Is 18wk1d too early for ultrasound?

[megviolet]

I just booked my ultrasound, and then started wondering if i shouldn't maybe put it off a week... until i'm over 19weeks.... to give a better view of everything. (not gender, just the important biophysical stuff)
When i called, the receptionist asked when i would be 18 weeks and then booked for that day, so i guess that's when they want to see me?
My midwife said i could go anytime.....
what do you think?

[WaitingForKiddos]

18 weeks ought to be fine. If they have a hard time with spicific measurmemts, if baby isn't in a good position or is too small, they'll just have you come back in a month or so.

[MaerynPearl]

anything after 16 weeks is far enough for pretty much anything they would want, so 18 would be fine. Of course, at any length they could have a hard time finding something (was 19 weeks with DD, could not find her kidneys OR gender) and they just send you back for another if that is the case (she was much more helpful the second time)

[Buzzer Beater]

I had my ultrasound last week at 18w1d and the tech and the doc complained about it being too early the whole time. If your tech is great I don't think it matters, if your tech isn't great, expect to be in there longer. Mine took almost an hour and a half and I had to jump back on the table for the doc who had to check things the tech couldn't visualize. I kept thinking, why did they let me make the appt in the first place? I was worried about my poor babe in there being bombarded by ultrasound. And I do have to go for another one with a specialist.

[jenfl]

I had one at 18 weeks, 1 day and the tech had a great view and was able to see everything. It's going to depend a lot on the quality of the machine, the experience of the tech, the position of the baby, etc. But 18-22 weeks seems to be acceptable pretty much everywhere.

[Jelinifer]

I had my u/s at 18 weeks exactly... the tech took about a million pictures, but the OBs and CNMs were happy with what they got out of my session. FWIW, we asked not to find out the sex so I'm not sure how accurate that would have been it we had wanted to know.

[megviolet]

Thanks!

Thanks all around for the reassurance.
Part of my insomnia last night was worrying about the whole thing... you know how things are at 4am

[etsdtm99]

i had mine with DD at almost 18 weeks, and with DS at 16 wks 5 days or something like that.. both times they were able to see everything just fine

[RedOakMomma]

In mine they wanted to check for a heart abnormality, and I think they specifically booked me for after 20 weeks. Close to 21, from what I remember.

Honestly, if there is something you want to look for or are worried about, I would call your dr. or midwife and ask about it. No harm in rescheduling, and certainly it's better than having two ultrasounds!

[at_the_hip]

Here they book you anytime between 18-22w. BUT they do not tell gender until after 20w so most wait until then anyway!

[MacKinnon]

I was around 17.5w with DS and 21.5w with DD. With DS I was originally booked for 22w but I had to move the appt. due a work conflict (my midwives did all U/S at an imaging center). They said, welll.... Could you come in today? I said sure, and we were there a couple hours later! Moved up by a month in a matter of minutes, I was a happy mama

[CorasMama]

Originally Posted by WaitingForKiddos

18 weeks ought to be fine. If they have a hard time with spicific measurmemts, if baby isn't in a good position or is too small, they'll just have you come back in a month or so.

This, exactly. The standard range for the anatomy scan is 18-22 weeks, so scheduling it at the beginning of that window gives them plenty of time to re-scan if they need to.

However, if knowing the gender is important, 20 weeks is really better. I had weekly scans with DD (not for fun, for necessity), and she hid her nether regions until about 21 weeks. It became a running joke with the sonographer, that she was just really really modest. What's even funnier is that she is actually a very modest kid now. Like, downright prudish!

Enjoy your ultrasound. Stop worrying. You're going to get some really cute pictures of your kid, isn't that cool?