Ultrasounds

[bambino]

I'm not sure if I am in the right place but I wanted to ask, how many of you had your 12 week ultrasound?

I am assuming this is the one they do to determine if your baby has downs syndrome or is this just a regular scan to see if all is okay?

I am 10.5 weeks now and DH and I were discussing whether to have this 12 week scan or just wait for the 19 week one.

Any tips or opinions will be greatly appreciated and will be taken into consideration :thumbsup:

[M O P]

I had a quick scan at 12 weeks in my obs rooms, just as a confirmation more than anything I think.

Around 13-14 weeks I had the nuchal scan and blood tests done to check for Downs and Spina Bifida. The only reason I had this done was because I'm 30 and if something was up, we wanted to know asap as we'd need to change our lives considerably- ie maybe move for a start.
But this scan isn't compulsory and your Dr (obs or gp) should discuss this with you. Have you seen anyone yet? They should go through your options and discuss your chances etc.

Then at 19 weeks I had the routine morphology scan.

If you do a search on Bubhub under nuchal scan you'll find heaps of info and opinions from others.

Good luck!

[Beany]

The 12 week one is a necessary scan - it's to make sure the baby is there (which is a good start!) and to make sure there aren't any abnormalities in the early stages of pregnancy (possible ectopic pregnancies and suchlike things). They also take measurements to make sure the baby is growing adequately.

The nuchal fold test for downs syndrome risk can be done at the same time but is not compulsory.

[the_queen]

I don't think the 12 week scan is "necessary" - in fact, no ultrasounds are "necessary" or "compulsory" during pregnancy. You can opt out of any or all of them.

Unless you've been specifically told it will be a "nuchal translucency scan" then it's probably just a dating scan, to confirm your EDD.

[keenansmummy]

I had the scan at 12 weeks because i wanted to see the baby and make sure I was really pregnant - it hadnt sunk in for me at that stage :confused: It was a big plus for me when the test results came back as very low risk - but I was just more greatful to see my bub alive because I had been so sick the week leading up to it

[bekkyboo]

the 12 week scan is a dating scan - to give a better due date if you cant tell them an exact date of conception.

I didnt have the 12 week scan, because when i found i was pregnant at 5 weeks - my cycle was so screwed up that i couldnt even come up with a some what of a due date, so my dr sent me for an ultrasound then. They found a cyst on my right ovary - and bubs didnt have a heart beat yet, so i had to have another one at 7 weeks to make sure everything was fine.

so yeah - 12 weeks is not compulsary.

[bambino]

So can I request a 12 week scan anyway without having the nuchal one just to see the baby?

[uptheduff]

No, the 12 week scan is not necessary. I never had one done, nor did i have the blood test done. The reason is because i would not consider abortion even if my child had downs syndrome or spina bifida.

I did have a dating scan at 7 weeks, as i didnt know how far along the pregnancy was.

[the_queen]

I don't think you can ask for an ultrasound just so you can see the baby.... Might be different if you've got private health insurance. There are 3D and 4D u/s places that don't require referrals from doctors.

[shed]

Arent there a certain amount of scans claimable under Medicare?

Which means that you could have the 12 week one without the nuchal component, if you wanted to see the baby? Its a long wait till the 19 week one!

[Briannabear]

I never had the 12 week scan done with either pregnancies. I personally just didnt see the point.
I was only 23 when my DD was born so age wasnt an issue.
The other thing for us was that we wouldnt terminate anyway, so what was the point? They do a check for all abnormalities in the 19 week scan anyway so if there is a problem they're likely to pick it up then so you have time to mentally prepare yourself.
That's just our personal opinion for us anyway.

[M O P]

I don't think you can ask for an ultrasound just so you can see the baby.... Might be different if you've got private health insurance.

Shouldn't be any different as private health insurance don't cover any of your scans- it's all Medicare.

[Bron]

I'd strongly suggest you have a 12 week ultrasound, whether or not you want the NT test done. With my first pregnancy we saw the heartbeat at 9 weeks in the ob's rooms, and then went along to the ultrasound at about 13 weeks only to find out then that our baby had died. I still felt pregnant and had pregnancy symptoms, but the baby had not been alive for over three weeks. Who knows how much longer it would have been before I'd found out if I'd not gone for the scan.

Of course, it is your choice, but I'm with Beany on this one.

Bron

[kadownie]

All ultrasounds are voluntary. My doctor sent me for one between 10-12 weeks- of course I wanted to see my baby. And I'm pleased that I did go because I was confirmed with twins!!! Big shock!

If you feel that you want one go ahead, if you feel that you don't, then don't! If you are wanting screening tests done, then you need to have an early scan!

[Lunar]

Do a search, you'll find many threads about the 12 week scan.
I have posted my opinions on this many times and they remain the same.
Don't have the NT scan if you would not act on the result, they are only 70-80% accurate anyway.
If it is just to see your baby then just ask for a dating scan, they can't deny you one, just tell them your unsure about the dates, even if you are sure.
Look up those threads, It'll be worth it if your considering the scan.
Good luck with the rest of you pregnancy, hope it's smooth sailing (are the ever anyway?!?)

[MumsieMel]

Sharon

Its not compulsaroy! (sp?)
It can be for dating and/or NT scan.
I am mainly having it for a chance to see bubs! :thumbsup:
But id be a bit worried if it came back with high risk, as they arent always accurate :rolleyes:

Dont know what we'd do, have not dicussed it.

[jacks mum]

I was never offered a 12 week scan or blood test so never had one

[jembelina]

I jsut wanted to have the 12 week scan to see bub was going along well in there - to set my mind at ease. I wasn't interested in the nuchal test thingy. My gp told me I can jsut have one but I would have to pay. Some I could claim back on medicare, but not the full amount. Decided to wait for the 18 week one. I asked the ob at my first hospital appt and told me to aks my gp to write on teh referral that the scan was to investigate something like spotting or twins (there were others i just can't remember), she said she does this all the time for her patients so they don't have to pay. Anyway, I ended up having a little spotting so my gp sent me for a scan - where they did teh nuchal thing anyway!!!!! even though I said I didn't want it!

[maybe1more]

My doctor opted for me to have my 12 week u/s due to my last pregancy being a molar pregancy (a tumor grew i my uterus) so to make sure all was ok i had my 12 week one done, i felt so releive when i saw my bubs bouncing around in there:smiliedance:

[ThinkFast]

I got my 12 week scans done both pregnancies (one of them was done just the other day!) not so much to check for any abnormalities (which no, it wouldnt matter to me anyways) but just to see the baby! Like I didnt feel pregnant - oh sure I already had a big belly and all the other symptoms - until I actually that, ooo wow there IS a bubba in there!!

[jessgray]

:D i had a scan at 9 weeks with DS to confirm due date and see if there was twins.
this time round my 1st scan is at 10 weeks 6 days :smiliedance: on thursday
i havent ever had a 12 week scan.but i guess 1 day off 11 weeks is close enough :laughing: