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12 wk ultrasound.. what takes place?
Hello ladies!
i have my first ever ultrasound on friday. It will be my 12-13 week one. I am having the D/S scan done as well.
What should i expect. Am i supposed to drink heaps of water before hand?
Do you have to wear anything in particular or do they give you a gown?
Also i have read in a couple books that the babies genitalia is formed bu now??? Is it possible to tell the sex at this stage?
I have no idea what to expect! any help would be great!!!
Thanks!!
Ambz
I had to drink water beforehand. I didn't have to take any clothes off because they just did the scan externally. I just lay down and pulled my skirt down a little bit. They measured the nuchal fold plus all the bones and checked the baby's brain etc.
I've also had that you can tell the baby's sex around this time but it's not something they'd do (as far as I'm aware). This happens at the morphology scan (around 20 weeks).
Registered User
I agree with everything Fee said. Good luck! It's very exciting seeing the baby for the first time! \/
Ambz,
I am having my nuchal fold scan on Friday too.
You don't need to drink water before it - however check with the place that is doing your ultrasound in case they have a different policy. The reason that you need to drink water before an ultrasound is so that water fills your bladder. The full bladder then pushes your uterus up to give a clear picture. At 12-13 weeks your uterus will just be above your pubic bone.
The scan takes about 20 minutes and your baby will be measured to give you a good idea of dates and to ensure that he/she is growing properly.
The babies genitals are formed but it is not possible to tell the sex via ultrasound at such an early date. Remembering that (from memory) a baby at 12-13 weeks is only between 5 and 7cms from its head to it's bottom so a little penis would be very very little at this stage. At around 18 weeks it is quite clear, so long as the baby is cooperating and not covering the important bits!
Good luck for Friday, do let us know how things went for you and your baby!
Love Deb
Ambz - did they not tell you whether you needed to drink water or not?
Deb - I was told to drink water for my scan and I was 13w6d.
Fee,
If you go to an ultrasound or imaging practice they often do tell you to drink water. I don't really know why, before 12 weeks it is often necessary because of the small size of the uterus. I have had 4 (about to have my 5th) nuchal scans all at the same practice. (an ob who specialises in foetal medicine and foetal diagnosis) He states you do not require a full bladder. That's why it is always best to phone and ask because each practice will have their own way they like things done. However I think they would have said if they needed Ambz to have a full bladder but it is best to check.
Love Deb
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thanks ladies , you are all so much help!!
Im having my u/s done at the melbourne ulstrasound for women
apparently it has a fantastic reputation and great technology.
my boss actually recommended it too me as his wife has just had her third and has gone there everytime. lucky my gp works closely with the centre too
i might give them a call and ask for myself.
im soooo excited i cant wait!! i think it will make it more real for my hubby too.
\
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hey ambz, where is the centre in melbourne? what suburb? do the u/s costs?
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hi danni,
the melb ultrasound centre is located in hampton street, hampton.
You do have to pay for the ultrasound which is around $180 but you get most of it back through medicare. They do dvd recordings and also 34 4d images aswell
you can check it out here:
www.melbuswomen.com.au
I guess they're all different. I didn't go to a special imaging place. All scans are just done in my OB's office - he has all the equipment there.
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Hey there,
Just wondering, while on the subject, if anyone knows if the 12 weekish scan is to just check for d/s? Because im not having the tests done, will they still need to do a scan then? I had one to check dates at 5 weeks, 4 days and all was ok.. i was told they might not since ive had one and am not testing for d/s? :-k
Yeah Fee all careproviders have their own preferred way of doing things. I have always had my simple checking type ultrasounds done at my ob's office but my ob's have always referred to the specialist for my nuchal scan and morphology. One of the reasons they say they do this because it takes such a chunk of time. Before each nuchal scan there is always a 'talk' about the 'what if's and what the measurements mean by a genetic counsellor in the practice. She explains the whole test and what they measure and what it means. Then she discusses the blood test results that are done a couple of days before the scan. She discusses cvs and amnio and the ins and outs of those tests. Then the ob does the ultrasound and when he has done all of the measurements to confirm the baby's gestational age he measures the nuchal fold. (the nuchal fold measurement changes with the gestational age) Then they do the math on the nuchal fold meausurement combined with the blood results and give you the 1:whatever chance of a disorder and discuss that. So all up it takes about 45 minutes. If the results are a bit iffy and the ob suggests further testing you can opt to have the cvs done then and there or you can have an amnio a couple of weeks later or you may decide to have no invasive testing... I have always had very 'good' results let's hope it stays like that for me for this Friday. The nuchal fold ultrasound at the practice I attend costs $198.00 and the rebate I got from medicare last year when I had my last one was around $90.00.
