How many ultrasounds?

Smith2405 · August 2016

Hey all,
i had to switch doctors this time (3rd baby) and with both previous pregnancies I always had a later ultrasound (32-36ish weeks or so). This new doctor doesn't do them unless they are medically necessary because supposedly insurance won't pay it. All of my friends who are currently pregnant and farther than me are getting third trimester uktrasounds so I wanted to know, do you get a third trimester ultrasound?
My dr feels it's necessary but doesn't push it with insurance. I've called my insurance and thu said they would cover all uktrasounds if medically necessary. Don't they need to check growth and fluid levels?? I find it strange!!

kristah2 · August 2016

I'm only getting one because it's medically necessary after having an appendectomy at 27 weeks. Otherwise I wouldn't have had another since my anatomy scan.
Do you feel it's medically necessary? I would trust your doctor.

rspalding001 · August 2016

My Dr does one to make sure baby is head down and such. I don't know about medically necessary but it's covered by my insurance.

flash86 · August 2016

I have had several this pregnancy. I'm 25 weeks and I think I've had 5 so far. There is nothing wrong, baby is perfect. But my son was stillborn in December and that is the only reason I've had them, anxiety. My insurance has covered 100% of all 5. I will have a 3d some time in September and then maybe 1 more.

princesslockness · August 2016

I have had 5 ultrasounds, because I have a short cervix. I will have 1 more at my next app. To check on baby size and how my cervix is holding up. If I didn't have the cervix issue I would only have had my Anatomy Scan. I only had my AS last pregnancy.

ZoeFer · August 2016

My Dr. said that i will have one more u/s at 35 weeks to check the size and position of the baby. I have friends that didnt have any u/s after 20 weeks and some frienda thay had u/s every month without any medical neccessity. I believe it depends on the practice.

tigerfish227 · August 2016

I had a lot during first tri because of my loss history then my NT scan and anatomy scan in second tri but I haven't had one since my anatomy scan and I don't anticipate having another unless there is something to be concerned about down the road. They check fundal height, bp and baby's heart rate(doppler) at each appointment so as long as that all looks good they don't have much reason to do an ultrasound at this point.

BmcD2016 · August 2016

They don't NEED to check fluid levels or size unless they have reason to believe there is concern. My first two pregnancies I only had two ultrasounds and they were fine.

leighry · August 2016

With all of mine I had one between 5 and 8 weeks for dates.. then my 12 week and 20 week and one near the end. But I have also had more to check growth.

Smith2405 · August 2016

My dr doesn't check fundal height so I have no idea on size. She says she will know if she's head down based on her checking my cervix. I would feel more comfortable with an additional ultrasound. She thinks it's necessary but says insurance doesn't. I say try sending it off to insurance and see what happens!

atcwag · August 2016

Even if offered, I would actually decline a late US unless there is reason for concern. No reason to be pushed into induction for a supposed "big baby" or "low fluid", both of which are notoriously inaccurate measurements via US in late pregnancy.

shevaCC · August 2016

I only had 2 with my first pregnancy: 12 weeks and 20 weeks. After, they measured fundal height and listened to heartbeat. They felt position by palpitation and had no reason to check size/fluid.

With DS I got a 41 week u/s as part of non-stress monitoring/testing since I went post dates, but prior to that only had the 12 and 20 week ones.

This time I had a dating u/s at 6 weeks and the 20 week scan. I imagine that will be it. I did genetic testing so no 12 week scan.

jmama1611 · August 2016

With my first I had 2 ultrasounds. 1st was anatomy scan around 19 or 20 weeks. 2nd around 35 weeks to check babe's position and size.

This pregnancy a dating ultrasound around 8 weeks and an anatomy scan. Different health care provider this time (midwife vs doctor) so unsure if I'll have a third trimester ultrasound.

I find talking to friends that the number of ultrasounds varies widely depending on who their doctor or midwife is.

MrsPachita · August 2016

I had a regular ultrasound at 35 weeks with my first one. I expect the same with this one. I don't know why he said insurance doesn't cover it because they do. Just call your insurance company and verify that they do.

