{"id":1397,"date":"2021-11-03T13:30:09","date_gmt":"2021-11-03T13:30:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/advanced-obgyn-institute\/?p=1397"},"modified":"2022-02-03T15:38:32","modified_gmt":"2022-02-03T15:38:32","slug":"when-should-you-get-your-first-ultrasound","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/advanced-obgyn-institute\/when-should-you-get-your-first-ultrasound\/","title":{"rendered":"When Should You Get Your First Ultrasound?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pregnancy is full of exciting milestones, from the time you first get a positive test to meeting your baby for the first time. For many parents to be, the first <\/span>ultrasound<\/span><\/a> can\u2019t come soon enough. Hearing your baby\u2019s heartbeat and seeing them move is incredibly exciting. However, you typically won\u2019t be able to see your baby in ultrasound until several weeks after you\u2019ve gotten your positive test.<\/span><\/p>\n

First Trimester Scans<\/b><\/h2>\n

Many parents are filled with questions like \u2018When do you get your first ultrasound,\u2019 and \u2018How many ultrasounds during pregnancy.\u2019 Sadly, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to those questions because every pregnancy requires a different level of observation to ensure health and proper development.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although the exact timing of the first ultrasound will be different for every family, the consensus is that it is good to have one within the first trimester, which is the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. Within that twelve-week frame, scans are typically done in the latter half, sometime between eight and twelve weeks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ultimately, the answer to the question \u2018when can you get your first ultrasound\u2019 will be decided by you and your doctor in order to have the best outcomes for all parties involved.<\/span><\/p>\n

If scans are done too early, the baby may be too small to detect, which can cause unnecessary nervousness and stress for parents. However, sometimes, your <\/span>obstetrician<\/span><\/a> does recommend that the ultrasound be conducted earlier than usual if the mother displays any warning signs of complications. Some issues can be spotted as early as six weeks into the pregnancy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Estimating The Length of the Pregnancy<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"In<\/p>\n

Knowing the approximation of how long you have been pregnant can help you calculate when you should get your first ultrasound to see if you are too early or overdue for a scan of your uterus.<\/span><\/p>\n

Having a \u2018dating scan\u2019 with your doctor can tell you your approximate due date and conception date, so speaking with a doctor is a great way to accurately gauge how far along a pregnancy is. This can be done within five or six weeks in some cases. It is hard to properly time a dating scan if you haven\u2019t yet reached the six-week mark.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are a few ways you can estimate on your own before you go to your appointment:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. If you used ovulation tests to pinpoint when you ovulated before conception, then the child was likely conceived around that date, as fertilization can only occur when an egg and sperm are in the same place at the same time. Most full-term pregnancies last thirty-eight weeks from conception.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Many doctors also recommend using the start date of your last period as the reference point of the last time you were confirmed not to be pregnant. Adding forty weeks to that gives you an approximate due date that considers that you likely ovulated and conceived within two or three weeks of that.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    If all is going well, scheduling an ultrasound when you have calculated that you are eight to ten weeks pregnant is ideal. If you are experiencing worrying health problems, speak with a doctor about them immediately, even if you are in the very early stages of pregnancy.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Reasons for Early Ultrasounds During Pregnancy<\/b><\/h2>\n

    You likely need an early ultrasound if you have experienced an accidental injury or an incident of violence that may have harmed your baby or if you are experiencing harmful symptoms such as:<\/span><\/p>\n