How Many Ultrasounds During Pregnancy in Australia? (All Your Questions Answered!)
Getting an ultrasound is one of those iconic experiences of being pregnant. Like most parts of being pregnant, you’ll probably feel a mix of excitement and apprehension about your ultrasound appointments. To help put your mind at ease here’s a quick overview of how many ultrasound appointments you can expect and what happens at them. We’ll also cover situations where you might have more scans.
In a typical low-risk pregnancy, you will have two ultrasounds—one at around 12 weeks and a second scan at about 20 weeks.
12 Week Scan
The first scan that you will have is your dating scan. This scan’s timing will be based on the information you gave your midwife during your first appointment. They aim to provide you with an appointment while you are between 10 – 14 weeks pregnant.
During the scan, the ultrasound technician will take several measurements. These measurements are used to calculate a more accurate due date. You will be able to find out this date during your appointment, or shortly afterwards. It’s not uncommon for this appointment to change the original due date you were given. The initial one is based on the best estimate of your menstrual cycle.
As well as checking the date of the pregnancy, the sonographer will also check to see how many fetuses are present. They are also checking that the baby and the placenta are positioned safely. It was in this scan that I learnt that my placenta was on the front wall of my uterus. I’m really glad I knew this because it explained why I was so far along in my pregnancy before I felt any movements. It saved me a lot of worries.
During this scan, you’ll be able to hear the baby’s heartbeat. Your sonographer will be able to point out some basic features to you as well. However, at this point, it really doesn’t look that much like a baby. Without them point things out you’d have no idea what you were seeing.
The other reason for having a scan at this point in your pregnancy is that the sonographer can take some measurements used to screen for genetic disorders. This is called a nuchal translucency scan. If you decide you want to get these tests done, you will also have to get a blood test. You won’t receive your results from these tests for a couple of weeks.
20 Week Scan
The 20-week scan is also called the anatomy scan. It usually happens anywhere between 18 and 21 weeks. During this scan, your sonographer will be going through a checklist. They have to check quite a few different areas to make sure the pregnancy is progressing well.
This scan can take a little while as the sonographer needs to get many different views of the developing baby. They take measurements of their head, spine, heart, and umbilical cord. They will also check that all the limbs appear to be developing as expected and where your placenta is located.
At this scan, your sonographer will probably be able to tell you the sex of the baby. The accuracy rate on these identifications is about 95%. If you don’t want to know the sex, you should tell your sonographer at the start, so they don’t accidentally tell you. They may also suggest you look away for certain parts of the scan to preserve the surprise.
With our first, we didn’t want to know. But, he was positioned so that it was hard to miss the fact he was a boy. So if you’re dead set on not finding out, make sure you tell your sonographer before they get started.
Reasons for Extra Appointments
While two pregnancy ultrasounds are the expected number, there are a few circumstances when you might end up having more. Here are a few of the reasons why you might have a different experience.
Unsure of Last Menstruation
If you realise that you’re pregnant, but don’t know when your last period was, it can be difficult to date your pregnancy. When this happens, you will usually be sent for an ultrasound sooner rather than later. A dating scan can be done from 6 weeks onwards.
If your dating scan shows that you are less than 10 weeks pregnant, you may be offered another appointment. If you want to get a screening done for Downs syndrome, then the window for getting the measurements done is 10 -14 weeks, so you would be offered the option to have another scan then. You’ll also have a blood test for the screening tests.
Having Multiple Babies
If you are carrying two or more babies, then it’s common practice to have an extra scan during your third trimester. This is because multiple pregnancies are considered a higher risk, so are more closely monitored as a matter of routine.
Previous Baby with a Low Birth Weight
If you have already given birth to a child who arrived with an especially small birth weight, then any subsequent pregnancies are classed as higher risk. For this reason, there will be more monitoring during the third trimester. This usually results in one extra scan during the last few months of your pregnancy.
Concerns About Your Baby’s Growth
At your regular appointments with your midwife, they measure the size of your bump. This is one of the ways that they monitor your baby’s growth. They usually begin to do this following your 20-week scan. After this scan, a growth chart is produced that gives expected growth for your bump. If you have two measurements in a row showing slow growth, you might be referred for an ultrasound scan to check that everything is ok.
Unhelpful Positioning
From personal experience, I can tell you that babies are not always helpful – even when they’re still in the womb. I had to have a second anatomy scan because my son was laying in an awkward position, and they couldn’t get the measurements they needed. We tried a few things to get him to move, including me moving around, walking up and down the stairs, and rolling from side to side on the bed—all to no avail. We just ran out of time so had to go back again.
How to Prepare for Your Appointment
When you go for your pregnancy ultrasounds, it’s crucial that you have a full bladder. This changes your uterus’ position and allows the sonographer to get the measurements they need to take. This means you need to drink 2-3 large glasses of water about an hour before your appointment.
If you feel like you need to pee, then that’s the right amount of water. It’s a good idea to bring a drink with you and keep sipping until you feel like you need to pee. Don’t worry, there will be a toilet you can use as soon as your scan is done.
What Happens in an Ultrasound Appointment
When you go in for your appointment, the sonographer will first check a few details with you. They’ll check they have the right person in front of them, and usually ask you how far along you are. Then you get up on the bed and lay back.
The sonographer will ask you to pull your top up, and you may need to slide your bottoms down a little to give them access. They will then squirt on some gell and put the ultrasound wand to your belly. To get the views, they need to press down on your belly and move the wand around to different places.
It’s standard practice for the sonographer to do some checks before they show you an image. If it’s your first scan, they will also need some time to find the foetus, so it might be a few minutes until you can see or hear anything. They usually have a screen that they use and then one that is positioned for you. So don’t panic that your screen is blank or they haven’t said anything. As soon as they have a good image, they’ll put it up on your screen.
After your sonographer has taken all the measurements, they will also take some images they can print out for you. There is usually a fee for this service, but it varies from place to place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does medicare cover ultrasounds during pregnancy?
Medicare can help you with some of the costs you’ll incur during pregnancy. Routine ultrasound scans may be covered. However, there are some requirements. They need to be performed by an appropriate medical specialist and under the hospital’s care where you plan to give birth. You can check if your plans meet the requirements by logging into your medicare portal.
What weeks do you get ultrasounds during pregnancy in Australia?
Your first scan will be during your first trimester and is often referred to as a ’12 week’ scan. However, it will usually happen anywhere between 10 and 14 weeks, based on the information you gave the midwife at your first appointment. You will also have a scan in your second trimester, this is the ’20 week’ scan. It is typically performed between 18 and 20 weeks.
Do you have to have an ultrasound during pregnancy?
If you don’t want to get an ultrasound during your pregnancy, that is entirely your decision. However, it is advisable to get them done. They can help your care providers check if there are any concerns with your pregnancy. This can help keep both you and your baby safe during pregnancy and birth.
If you are worried about finding out the sex of your baby, or if they have any health problems, you should talk to your doctor and ultrasound technician. You can make it clear what information you do and don’t want to be given. Most healthcare providers are happy to work with you to meet your wishes.
