first ultrasound?

[Anonymous]

When did you get your first ultrasound? I just found-out I am pregnant and although I am trying to keep a lid on the excitement (I tested today, supposed to get my period tomorrow so it is obviously early), I looking at the calendar and wondering when I should make the appointment for!

I guess I would go in for blood work then wait a few weeks for the ultra sound? I am just interested in how long you have to wait to really "see" that this is a reality!

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

congratulations! go in for the bloodwork and ask your doctors office when they want you to schedule. Usually it seems to be at 8 weeks, but every doctor has their own usual procedure.

[Anonymous]

I never had bloodwork for either pregnancy to confirm. I just called the doctor, told them I was pregnant and made an appointment. I was about 6 weeks with my first appointment for this pregnancy and the doctor was able to show me the heartbeat with the ultrasound.

[Anonymous]

It depends on your OB. I didn't have one until I was 20 weeks along.

[Anonymous]

TOTALLY depends on your OB. I had my first appointment at 9 weeks, but first ultrasound at 13 weeks, and my doctor's practice is not to do it sooner for normal pregnancies.

[Anonymous]

It does depend on your OB but also on what you request. My OB said we could do one at my first appointment (7 weeks) or we could wait. I wanted to see the heart beat and feel it was "real" (I didn't have nausea at the time) so we did. So, if you want one for peace of mind or any other reason, say so.

[Anonymous]

My practice (Reiter and Hill) does it at the first appointment, around 7/8 weeks. This is to date the pregnancy -- the later the u/s is, the less accurate the dating. And that can be helpful if you are looking to do the nuchal translucency genetic screening test (that has to be done between 11 and 13 weeks I believe) or an amnio.

Standard u/s at my practice is the first one, an additional one if you do the nuchal test (that's out of pocket...something like $150) and then one around 20 weeks.

[Anonymous]

My practice (Georgetown) doesn't schedule the first appointment until 8 weeks. I got an ultrasound at that first appointment, but not all OBs do that. Congrats on your pregnancy OP and best wishes.

[Anonymous]

I agree it seems to depend on the OB/practice. My OB didn't schedule a first appointment until 10 weeks and didn't do an ultrasound until 18-20 weeks. That said, I had a miscarriage with my first pregnancy and when I got pregnant again they had me come in at 6 weeks and did the first ultrasound at that time. They also did another when I had some spotting at 10 weeks.

I had a new OB for the first part of my current pregnancy (we moved recently) and she did an ultrasound every time I visited, including at the first visit around 8 weeks.

[Anonymous]

Is this your first pregnancy? Have you had a history of complications? Call your doc. and go from there. Some will do blood work, some will do the 8 week sono (to see the heartbeat - totally awesome!), and others will want you to come in anyways to give you prenatal care information (things can/can't eat, exercise, what to expect in the 1st trimester, etc.).

Congratulations!

Start popping those pre natal vitamins!

[Anonymous]

At my first appointment at Reiter Hill I didn't get an ultrasound until 10 weeks. At the first appointment it was with a physician's assistant saw me and said I was pregnant. Also the blood test pretty much confirmed it.

I will say though that seeing your baby at the first ultrasound really makes the pregnancy more real than any blood or pee test.

[Anonymous]

Don't do it too soon - I had ultrasound at 5.5 weeks (because I'd had some bleeding) - no heartbeat visible and I was told I'd likely miscarried, but check back in a week - which I did and everything was ok. Bu that week was awful. Next time I'll hold off until 8 weeks, I think.