A 20-week prenatal ultrasound is considered medically necessary to detect potentially life-altering anomalies. Studies have shown that ultrasound is not dangerous to you or the fetus. Most of the time, a prediction is made only when the technician is certain of sex. If you don’t want to know the sex, speak up ahead of time so they don’t accidentally spoil the surprise. There is a slight chance that the fetus won't cooperate, and your ultrasound technician can’t get a clear picture of its genitals. Depending on the position the fetus is in, your ultrasound technician may be able to see a penis or a labia. Yes, your fetus's external genitalia has developed enough to identify its sex. Will a 20-week ultrasound tell me the sex of the fetus? Make sure there is room on your refrigerator: Most ultrasound technicians will send you home with a few pictures as a keepsake. Your obstetrician will go over the results with you either immediately after the ultrasound or at a follow-up appointment in the next few days.Īfter all the images are taken and your ultrasound technician is happy with all the angles and measurements, you will be able to wipe the gel off your belly. Don’t be alarmed if the conversation is minimal or if they aren't sharing results as they go. Generally, your ultrasound technician will be quiet as they work. If the fetus is positioned in a way that makes it hard to take measurements, the technician might ask you to move around a little or take a drink of something sweet to make the fetus move. You will get to watch the fetus on a screen, one of the most exciting parts of pregnancy. This helps them evaluate the fetus's size for its gestational age. You may also see them draw lines to measure the length of the fetus's limbs or the circumference of its head. They will take images and measurements of specific organs and parts by freezing the screen. Then, an ultrasound technician will move an ultrasound wand over different spots in your abdomen. Next, an ultrasonic gel is placed on your belly. What can I expect at my 20-week ultrasound?įirst, you will lie down on the exam table. Some healthcare providers recommend eating or having a full bladder to make it easier to see the images and make the fetus more likely to move. Plan ahead by making any necessary arrangements for work or childcare. If you are seeing your healthcare provider afterward, your appointment could last up to 75 minutes. This will be one of your longer appointments - around 45 minutes for just the ultrasound. There isn’t much to do to prepare for your appointment. How do I prepare for my 20-week ultrasound? However, if you ask what body part you’re looking at, they can usually answer. Keep in mind, your technician can’t interpret the results of the scan for you. Ask your ultrasound technician if you are unsure what you are looking at. Unlike your first trimester ultrasound when the fetus looked like a tiny cluster of cells, the fetus looks more like a real baby at 20 weeks. You will most likely spot the fetus's head, nose, arms and legs. It may be hard for you to identify what you’re looking at on an ultrasound. What does an ultrasound look like at 20 weeks? Your due date will not change unless the fetus measures outside of that time frame. If fetal measurements are within 10 to 14 days of the predicted due date, then the fetus is considered to be developing adequately. In some cases, you might hear you are measuring ahead, on track or behind your due date. They compare these measurements against your due date. This line acts as a ruler, documenting the sizes of organs and limbs. You will see the sonographer draw lines on the screen. Several images are taken during this ultrasound. Look at the placenta to make sure it’s not covering your cervix (placenta previa).Check the umbilical cord for blood flow and where it attaches to the placenta.Listen to the fetal heart rate for abnormal rhythms.Some specific parts your provider will examine are the fetal: The scan also looks for signs of specific congenital disabilities or structural issues with certain organs. What is the 20-week anatomy scan looking for?Ī 20-week ultrasound takes measurements of your fetal organs and body parts to make sure the fetus is growing appropriately. You may also learn the sex of the fetus at this appointment. The ultrasound technician, or sonographer, will take measurements and make sure the fetus is growing appropriately for its age. Your healthcare provider will use a 2D, 3D or even 4D ultrasound to take images of the fetus inside your uterus. It checks on the physical development of the fetus and can detect certain congenital disorders as well as major anatomical abnormalities. A 20-week ultrasound, sometimes called an anatomy scan or anomaly scan, is a prenatal ultrasound performed between 18 and 22 weeks of pregnancy.
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