What to expect at a 12 week ultrasound

If you have not yet had any type of pregnancy ultrasound and you are around 12 weeks pregnant, your maternity care provider may suggest you have one. There are many reasons for having an ultrasound at this stage.

The 12 week ultrasound may be the first time parents have seen their baby. This is an exciting, if a little nerve-wracking, time. It's completely normal for parents to consider the possibility that their baby may not be developing as it needs to and be apprehensive before the procedure. After all, this is one of the reasons why a 12 week ultrasound is recommended.

Screening for Down Syndrome

One of the most common is to screen for congenital chromosomal abnormalities including Trisomy 21, otherwise known as Down Syndrome. This means that there is an extra chromosome 21 contained in every cell of the body. People with Down Syndrome have physical and intellectual disabilities. Older women have a greater chance of having a baby with Down Syndrome. When a woman is around 12 weeks pregnant, her chance of having a baby with Down Syndrome can be accurately assessed. First trimester screening for Down Syndrome can be done with a blood test between 10 weeks and 13 weeks and 6 days. When a fetus has Down Syndrome, they tend to have more fluid at the base of their neck, in the region known as the nuchal fold area. This fluid can be measured in a test called nuchal translucency. This can be measured in an ultrasound done between 11 weeks and 13 weeks and 6 days. A fetus with Down Syndrome has a measurement that is thicker than in those who do not. It is worth remembering though, that a larger than average nuchal fold measurement is not a guarantee that the baby will have chromosomal problems. Other tests for Down Syndrome need to be done if in doubt. In addition, tests such as a chorionic villus sampling test or an amniocentesis help to clarify any suspicions.

Spotting other complications

One of the benefits of having an ultrasound so early in pregnancy is that if complications are found, then parents can make an informed choice of continuing with the pregnancy or not. Medical recommendations around this issue are very important. Ethical, religious, and personal belief systems also need to be carefully balanced and weighed. Parents need to feel as if they are fully informed and comfortable with the explanations provided by the sonographer doing the 12 week ultrasound. Follow up care by the healthcare team is equally important. It is common for ultrasounds to be repeated and reviewed if there are any concerns.

First trimester screening tests

Your maternity care provider will discuss a first trimester blood test to identify the chance of your baby having particular chromosomal abnormalities. A mother's age, including the results from the blood test, and the findings of the ultrasound all provide an individualized picture of the chance of having a baby with Down Syndrome. This screening test is not a definite diagnosis of chromosomal problems, but rather provides an assessment of this chance. If there are concerns, then further testing can be done.

How a 12 week ultrasound is performed

The 12 week ultrasound is usually done via the mother's abdomen. It might be recommended that you have a full or partially full bladder. This will help to lift your uterus up out of your pelvis to make it easier to see the fetus. Sometimes it is necessary to do a vaginal ultrasound. This will lead to even clearer images.

Reasons to have a 12 week ultrasound

Other measurements taken at the 12 week ultrasound

Many parents are amazed by the amount of detail they can see at the 12 week ultrasound. They are also surprised by their fetus's movements and agility. Of course, at 12 weeks gestation it is too early for a pregnant mother to be aware of her baby moving. It can be a strange sensation when looking at the monitor and seeing movement but not being able to physically detect it. Many parents feel an instant emotional connection with their baby when they see it for the first time. It's not uncommon for partners to say that until the 12 week ultrasound, the whole pregnancy idea was a little foreign and somehow not real. Being able to see their baby rather than talking about it and having to use their imagination can make all the difference.

When will I know if everything's alright with my 12-week ultrasound?

You should be told right away if everything is going well. If you have had your blood tests taken before the ultrasound and these results are back, then you should be able to have these results as well after your ultrasound. The sonographer will be able talk their way through the procedure and turn the screen so that you can see what they are looking at during the ultrasound. There may also be a separate monitor for you and your partner to look at. If you want explanations, ask the sonographer to tell you what they are checking. If they are unsure or want clarification, they will often request a colleague come into the room and have a look at the ultrasound. This can be a pretty unnerving process especially if you've not had any reason to believe that there are any complications.

How accurate is the first trimester screening test?

At the current time, the combined first trimester screening is thought to be the most accurate test for Down Syndrome. For those women whose results return a high chance of carrying an embryo with Down Syndrome, the next stage is generally chorionic villus sampling or an amniocentesis. Having a low chance result for the first trimester screening test does not give a 100% guarantee that there will not be a chromosomal abnormality. What it does is categorize a pregnancy into an increased or decreased chance.

How long will my 12-week ultrasound take?

Generally, appointments are about 30 minutes. This allows the sonographer enough time to do a thorough and comprehensive check and assessment. Try not to squeeze your appointment time between a lot of other tasks you need to achieve in the same day. Put aside some time before and after your ultrasound so you can make it to the appointment in plenty of time and have the chance to reflect on it afterwards. Ask your partner to be with you on the day and aim to enjoy this as an event you can both share.

Are 12-week ultrasounds part of my routine pregnancy care?

Ultrasounds during pregnancy are routinely offered because they provide such an excellent means of diagnosing problems if they are present. They are also low risk, noninvasive and relatively low cost considering the amount of information they give. But you are entirely free to make your own choices regarding whether you want to have pregnancy ultrasounds or not. Some parents feel very strongly that having an ultrasound is not right for them. Part of their reasoning is that if abnormalities are found, then they may be put into a position of having to make decisions based on these findings. This is understandable and up to each parent to decide for themselves. Some parents choose to wait until the screening ultrasound at 18 to 20 weeks and feel that at 12 weeks it is still too early to be able to see much of their baby's development. If you are in any doubt, speak with your maternity care provider about your preferences.