NT is a little sliver of fluid at the back of the baby's neck in between the spine and the skin. However, the main thing that we do during this ultrasound that can’t be done during other times in pregnancy is what’s called a measurement of the nuchal translucency 2 , also known as NT. We look at the major features in the brain, the heartbeat, and the skeleton, and we see if there are two arms, and two legs, and if the umbilical cord is going into the future belly button. What is the 12-week ultrasound looking for?ĬH: Initially, we look to see where and how the placenta is forming, if there’s a normal amount of amniotic fluid, and how the fetus looks. Since the fetus is now big enough, the ultrasound can be done through the mom’s belly rather than transvaginally as she may have done earlier on in her pregnancy. What should you expect during this ultrasound?ĬH: You can expect to have an ultrasound across the abdomen. In general, we look for signs that pregnancy is off to a good start or potentially not off to a good start. What we look for during the ultrasound is how many fetuses there are and if there’s any evidence of early predictors of a chromosome problem or a birth defect, which we call anatomic abnormalities. Camille Hoffman: The 12-week ultrasound usually occurs between 11 and 13 weeks. Camille Hoffman 1 , a maternal-fetal medicine physician at the University of Colorado who focuses on the management of women with high-risk pregnancies, to find out everything there is to know about the 12-week ultrasound. However, as I sat there, I couldn’t help but wonder what they were looking for and whether or not I was going to find out the results that day.įifteen minutes later, the ultrasound was finished and my husband and I were relieved to hear that our daughter was 100% healthy.Įven though I was happy with my results, I couldn’t help but wonder why we have a scan at this point in pregnancy, whether or not it’s safe, and what the indicators of a healthy baby are. As I had anticipated, she was the most beautiful thing I had ever laid my eyes on. Within seconds, we saw our baby girl on the screen. So, on the day of the scan, I found myself sitting in the waiting room trying my best to occupy myself with magazines, social media, or anything else I could get my hands on.įinally, my husband and I were called back and the ultrasound started. I had no idea what to expect when it came to my 12-week ultrasound.Įven though I was excited to finally see an image of my daughter, I was also afraid of the possibility of finding out something might be wrong with her. We asked a doctor of maternal-fetal medicine to tell us everything expecting parents should know about the 12-week scan, including what markers your doctor is looking for in a healthy pregnancy. But having questions about what to expect during this appointment is normal. You get to see your developing baby…and confirm that there’s only one in there. TLDR : The 12-week ultrasound is an exciting milestone in your pregnancy.
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