My morphology scans always take about 30 - 40 minutes too.
So, as I say they all have there own way of doing things depending on where you go. When I had my first baby they didn't have nuchal scans in Australia (11 years ago) and the 12 weeks scan I had I did have to have a full bladder but with my others I didn't. In my ob's office when he does his 'quick check' scans I require a full bladder but this week at 11 weeks and 5 days he didn't require it. But some carers do.
In the hospital I last worked at women would have the nuchal scan done but had to wait a week or so for the results as it took that long to be reviewed by the radiologist and then for the blood work to be factored in. So there are many differing ways of doing things in individual practices. What is important as a consumer is that we know what the practitioner needs for us to do ie: blood tests the day before, 2 days before, or whatever. Full bladder, empty bladder etc. The full bladder/empty bladder thing is also dependent on the resolution of the equipment so that is also a factor. Each practice has usually got a 'method in their madness'!!!
So, l hope that Ambz has found what her practitioner needs for her scan on Friday and I hope for the very best of results for her.
Love Deb
Hi Kellxx,
It is really your choice if you want to have a 12 -13 week ultrasound. Some women find it reassuring and that is important for them and other women don't need/want it. Often a 12 week scan is done as at this time it is a good indicator that your dates are equal to the babies growth so that there is no descrepancy. This may be important should you go 'overdue'. But, if you are quite sure of dates than this probably isn't important.
The Nuchal Translucency Ultrasound is now done in conjunction with blood tests to give a risk factor for chromosomal disorders. However all ultrasoundographers measure the nuchal fold at a 12 - 13 week scan as a routine thing. The full NT ultrasound though does require the blood work as well to give a full picture.
I would suggest you talk to your care provider and ask what they think and then you can decide what you would feel most comfortable doing.
I wish you lots of healthy happy baby vibes - we're both due at the same time!!
Love Deb
The scanning equipment is in my OB's office but he doesn't actually do the important scans. His wife is actually the person who does them (NT scan and morphology). I thought that was cute that his wife works there too.
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you ladies are fantastic!
I rang the u/s centre yesterday and i wont need to drink any water as i will be having an internal u/s.
Im so nervous!!! but very excited aswell! I just pray that our little bubba is hanging in there! [-o< [-o< [-o< [-o< [-o<
Hi Ambz,
So glad you phoned and found out or you would have had a full belly for nothing! Each place is so different.
I understand you being nervous and excited. Me too! I am just praying that we both have healthy scans and can move forward from here.
Love and good wishes for tomorrow. Let us know how you go in here will you? I won't be able to post until Sunday as I am staying in Brisbane and won't be home until then.
Love and hugs,
Deb
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Hi Deb!
I will let you know for sure how i go!
My mum and hubby are comming with me so i have a great support net work!
Feeling a little bloated today. Yesterday i was getting slight little tingles really low down in my tummy. kind hard to describe. They only started happening yesterday and every so often. i have a really really bright yellow discharge. sorry if thats TMI hehe
My nautious feelings have eased off and ive never really had morning sickness. still very tired and my breasts arent as sore. I know once ive had the scan it will put my mind at ease.
Ive been reading sooo many stories on here about miscarriage and ive been crying my eyes out over them and then stressing about it..
i guess only time will tell hey!
sending many positive vibes your way too!
xoxox
Hi Ambz,
I hear you! I have been getting twinges down low too, but twinges are okay. Remember that your uterus has or is about to just nudge out of your pelvis now and all of that growing can't go unnoticed by you. I am sure that is what the twinges are. Sometimes you can get 'needling' which is a sharp kinda quick pain that seems to come from inside the vagina. This is thought to be a referred nerve sort of pain.
The yellow mucous - I get it too. I got it with my son who is 5 but not with any of my other pregnancies apart from this one. Because I have had 2 episodes of very scant brown spotting I worry about every thing that comes out of my vagina (sad but true!). I obsessively check the toilet paper and say a little prayer before I wipe! I am nuts! So, don't you think or feel like you are alone. I have started to think each time I go to the loo - somewhere some other poor woman is doing just what I am! This pregnancy I have had very very little nausea - a little early on but only in waves since and now practically zilch. My bb's have been only slightly tender and that is gone too. Every pregnancy is different.
I understand how upsetting and unsettling it is to read when others have the tragedy of miscarriage. I have stopped reading posts and have refrained from joining my buddies in the PAML forum as I was comparing myself to everyone else and driving myself insane. It made me really worried. I had four very healthy pregnancies and babies and then miscarried 2 so that is why I am so anxious this time.
All of the things you describe are very normal and I am sure tomorrow evening you will celebrate with good news. Then I am sure you will be able to relax a little more.
Big hugs to you,
Love Deb
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