I went to see my doctor today and asked her when I would get a referral for my first scan and she said it is not necessary before 18 wks? She said usually women only get one scan after 18 wks. Between 18 and 32 wks I think she said.
This being my 1st pregnancy I want to make sure I do everything necessary and more for my baby. Doctor added that from wk 10 onwards I can get one done on my own but It will not be covered and I will have to pay (which I'm ok with).
Just wondering when everyone else had there 1st scan?
I didn't have a dating scan, but decided to do a NT scan (the one that checks for downs risk). That one is done at 12 weeks, and if i'm completely honest I did it to see bubs and make sure she was ok. My next one was the morphology scan, last week at 19w5d. For me, just seeing her there is really reassuring!
Unless you have complications like bleeding/unsure of dates or fall into the 'at risk' category or certain genetic disorders (which is only necessary if you plan to act on any bad info IYKWIM?), there is no real reason to scan before the morphology scan. In fact there is some research that says an increased number of scans isn't really great for baby.
However many women like to have early scans done so that they can see their baby. Generally they won't scan before 6 weeks as you can't see much, and then there can be one at 12 weeks for the measurement of the nuchal fold.
We had IVF so I had 5 scans in total. One at 6 weeks to check the position of the baby in my uterus, one at 8 weeks (just because i wanted one), one at 12 weeks to check for downs and another at 19 weeks which was the morph scan
With #1 I had my first scan at about 19/20wks. I was between places and doctors not to mention in denial about it all. I had 2 scans all up the whole pregancy.
With #2 I had my first scan at 12wks. It was a dating scan. I had 3 scans in the pregancy.
I had a dating scan at 6ish weeks (I wasn't 100% sure of my cycle length considering I was recently off the pill AND I'd had a miscarriage a couple of months before at 6 weeks so was desperate to know that everything was 'ok' this time), then my ob let me have a quick 'look' at an appointment at 9ish weeks. I then had the scan at 12 weeks to check for downs and my 20 week scan.
when i was pregnant with the twins i didnt find out until i was 20 weeks and i can honestly say i was furious that i wasnt able to have a scan earlier. Im not pregnant again and asked my dr he said i can go and get an early one at 9 weeks to check for multiples but the silly hospital wont allow me to have one until 12 weeks.
With DS1 I had a scan at 12 weeks to check dates, position and for multiples, and another at 20 weeks.
With DS2 I was bleeding so had a scan at 7 weeks, then my anomoly scan at 20 weeks and a position scan at 39 weeks (to check for breech).
With the twins I decided that as my dates were spot on, and I was having no pain or bleeding, just to wait until 21 weeks for a scan. I then had one more scan at 36 weeks to check everything was ok for a normal birth.
I had a dating one at 9 weeks; NT scan at 12 weeks because of my age; and morphology at 20 weeks.
I haven't had to pay, partly because I'm on the pension, and partly with the NT one I fit into a risk category. However there are some ultrasound clinics which bulk bill, there's one in Brisbane called Savage X-ray that does this.
Also ask if they can give you the pictures on a CD. Q Scan here gave them to me in a program which I then managed to copy and paste into a Word document.
I went through IVF for both my pregnancies. With DD I had a dating scan at 7 weeks, the NT scan at 12 weeks, morphology scan at 20 weeks, 4D Scan (not covered by Medicare) at 26 weeks and then a scan at 34 weeks to check position.
With this pregnancy I had my 7 week dating scan, a scan at 9 weeks (my first OB appt), NT scan at 12 weeks, Growth scan at 16 weeks and morphology scan at 20 weeks. I'm also scheduled for scan every 4 weeks with my last at 36 weeks to check and make sure the twins are growing and to make sure there is no problem with the placenta and fluid levels.
I had my first scan done at 5 weeks (dating scan) because I was unsure of dates. The next was at 16 weeks due to a complication, all up I had 6 full ultrasounds and about 10 mini scans (still an ultrasound, but done on a portable machine) and my son was born at 30 weeks, 15 scans in 14 weeks. With my 2nd I tried to stay away from them, having my first scan at 10 weeks (I thought I was 12wks) decided not to go back for the downs scan and then had another at 20 weeks (anatomy scan) and my last was at 26 weeks because of complications. He came at 34 weeks and I only had the 3 scans.
I had a scan at 6 weeks because I had m/c the month before and not had a cycle since, then 12 weeks, then 19 weeks and then 32 weeks. I also had scans at the ob every couple of weeks but this was mostly because I had lots of bleeding and clots and DD was also breech so they were checking positions etc.
With my first I only needed the 19 week scan but opted to go for the NT at 13 weeks. Second time round dr sent me for a dating scan at 8 weeks but that was dumb put my dates back a week.... My bub was born on my Lmp due date! Actually they both were!
So...... Alls I'm trying to say is it's up to you if you want the extra scans or not. It is nice to have the reassurance at the early stages I think.
Congrats on your preg and enjoy the ride! It's the best!!!
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When did you get your first scan/ ultrasound?
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