What type of ultrasound is done at 13 wks and what do they look for?

haleylove0908 · July 2016

So I just scheduled my first OB appointment for this pregnancy. I've been in denial that I am pregnant again since I just had my second baby this last February. I'll be 12 weeks, 6 days on the day of my appointment.

They scheduled me for an ultrasound as well. Does anyone know what type of ultrasound it is? The vaginal one or the on the belly one? And what all they look for? The receptionist couldn't answer me and google has such a wide variety of answers that I don't know what to expect

I don't know if they'll do one or both since I missed the 8wk appointment. With my daughter, they needed to look at my ovaries as well as the baby.

katesmama0706 · July 2016

At 13 weeks it should be a transabdominal ultrasound. My assumption would be the doctor or US technician will look at a few things (size, baby's heart rate, placenta location, standard stuff) but at 13 weeks I'm guessing that they'll specifically look at nuchal translucency.

ThePax89 · July 2016

I was told that if your scan is closer to the minimum gestational age (11.5 weeks I think) they might need to do it vaginally. Sometimes it's a combination of both. Both of mine have been performed abdominally.

KarliQ88 · July 2016

I had one at what we thought was 12weeks and it was vaginal. My doctor was quickly able to identify that was further along than we thought and said i was need an abdominal. We then found out i was 12 weeks and 6 days (same as you). They just looked at heartbeat since we weren't able to hear it on doppler. We are able to rule out big things and issues my doctor said. Like i found out there is only one baby...it has a head! Arms,legs. Just overall look at development. Also they can closer determine due date. Mine was january 10 based off LMP but due to development ait showed i was 12w and 6d which moved my due date to January 4th. They can determine where placenta is. They also looked at my uterus and ovaries...not sure why but they did

kashock-2 · July 2016

I had one at 9 weeks (my first appt) to verify my due date because the ultrasound measurements can be different than your LMP. Mine was a difference of 10 days so they changed my due date. Plus they made sure it was just one baby in there! If they can see everything they need to over the belly they shouldn't need to do a transvaginal.

BAJDesigns · July 2016

My last ultrasound was at 12 weeks 6 days. It was abdominal. They took measurements of baby from head to rump, looked at overall development, took pictures of the brain and stomach and some other organs, and did the nuchal translucency screen, where the measured the space at the base of baby's neck as an indication of genetic issues.

canavara · July 2016

Every ultrasound I've ever had, they attempted abdominal before bothering with transvaginal, even if it seems like it shouldn't be possible with abdominal (they did one at 7 weeks with my last pregnancy that started abdominal and very quickly switched over to the ever-famous dildo-cam). At 13 weeks though, it's pretty unlikely they'd need to resort to that.

adorebella · July 2016

@canavara loling @ dildo-cam.

LoneStar21416 · July 2016

I had a 10 week abdominal scan that was done with no issues. I can't imagine they will start with transvaginal if you're that far along. I am almost positive the tech looked at my ovaries during this scan as well. The main reason for a routine first trimester ultrasound is to confirm the pregnancy is uterine, number of babies present, dating the pregnancy, and checking your other pelvic organs (your ovaries) for any potential issues, and at your stage, fetal cardiac activity.

JennaLee1486 · July 2016

I've always had them try abdominal first and move to vaginal if they can't see well. I would think with how far along you are that abdominal would be sufficient.......

colleenkevin · July 2016

Lol @canavara dido-cam

I've only ever had abdominal ultrasound. I'm surprised they didn't resort to transvaginal with my early US because my uterus tilts back and the tech had a beast of a time getting the pics she needed.

Teach123 · July 2016

My 8-week scan was vaginal. They had to pull out the ultrasound yesterday to find the heartbeat at 12 weeks. Baby was just at the top of pelvic bone, but the were able to see and hear with abdominal this time.

kellybean1988 · July 2016

Lucky! My first OB appointment is next week at 13 weeks 4 days and they told me I won't get an ultrasound at all until 18 weeks. Sigh. Good luck!

katesmama0706 · July 2016

@kellybean1988 I'd totally be trying to come up with a way to score one earlier (like calling and complaining of bad cramping that doesn't really exist until they let me come in and see my baby) haha but I'm impatient. I could hardly wait until my US at 10 weeks!

wispymel · July 2016

They did both for me at 12 weeks. Vaginal to look at the cervix and abdominal to look at the baby. They took measurements and looked at nuchal transparency.

MaryNog · July 2016

At 13 weeks you'll probably just get the abdominal, and they'll look for the nuchal translucency, as other above had said. They'll also check for limb and brain development and heart beat. Just make sure you wear clothes that don't need to be dry cleaned - the tech at my hospital accidentally got gel everywhere!

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