Smith2405 · August 2016

Yes I did call, insurance said if it's medically necessary here isn't a limit on what they would cover.

Knottie1458416769 · August 2016

It is true that ultrasounds are more expensive and some doctors do less due to costs. We had an ultrasound almost weekly with the specialist until we graduated to the mfm - and then 2-3 more ultrasounds. Now we have graduated to even less risk and so normally don't feet ultrasounds anymore

MollySm · August 2016

I think it's pretty standard to not have an ultrasound near the end unless there's concern. I've never had one except to check that my placenta moved up once, and I've been with 3 different doctors/insurances with my pregnancies. My docs have always been able to judge size issues and baby position just by feeling my belly.

penelope4612 · August 2016

It's not really a matter of your doctor simply saying it's medically necessary - they actually have to document why it is medically necessary and bill a diagnosis code with the ultrasound. If your insurance then doesn't agree that it was medically necessary based on the billing code, they can refuse to pay for it, and then you will get the bill. This happened to me with prenatal genetic testing - my doctor thought that certain tests were necessary and the insurance didn't agree. We are still appealing, but have a bill for over $600 for the tests they didn't cover. It can totally depend upon your insurance what they will and won't cover for what diagnosis code - so just because you have a friend whose insurance covered something, doesn't mean that yours will.

MrsMaryK2016 · August 2016

This is my first so I don't know if I'll have another u/s after my one next week (checking for placenta movement). But I would say if your doctor really thought it was necessary that she would do it regardless if insurance covers it. The last thing she wants is a malpractice suit because she didn't order a necessary test just because insurance might not cover it.

**Edited for typo

kvruns · August 2016

Mine planned for 3 although I'm having one next week to check placenta movement so I'm not sure if I'll have the one at around 36 weeks or not. I assume so since it would be checking something different but we will see

Muscatmommyof4 · August 2016

Typically you only have 2 one in the first trimester and your AS. I've always had 4 or more but that's due to my health and my size.

lajoliedreamer · August 2016

The practice I go through only does two, one at around 9 weeks and the other at 20 weeks.

Having been charged a ridiculous amount for an u/s last December when checking for viability for my missed miscarriage, I am happy to keep it at the minimum and not risk paying more than I have to pay.

nowakjamie6 · August 2016

So far I've had 7 and it'll be 8 by tomorrow. I'm only 29 weeks but have a very high risk pregnancy

BLyn627 · August 2016

I've had 5 so far - RE, OB, NT, A/S, and a follow up bc she wasn't cooperative for all pictures. At my last one, they scheduled me for a growth scan for the next month around 28 weeks. If I was just seeing my OB and she didn't send me to MFM for my a/s, then I probably wouldn't be getting anymore. My hospital's MFM likes to be thorough though. I got one with my three year old every month after a/s bc she had dialated kidneys. All scans are covered bc I think they code them medically necessary. Oh, they also do 3Ds most times. Although I think it's more because DH asks them to and not bc they need to.

Most of my friends have only gotten two scans their whole pregnancies.

LadyBugMe101 · August 2016

I've had a total of 3 and I'm at 26+2 the only reason I got a third was to check for growth. I'm epileptic and due to meds am high risk. According to my OB I will have about 2 more for a total of five. Although I do pay a higher price to see the specialist it keeps me at ease to learn that baby is developing just fine. Insurance is complicated, my OB told me she had to appeal my 2nd US because they didn't consider it medically necessary but was able to justify it with my medical history.

BabyTaylor88 · August 2016

I would have only ended up having 1 for the anatomy scan if I didnt have to come back to get the spine measured (baby wouldnt flip around so they could finish the anatomy scan). So in total I have only had 2 and they do not plan on me having any more.

Obun · August 2016

I've had three so far and I'm 26 weeks; one was only because of a gallbladder attack and they wanted to make sure our little girl was alright. I don't believe I'm having another one done unless it's totally necessary.

