This means you can receive a transabdominal ultrasound, where a medical professional glides the ultrasound wand over your abdomen to create the sonogram image. This growth from seed to prune has caused your uterus to expand outward, closer to the wall of your abdomen during this gestational age.
If you didn’t receive an early pregnancy ultrasound, a dating ultrasound is usually recommended between 11 to 14 weeks. Determines if you’re carrying more than one baby.This means a medical professional will insert an ultrasound wand through the vaginal canal, so they can get up close and personal with your little baby pomegranate. Since your baby barely forms a belly bump at this stage ( at 6 weeks, the fetus is only the size of a pomegranate seed!), this ultrasound is typically transvaginal.
Doctors will recommend an early-stage ultrasound in the case of: This initial 6-week ultrasound isn’t necessary for most women, but it’s useful for catching any high-risk pregnancy conditions. The exact number of ultrasounds you’ll receive (and when you’ll receive them) depends on your personal health needs.įor the newly pregnant, if you’re wondering what weeks do you get ultrasounds during pregnancy? Let’s take a closer look: Early Pregnancy Ultrasound (6 to 8 weeks)Īt the earliest, moms-to-be can receive a prenatal ultrasound around 6 weeks. While the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecology recommends having a t least one ultrasound during pregnancy, most pregnant women end up having two-one during the first trimester and one during the second trimester. This doesn’t mean you won’t have an ultrasound right away. But to determine your baby’s gender with ultrasound, you’ll have to wait just a little bit longer.
We get it-once that pink plus sign appears, the desire to learn your baby’s gender tops your wish list. Ectopic pregnancy (a condition that occurs when the fertilized egg doesn’t attach to the uterus).Potential pregnancy risks (such as low amniotic fluids or preeclampsia).Fetal positioning (head-up or head-down).They also reduce maternal and fetal health risks, track your baby’s growth, and help you plan for the little bundle on the way.ĭepending on when you have your ultrasound, your doctor will be able to detect: Ultrasounds aren’t just crystal balls for predicting your baby’s gender. During all this pregnancy prep, you might wonder-do I really need to add an ultrasound to my calendar? Pregnancy comes with a loooooong to-do list, from preparing the nursery to practicing your one-handed diaper change on that baby doll you bought. While we may not be able to see much more than a baby profile during an ultrasound, your doctor can actually learn a lot about the hea l th and development of your child. They’re often grainy black and white images that depict the familiar profile of a growing fetus. You’ve likely seen sonograms before when friends or family members have announced that they’re expecting. , an ultrasound scan) of the interior area. The resulting echoes form a sonogram (i.e. To create an image of your baby and the inside of your uterus, ultrasound machines project sound waves that bounce off your internal organs and structures. This means your little guy or girl will stay safe throughout the procedure. Have no fear, the non-ionizing radiation in ultrasounds does not carry the same risks as ionized radiation (i.e. How do ultrasounds work? This technology uses non-ionizing radiation, a.k.a. Monitor the health of mothers and their babies during pregnancy.The word ultrasound may sound a little intense, but this imaging technology has been safely used for decades to: If you’re curious to learn more, take a look at our guide for everything you need to know about the gender reveal ultrasound (and ultrasounds in general). While parents are usually most excited about learning the gender, this ultrasound also provides more information than that. The stork is finally on its way! Now, a million more questions race through your head: What do I eat? How soon will I feel a kick? Will my baby be a boy or a girl-and when will I find out?Įnter the gender reveal ultrasound -a procedure during the second trimester of your pregnancy, typically around weeks 18 to 21. You peer down and see the sign of your dreams- that little pink plus.