These types of scans will be medically reviewed by a doctor. Even so, a friendly one will chat with you and point out the baby’s body parts. The technician is not supposed to tell you that everything is fine or that there are problems because they are not trained to determine that. It’s not his/her job to interpret the findings. Ultrasound techs are people, too, so if you got a quiet one, you may have to ask to be more involved. You don’t want to be under the wand forever, so he/she may also be trying to work quickly. The technician’s job can be tricky, especially if your little one is moving a lot. Especially if you get another sonogram later in pregnancy, they may need to do the imaging lower. Typically you keep all your clothes on during a pregnancy ultrasound, but expose the belly, down closer to your pubic bone. What Should I Wear to the Pregnancy Ultrasound?ĭress comfortably and wear pants or a skirt that you can easily unbutton and pull down with a shirt you can easily lift up when you go for your 20 week anatomy scan ultrasound appointment. You may certainly be able to see the baby’s head and profile and may be able to see the baby’s fingers and toes on the screen. It’s also difficult to tell where the cord is during pregnancy on a scan, but sometimes they will check and tell you. Sometimes they will alter your due date based on the 20-week scan, but dating is notoriously unreliable this late in pregnancy. Most of the time, you can find out the baby’s gender. The technician is looking for organs and outlines the technician can point things out to you if you ask. It can look like a lot of gray, white and grayer smudges. Most of the ultra sound images on the screen are relatively difficult to interpret for the untrained eye. What Will The 20-week Baby Ultrasound Images Show? Therefore, ultrasound scans should be done only when there is a medical need, based on a prescription, and performed by appropriately-trained operators. The long-term effects of tissue heating and cavitation are not known. The FDA recommends against extra “keepsake” (3d or 4d ultrasounds) ultrasound photos or home doppler use, saying: For this reason, it is recommended that ultrasound exams be performed only for medical reasons by qualified health care providers. However, it is possible that effects could be identified in the future. No links have been found between ultrasound and birth defects, childhood cancer, or developmental problems later in life. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) states that:Ĭurrently, there is no reliable evidence that ultrasound is harmful to a developing fetus. Ultrasound technicians often have trouble getting a good image because of the baby’s position, or the baby is moving away or putting his/her hands in front of his/her face. We know that the ultrasound waves cause cavitation (pitting) in cells and that babies are generally bothered by the procedure. Ultrasound technology and the effect it has on a growing fetus is not well understood. Unless one is medically indicated (for example, you are measuring small), they figure the possible risks outweigh the benefits. Some pregnant women choose not to have an ultrasound at all. Is the 20 Week Ultrasound (Anatomy Scan) Safe? The most common reason people want to get an ultrasound is to find out the sex of the baby. Some parents-to-be would rather know ahead of time if their baby has any chromosomal abnormalities or abnormalities or markers for potential genetic disorders. A normal heart rate range at this stage of gestation is between 120-180 beats per minute.Īfter you leave, a specialist will look at the anatomy scan and let you know if they find any possible problems. Your placenta will also be assessed for risk of placenta previa.ĭuring the 19-22 week ultrasound, you will get to hear your baby’s heartbeat. The technician will also check to see if there is sufficient amniotic fluid, the location of the placenta and that the umbilical cord has three vessels. Ultrasound technicians find and measure the baby’s internal organs, baby’s growth and check for any obvious problems like spina bifida, anencephaly, cleft lip and heart defects. This detailed ultrasound will take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and is usually done in the 2nd trimester between 18-22 weeks gestation. the 20-week anatomy scan, is a screening test in mid-pregnancy to confirm that your baby is growing normally. 20 Week Ultrasound – What to Expect at the Visit
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