Back to Your pregnancy pregnancy. Ultrasound scans use sound waves to build a picture of the baby in the womb. The scans are painless, have no known side effects on mothers or babies, and can be carried https://oliphant.info/miss-lexa-onlyfans-leaked.php at any stage dating pregnancy. Talk to your midwife, GP or obstetrician about ultrasound concerns you have. Having a scan in pregnancy is usually a happy event, but be aware that ultrasound scans may detect some serious health conditions.

It's your choice whether to have screening. Your midwife can discuss your options with you. See If antenatal screening tests find something for more information on if a scan or other screening test suggests your baby may be more likely to have a condition. Most scans are carried out by sonographers.

The scan is carried out in a dimly lit room so the sonographer is able to get good images of your baby. The sonographer will put ultrasound gel on your tummy, which makes sure there is good contact between the machine and your skin. The sonographer passes a probe over your tummy and a picture of the baby will appear on the ultrasound screen. During the exam, sonographers need to keep the screen in a position that gives them a good view of the baby.

The sonographer ultrasound carefully pregnancy your baby's body. The sonographer may need to apply slight pressure on your tummy to get the best views of the baby.

A scan usually takes around 20 to 30 minutes.

What will happen at the scan?

However, the sonographer may not be able to get good views if your baby is lying in an awkward position or moving around a lot. If it's difficult to get a good image, dating scan may take longer or have to be repeated at another time. There are no known risks to the baby or the mother from having an ultrasound scan, but it's important that you consider carefully whether to have the scan or not.

This is because the scan can provide information that may mean you have to make further important decisions.

Dating Scan / 12 Week Scan: What should you expect?

For example, you may be offered further tests, such as amniocentesis, that have a risk of miscarriage. Ultrasound first scan is called the week scan. The sonographer estimates when your baby is due the estimated date of delivery, or EDD based on the baby's measurements.

The dating scan can include a nuchal translucency NT scan, which is part of the combined screening test for Down's syndromeif you choose to have this screening. The second scan offered during pregnancy is the week screening scan.

It usually takes place between 18 and 21 weeks of pregnancy. It's sometimes called the anomaly scan or mid-pregnancy scan. This scan checks for 11 physical conditions in your baby. You may be offered more than 2 scans, depending on your health and the pregnancy. The sonographer will be able to tell you the results of the scan at the time. No, not if you do not want to. Some people want to find out if ultrasound baby is more likely to have a condition, while others do not.

The week dating scan and week screening scan will be offered to you, but you do not have to have them. Your choice will be respected if you decide not to have the scans, and your antenatal care will continue as normal. You'll be given the chance to discuss it with your maternity team before making your decision. Most hospitals do not allow children to attend scans as childcare is not usually available. Please ask your hospital about this before your appointment. Remember, an ultrasound scan is an important medical examination pregnancy it is treated in the same way as any other hospital investigation.

Ultrasound scans can sometimes find problems with the baby. Most scans show that the baby is developing normally and no problems are found. This is because most babies are healthy. You can continue with your routine antenatal care. Scans cannot pick up all health conditions so it's important to speak to a doctor or midwife if you're worried that something is not right. If the scan shows continue reading baby is more likely to have a condition, the sonographer may ask for a second dating from another member of staff.

You might be offered another test to find out for certain if your baby has the condition. If you're offered further tests, you will be given more information about dating so pregnancy can decide whether or not you want to have them.

You'll be able to discuss this with your midwife or consultant. If necessary, you will be referred to a specialist, possibly in another hospital. Finding out the sex of your baby is not offered as part of the national ultrasound programme. If you want to find out the sex of your baby, you may be able to during the week screening scan but this depends on the policy of your hospital.

Tell the sonographer at the start of the pregnancy that you'd like to know your baby's sex. For example, if your baby is lying in an awkward position, it may be difficult or impossible to tell. Some hospitals have a policy of not telling patients the sex of their baby. Speak to your sonographer or midwife to find out more. You will need to check if your hospital provides this service. If they do, there may be a charge. Page last reviewed: 13 November Next review due: 13 November Home Pregnancy Your pregnancy care Back to Your pregnancy care.

Ultrasound scans in pregnancy. What will happen at the scan? You'll be asked to lie on your back and reveal your tummy. How long will a scan take? Can an ultrasound scan harm me or my baby?

When are scans offered? Hospitals in England offer at least 2 ultrasound scans during pregnancy: at 11 to 14 weeks and between 18 and 21 weeks The first scan is called the week scan. When will I get the results?

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Do I see more to have ultrasound scans? What can an ultrasound dating be used for? An ultrasound scan can be used to: check your baby's size — at the week dating scan, this gives a better idea of how many weeks pregnant you are; your due date, which is originally calculated from the first day of your last period, may be adjusted according to the ultrasound measurements check whether you're having more than 1 baby detect some physical just click for source show the position of your baby and the placenta — for example, when the placenta is low down in late pregnancy, a caesarean section may be advised check that the baby is growing normally — this is particularly important if you're carrying twins, or you've had problems in this pregnancy or a previous pregnancy Can I bring family or friends with me when I pregnancy the scan?

You may like someone to come ultrasound you to the scan appointment. If everything appears normal, what happens next? If the scan shows your baby is more likely to have a condition, what happens next?

Can I find out the sex of my baby? Can I have a picture of my baby? Video: What happens at a scan and what will they tell me? In this video, a midwife explains what happens dating your ultrasound scans during pregnancy. Media last reviewed: 4 April Media review due: 4 April