MrsEusini · August 2016

I will only be getting another one if it's deemed medically necessary. My insurance will cover anything my OBs or midwives consider medically necessary. I've had three- confirmation of pregnancy, NT scan, and anatomy scan. I've had a very low risk pregnancy, so they haven't been worried about anything so I've only had the three.

Stelllar · August 2016

Not counting my elective 3d ultrasound, I have gotten about five so far. In the beginning my OB only checked the heartbeat at every appointment, now she does an ultrasound every time. Once I am in the third trimester I will also be seeing an MFM due to high blood pressure every two weeks. So there will be a lot more ultrasounds.for me.

camcbeth · August 2016

I had three with my first, one at 8 weeks, 20 weeks, and one more in my third trimester. It was at an OB office where it seemed that every other visit was with a Dr. and he would whip out the machine. I only made it to 36 weeks with my first.

This time I've had more due to placenta previa and this little one didn't cooperate during the anatomy scan. I've had one at 8 weeks, 2 at 20 weeks, one at 28 weeks to check the placenta placement (it moved up

) and I have another scheduled for 32 weeks to check the low lying placenta. When I see my Dr. this time she only whips out the doppler.

croquemadame · August 2016

I have had 5 so far, 3 of them were with my RE for 6, 8, and 10 weeks before I was released to my OB. I had 1 with my OB at 12 weeks to confirm due date etc, then I had the anatomy scan at 19 weeks and because that scan revealed that I have placenta previa I will have another one at 28 weeks (hopefully it moves up!). My OB told me that she will likely do another ultrasound at 32 weeks to check the placenta placement unless it moves drastically by 28 weeks. It is covered by my insurance because it's medically necessary to confirm whether I will need a scheduled c-section but before I knew I had issues with my placenta I was told that the anatomy scan would be my last ultrasound.

PurpleBrunette · August 2016

I had 5 but I my pregnancy is considered high risk because my husband was born with a congenital heart defect. We had one at 11 weeks to confirm dates, then basically another one every 5 weeks with the MFM to check on the development of the baby's heart. The last one we had was actually considered a Fetal Echo-cardiogram, but it was done the same way as the other ultrasounds. Now, I'm not expecting anymore unless something comes up. Sometime very soon after the baby is born, we are supposed to have another echo-cardiogram done to check the heart structures again. My sister-in-law who wasn't high risk (they apparently don't consider uncles with heart defects to be an increase in risk) only had two, her confirmation and her anatomy scan.

ficbot · August 2016

I had two before the anatomy scan because we went through IVF, so there was a pregnancy confirmation scan at six weeks before I got transferred to a regular OB. Then we had the dating scan and anatomy scan which were standard offer. I'm getting a third trimester scan because the placenta was low and the baby had excess fluid in the kidneys. Both of these are issues which often resolve before delivery, so they want to re-scan me at 32 weeks to see if that occurred.

yosemite2018 · August 2016

I think I've had 7 so far, and only one was due to an issue (low lying placenta which caused bleeding). My doctor told me at the last appt. she does one every time "just for fun", but the Doppler is also part of the ultrasound so it is really quick nowadays just to check movement and heart rate (literally a 1-2 minute scan). Since my appts will be more frequent in 3rd tri. I guess I'll be having a lot more (although I think she waits until 32 weeks to do the more frequent appts in low risk cases).

hollowway · August 2016

I had a 7 week, 9 week, and then an ultrasound every two weeks from 16-24 weeks... Now I get them every 4 weeks til delivery. But I have a separate uterus that threatens miscarriage and preterm birth... I think it's standard for a conformation ultrasound, the anatomy scan and a later ultrasound to check growth around 36-38 weeks.

kvruns · August 2016

Had my 3rd at today's appt to check placenta placement but I.we didn't even get to see the baby

I asked if we would have another and we were told only if they are concerned about baby size or position, otherwise there is no standard 3rd u/s at my practice

Want a personalized experience?

How many ultrasounds?

Re: How many ultrasounds?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards