When do you have Ultrasound Scans in Pregnancy
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At MyBump2Baby, we are proud to be able to educate our readers on everything they need to know about pregnancy. This blog tells you when you need to have Ultrasound Scans in Pregnancy. Ultrasounds help to promote a healthy pregnancy and they offer parents the chance to discuss any issues and receive any advice they require.
When do you have Ultrasound Scans in Pregnancy
How many Ultrasound Scans do you have during Pregnancy
In England, using the NHS, a woman will have two ultrasound scans throughout their pregnancy. It is often in the first scan where the nurse will be able to estimate your baby’s due date. In the second scan, the nurse will check your baby for a number of physical conditions, these results will be available to you immediately. It’s also likely that you’ll be able to find out the gender of your baby, however this is not guaranteed.
Ultrasound scans generally don’t take very long, between 20 minutes and 30 minutes and you are able to take someone into the hospital room with you.
It is important to note that some women may experience more than two ultrasound scans during their pregnancy, your nurse will advise you best based on your health and other factors that may impact your pregnancy. You can choose to book a private ultrasound scan from as early as 5 weeks pregnant..
When do you have Ultrasound Scans in Pregnancy
The first scan tends to be performed between 8 and 14 weeks of pregnancy and the second scan is usually done between 18 and 21 weeks.
The 10 week – 12 week ultrasound scan is called the dating scan.
Towards the end of your pregnancy, your midwife may encourage you to have another ultrasound scan to check the growth of your baby. If you’re having twins, this is more likely to happen too, as often twins do not share the nutrients from your food equally.
An ultrasound scan can also be used to monitor the location of your placenta, this can help to ensure you have the best advice on how to give birth to your baby safely.
If your nurse is concerned with any aspect of your health or your pregnancy, there’s a chance you may be invited for more regular ultrasound scans during your pregnancy.
Private Ultrasound Scans in Pregnancy
While it is possible to have ultrasound scans for free using the NHS, you can also pay to go private. Prices can vary drastically based on your location.
If you decide to pay for private scans, you will likely have your first scan earlier than you would with the NHS. Your first scan would take place between 6 and 10 weeks, to determine if your baby is growing at the appropriate rate.
You can generally have a private scan to determine your baby’s gender earlier than you could with the NHS. With private, it can be performed anytime after 16 weeks, however it is still not guaranteed that the nurse will be able to tell you this information.
One interesting benefit of having a private ultrasound scan is that you can often have a 3D or 4D scan, which enables you to see your baby much more clearly. You may even be able to see them performing certain actions in real time. These private benefits come at a price however, check your local area to work out how much it’ll cost you.
Before you settle on which scan you’re going to have, you must consider all of the options carefully, but remember that you’ll have people there to advise you the whole way through your pregnancy.
Hi, I'm Emma and I'm MyBump2aby's family law, protection and financial editor. I'm passionate about better-informing parents on their choices when it comes to family law and family protection and financial matters.
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