Time for your 12-week scan? Some tips about what to expect



It’s period to clap your eye about that baby for the very first time and it’s the most fascinating pregnancy milestone yet. Therefore just what will happen at the 12-week scan?

Is it possible to only have your 12-week scan at 12 weeks?


Your 12-week scan may take place any moment between 11 and 13 weeks. It’s amazing to believe that at this time, your child is fully formed. So you can observe all his organs, muscles, limbs and bones are set up, and the sex organs are well toned too.

Will I get out the gender of my baby in 12 weeks?


The 12-week scan is generally just about identifying whether your baby is healthy and growing as it should be. Although the sex organs are well toned, it's usually too early to discover them at 12 weeks. Some individuals have confidence in nub theory, which implies you can determine the gender of your child from that 1st ultrasound photo.

Getting ready intended for your 12-week scan

First things initial, keep those nerves in balance. We know how thrilling/terrifying the whole lot is, but an excessive amount of anxiety and you’ll become jumping off the bed when the gel touches your stomach (it’s cold).

To be able to create an obvious view of your child, it’s well worth drinking a pint of water one hour before the scan.

‘This pushes the uterus into a much better position so we are able to see the baby easier,’ says Dean Meredith who's a Sonographer at The Portland Medical center, London. But don’t overdo it - everybody knows how often you have to pee these days.

Where do you choose your 12-week scan?

You'll get a hospital appointment with a sonographer for your scan.

How very long will the scan take?

12-week scans normally take between 15 and thirty minutes.

But it usually takes longer if your child is lying within an awkward position.

It’s smart to possess someone with you for the scan, whether it’s your lover, mum, or a close friend.

What happens through the 12-week scan?

The sonographer will put some gel on your own tummy, and can move a hand-held transducer gadget over your skin layer. The gel ensures there is good get in touch with in the middle of your skin and these devices. The sonographer will tuck cells paper around you to safeguard your clothes from the gel.

A dark and white picture of your baby can look on the ultrasound display, that your sonographer will position so they get yourself a good view.

You shall feel some pressure, but it shouldn’t hurt.

You may be offered a vaginal scan instead, if your womb is sitting very deep in your pelvis, or in case you are overweight. This kind of scan allows the sonographer to obtain nearer to your baby.

What's the sonographer seeking for in 12 weeks?

The 12-week scan may be the first in-depth appear at your growing baby and assesses the first advancement in the womb.

‘The very first thing we do is appear and pay attention for the heartbeat. The CRL is usually measured to check on the day of the being pregnant and make sure it really is in the 45 to 84mm range,’ clarifies Dean. ‘We then consider the anatomy of the infant so far as possible as of this early stage. This consists of the skull, the mind, there are two hands, two legs, the center, stomach, bowel, bladder and pelvis.’

The 12-week scan may be the first in-depth appear at your growing baby and assesses the first advancement in the womb
The nuchal translucency measures the fluid behind the baby’s neck and provides you a sign of the probability that your child may have Down’s syndrome.

‘Current guidelines for the 12-week scan is usually undertaken alongside the Nuchal scan or Straight down’s screening,’ says Dean. The 12-week scan may also check the positioning of your placenta to make sure placenta praevia isn't a concern.

What goes on if a problem is available at the 12-week scan?

The 12-week scan may be the first opportunity for your child to be examined for just about any abnormalities that could indicate a problem along with his advancement. If an issue is spotted you’ll end up being to described a fetal medication consultant for confirmation of the results with a look at to endure further testing and suggestions for the rest of the pregnancy.

There’s no proof to suggest scans present any risk to your being pregnant and provide you with those first valuable glimpses of your developing fetus and present you the satisfaction that your baby’s advancement is really as it should be.

> >  THE TRUTH IN WHAT HAPPENS LISTED BELOW AFTER BIRTH

When do you want to have another scan?
After your 12-week scan, the next ultrasound will most likely not be until you're 20 weeks' pregnant if you have your anomaly scan. This may also be an opportunity to find out if you are having a child if you want.

close[CLICK 2x to closed]