Antenatal Ultrasound

You are pregnant and your Midwife (LMC) or Doctor has suggested you have an ultrasound scan.

These scans are done to assess the development of the growing fetus. Routinely three scans are done; dating, nuchal translucency (12 weeks) and anatomy (20 weeks). Your LMC may recommend a scan at other times in your pregnancy (likely the third trimester) to answer a specific question. 

Why is ultrasound required in a pregnancy?

  • The most common reason to have an ultrasound in pregnancy is to determine a viable pregnancy, the age (gestation) of the baby, to confirm its development and well-being, and to make sure the baby is growing normally. It also aids in confirming a twin pregnancy.

  • First trimester scans (before 12 weeks gestation) are often performed to assess the health of the forming pregnancy when there is pain or bleeding or to accurately determine gestational age when dates are uncertain. If you are unsure of your dates dating ultrasound is best performed at 8-10 weeks. Early in the pregnancy, we may need to scan with a special transducer placed in the vagina (a transvaginal scan). At the time of your appointment, we will assess whether this is required and discuss this with you then.

  • The Nuchal Translucency assessment is performed between 12 weeks and 13 weeks 6 days. See Nuchal Translucency Scan for more information.

  • At 20 weeks we will look specifically at the baby’s anatomy (how the baby has been formed), the fluid around the baby, the placenta and assess if the pregnancy is progressing normally.  This is the time we can usually determine fetal gender if desired.

Friends and family: Family and friends are welcome to join, however, the ultrasound room is small allowing for only one other person. This ensures that the Sonographer can focus on producing a thorough assessment.

A family room is available to view the images on a wall-mounted TV if required. 

Siblings are welcome, however, we do ask that they behave during the examination. If it becomes too distracting the Sonographer will request that they leave the room for the remainder of the assessment.