When Should You Get Your First Obstetric Ultrasound During Pregnancy?

The earliest you can have your first obstetric ultrasound is when you are 6 to 9 weeks pregnant to confirm your gestational sac, heartbeat, and due date.

Welcoming a new life into this world is a thrilling journey that starts way before a baby’s first cry. One of the most exciting and reassuring early steps in this process is catching your first glimpse of ultrasound images of your baby growing inside.

Our Obstetric Ultrasound Services allow you and your doctor to closely monitor your pregnancy from its earliest stages all the way through to delivery.

In this article, we’ll dive into the details of when and why to get your first ultrasound scan, what to expect during the scan, and the numerous ways an early scan can help both the mother and the baby.

Purpose of the First Obstetric Ultrasound

The first ultrasound a pregnant woman will have is to confirm and check on the early stage of her unborn baby. A healthcare provider will:

• Verify the presence of the gestational sac
• Measure the embryo’s heart rate
• Check on the number of embryos (to rule out multiples)
• Accurately date the pregnancy based on measurements

When to Get the First Ultrasound

Your first obstetric ultrasound appointment is often around 6 to 9 weeks pregnant. At this time, the ultrasound will:

• Confirm that it is an intrauterine pregnancy
• Visualize the gestational sac
• Detect the baby’s heartbeat
• Date how many weeks pregnant you are
• Spot potential problems early on

The First Ultrasound is a safe procedure that provides vital information. Later on in the first trimester or second trimester, an abdominal ultrasound may be used as an alternative. You may be asked to come with a full bladder for this scan.

During the first obstetric ultrasound, you can expect to:

• Lie down on a table in a comfortable position
• Have warm gel applied to your belly, or a sterile cover on the device called a transducer
• Look at images of your baby on a screen
• Listen to the baby’s heartbeat (if far enough along)

Importance of Early Ultrasounds

The reason for having an early ultrasound scan is more than just pure excitement. It can also:

• Help diagnose early miscarriage
• Rule out ectopic pregnancies
• Calculate a more accurate due date
• Identify multiple pregnancies

An ultrasound can also be an important part of the experience, by sharing in those first moments that many parents never forget.

About Obstetric Ultrasound Services

From the initial obstetric ultrasound to a late trimester 4D scan, obstetric ultrasound services are performed by qualified professionals using the latest equipment to give you the clearest and most informative images. Obstetric ultrasound services focus on tracking the growth of the fetus and ensuring everything is on track for development.

But ultrasounds also allow you to create that all-important image of the exact moment you first saw your baby. It create an image you will treasure for years to come.

What to Expect in the Trimesters: 4D Scan and More

There are ultrasounds throughout the 3 trimesters of pregnancy, with the first few performed early in the first trimester.

However, expect more ultrasounds and options such as a 4D ultrasound as your pregnancy progresses. The most important obstetric ultrasound service in the second trimester is the detailed anatomy scan at around 20 weeks of pregnancy. At this ultrasound, your provider is checking:

• Organ development
• Spine and limbs
• Placenta location
• Amniotic fluid level
• Movements of the fetus

First obstetric ultrasound: Emotional support in early pregnancy

The first obstetric ultrasound for many parents is a momentous occasion. It’s a time to get crucial information about the pregnancy and to get the emotional support of seeing that the pregnancy is developing normally.

Ultrasound images and the sound of the heartbeat are concrete ways of connecting to that new life growing inside. Many couples who have undergone fertility treatments or who have lost a pregnancy in the past find that the ultrasound service first trimester also provides an important emotional connection.

Yes, obstetric ultrasound services are 100% safe when done by trained ultrasound professionals. The high-frequency sound waves used to create the picture are non-ionizing. There is no risk to either mother or fetus from having obstetric ultrasound services during pregnancy. Only have the necessary obstetric ultrasound services and do not overdo.

Conclusion

Your first obstetric ultrasound is so much more than just another item on your medical checklist. It is the beginning of an adventure. Whether you are getting obstetric ultrasound services to confirm your gestational sac and hear your baby’s heartbeat for the first time. Or you are finally getting those first glimpses of your growing baby, obstetric ultrasound services are where you go for medical reassurance and pure joy.

The key is to not just track your baby’s growth, but to savour each stage of that miraculous development.

At Shairaksha Hospital, we offer you and your baby compassionate and expert Obstetric Ultrasound Services from the very first weeks of pregnancy all the way up to your 20-week scan planning. Call today to book your first obstetric ultrasound or 20-week scan and let us take care of you with clarity and confidence as you welcome the miracle of life.

FAQs

Which is the preferred time to get first obstetric ultrasound?

A: 6-9 weeks pregnant. We would advise our patients to get their first obstetric ultrasound done at 6-9 weeks of their pregnancy. You can use this for checking and confirming your gestational sac, the baby’s heartbeat, and also the due date.

What is transvaginal ultrasound?

A: It is inserted inside the vagina. It will be pressed against the vaginal wall and this will take the pictures that are used to show the scans. It is how an ultrasound transducer works. A transvaginal ultrasound is an internal procedure which is used in the first trimester. It will provide a high-resolution image. This is the recommended obstetric ultrasound service used in the early weeks.

What can I expect to see during a 20-week ultrasound?

A: 20-week obstetric will check the anatomy of the developing baby. This will include organs, movement and also they might be able to detect the gender. 20-week scans are a key stage in ultrasound, to monitor the progress of the growing baby.