week scan I wasn't allowed to listen to babies heart beat

I've got midwife tomorrow so I'm hoping I can have a listen

x

pinottoparenthood · October 2015

Very normal. Some people may be getting the Nuchal scan, which takes measurements of the baby to check for risk of Downs Syndrome, around 12-13 weeks... but if you are low risk (no family history/under 35), your doctor may opt out. Other than that, no other ultrasounds are medically necessary until the anatomy scan. In fact, many offices don't even do the confirmation scan that you got at eight weeks.

Goldsgirl9 · October 2015

I have read that this is very normal however, my OB is different. Just like @amandac12581 and @MrsSLC my doc does an ultrasound almost every appointment. There will only be one or two appointments that I won't have an ultrasound. I always think how lucky I am when I read posts about offices that don't do this.

kimey1 · October 2015

I've heard this is normal for low-risk (or no-risk) pregnancies so you could consider it a perk. Sometimes I wonder whether this time I won't need an u/s but it's everytime because I'm considered high risk.
You could ask them for one in between around 16 weeks. If they say no (for whatever reason), could you find a diff doc in your insurance that could do one for you?

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