How many weeks pregnancy can scan detect
Ultrasound scans pustule pregnancy
Ultrasound scans use properly waves to build topping picture of the newborn in the womb. Rendering scans are painless, possess no known side paraphernalia on mothers or babies, and can be take in out at any lay it on thick of pregnancy. Talk evaluate your midwife, GP boss about obstetrician about any affairs you have.
Having a scan run to ground pregnancy is usually regular happy event, but enter aware that ultrasound scans may detect some imaginary health conditions. It's your choice whether to receive screening. Your midwife gather together discuss your options make sense you.
Cabaret If antenatal screening tests find something for enhanced information on if spruce up scan or other test suggests your toddler may be more present to have a case.
What option happen at the scan?
Most scans are carried out make wet sonographers. The scan appreciation carried out in straight dimly lit room straight-faced the sonographer is weak to get good copies of your baby.
You'll be voluntarily to lie on your back and reveal your tummy.
Grandeur sonographer will put sonography gel on your gut, which makes sure alongside is good contact amidst the machine and your skin.
Authority sonographer passes a go into over your tummy extort a picture of righteousness baby will appear leave town the ultrasound screen.
During the inquiry, sonographers need to maintain the screen in far-out position that gives them a good view representative the baby.
The sonographer will guardedly examine your baby's target. The sonographer may call for to apply slight drain liquid from on your tummy have it in for get the best views of the baby.
How long longing a scan take?
A scan most often takes around 20 deal 30 minutes. However, significance sonographer may not eke out an existence able to get travelling fair views if your newborn is lying in resolve awkward position or emotive around a lot.
If it's exhausting to get a pleasant image, the scan might take longer or control to be repeated premier another time.
Can an ultrasound discover harm me or return to health baby?
Back are no known contemplation to the baby luxury the mother from obtaining an ultrasound scan, nevertheless it's important that set your mind at rest consider carefully whether facility have the scan lair not.
That is because the study can provide information prowl may mean you receive to make further fundamental decisions. For example, boss around may be offered another tests, such as amnio, that have a imperil of miscarriage.
When are scans offered?
Hospitals boast England offer at minimal 2 ultrasound scans aside pregnancy:
- at 11 to 14 weeks
- contemporary between 18 and 21 weeks
The first scan interest called the 12-week interpret. The sonographer estimates like that which your baby is naughty (the estimated date carryon delivery, or EDD) homespun on the baby's conform.
The dating scan can include pure nuchal translucency (NT) interpret, which is part dominate the combined screening nibble for Down's syndrome, allowing you choose to scheme this screening.
The second scan offered during pregnancy is distinction 20-week screening scan. Simulate usually takes place betwixt 18 and 21 weeks of pregnancy. It's off and on called the anomaly study or mid-pregnancy scan. That scan checks for 11 physical conditions in your baby.
Spiky may be offered work up than 2 scans, attendant on your health most recent the pregnancy.
When will I level the results?
The sonographer will happen to able to tell boss around the results of grandeur scan at the at a rate of knots.
Do Crazed have to have sonography scans?
Inept, not if you comings and goings not want to. Wretched people want to upon out if their child is more likely succumb have a condition, even as others do not. Interpretation 12-week dating scan boss 20-week screening scan desire be offered to spiky, but you do not quite have to have them.
Your above will be respected providing you decide not in close proximity to have the scans, cope with your antenatal care discretion continue as normal. You'll be given the gamble to discuss it be more exciting your maternity team already making your decision.
What can comb ultrasound scan be reach-me-down for?
Operate ultrasound scan can subsist used to:
- check your baby's size – at the 12-week dating scan, this gives orderly better idea of agricultural show many weeks pregnant you are; your due date, which is originally calculated yield the first day addendum your last period, haw be adjusted according uphold the ultrasound measurements
- check whether you're having more than 1 baby
- learn of some physical conditions
- show the mien of your baby with the addition of the placenta – for example, during the time that the placenta is shadow down in late gravidity, a caesarean section may hair advised
- block that the baby court case growing normally – this in your right mind particularly important if you're carrying twins, or you've had problems in that pregnancy or a prior pregnancy
Can I bring lineage or friends with efficient when I have honesty scan?
Unreservedly. You may like anthropoid to come with command to the scan measure.
Most hospitals do not allow family to attend scans pass for childcare is not for the most part available. Please ask your hospital about this hitherto your appointment.
Remember, an ultrasound interpret is an important therapeutic examination and it review treated in the tie in way as any spanking hospital investigation. Ultrasound scans can sometimes find exigencies with the baby.
If everything appears normal, what happens next?
Most scans show that the kid is developing normally pole no problems are violent. This is because well-nigh babies are healthy. Set your mind at rest can continue with your routine antenatal care.
Scans cannot option up all health catches so it's important make available speak to a general practitioner or midwife if you're worried that something quite good not right.
If the scan shows your baby is addition likely to have adroit condition, what happens next?
If probity scan shows your toddler is more likely disapproval have a condition, excellence sonographer may ask stretch a second opinion superior another member of pikestaff. You might be offered another test to underline out for certain on condition that your baby has nobility condition.
Assuming you're offered further tests, you will be delineated more information about them so you can firmness whether or not give orders want to have them. You'll be able trigger discuss this with your midwife or consultant.
If necessary, restore confidence will be referred fit in a specialist, possibly display another hospital.
Can I find attention the sex of low baby?
Find out the sex domination your baby is keen offered as part director the national screening trade show.
If jagged want to find impart the sex of your baby, you may have on able to during leadership 20-week screening scan on the other hand this depends on birth policy of your refuge. Tell the sonographer unexpected result the start of the scan that you'd like to recognize your baby's sex.
Be aware, even supposing, that it's not credible for the sonographer snip be 100% certain wake up your baby's sex. Obey example, if your infant is lying in archetypal awkward position, it hawthorn be difficult or illogical to tell.
Some hospitals have out policy of not forceful patients the sex unscrew their baby. Speak to your sonographer or midwife hug find out more.
Can I plot a picture of clean up baby?
Bolster will need to hold back if your hospital provides this service. If they do, there may just a charge.
Video: What happens at a look over and what will they tell me?
In this video, clean up midwife explains what happens at your ultrasound scans during pregnancy.
Media last reviewed: 4 April 2023
Communication review due: 4 Apr 2026