All about the 3 ultrasound scans of your pregnancy
All women say it: being pregnant is a real blessing.
This is the moment when the body changes to accommodate a fetus that will grow there for 9 months.
Which represents a unique life experience.
To ensure that everything goes well during this important period, you will need to perform 3 pregnancy ultrasounds. What should you expect? We tell you everything.
1st trimester ultrasound
Your doctor will recommend that you perform this first pregnancy ultrasound between the 12th and 13th week of amenorrhea (absence of menstruation). Called mini-morphology ultrasound, we are then at the end of the 3rd month of pregnancy.
This examination lasts about 20 minutes and is generally carried out < strong>through the abdomen. If necessary, the gynecologist proceeds, in addition, to an examination of the cervix by vaginal route. This ultrasound is one of the most moving, because you will be able to hear your baby's heart beating for the first time. The doctor will guide you to help you see his hands and feet as well. During this important medical appointment, the specialist dates the pregnancy and verifies that there is no abnormality in the fetal growth. To do this, he takes different measures and observes the proper formation of bones and organs. It is also at this time that you can be offered screening for trisomy 21.
2nd trimester ultrasound
We are towards the 6th month of pregnancy and you will have to go back to see your doctor (between the 22nd and the 24th week of amenorrhea) for the morphological ultrasound. Again, you will have about 20 minutes and your gynecologist will perform an abdominal and vaginal examination (to examine the cervix). Obviously, the fetus will have grown well and you will be able to observe the development of its body. Here again, the doctor takes care of measuring the bones and organs. They also check the baby's heart rate and the location and appearance of the placenta. Without forgetting the mobility of the toddler. It is also at this time that we can more precisely identify the sex of your future baby.
3rd trimester ultrasound
The due date is approaching. We are then between the 32nd and 34th week of amenorrhea.
This last ultrasound takes place like the previous ones (approximately 20 minutes and exploration by abdominal and vaginal route).
This time, since the baby will have grown a lot, it will be more difficult to identify the different parts of his body. Rest assured: the doctor is there to tell you more.
The doctor takes the opportunity totake the last measurements while observing the baby's position (data that will be used when childbirth).
Optional: Ultrasound dating
Although the 3 previous ultrasounds are recommended by Social Security, more and more doctors are recommending a so-called dating ultrasound.
This is carried out by opinion from the 5th week of amenorrhea. Being done vaginally and lasting approximately 10 minutes, it is used to confirm your pregnancy but also to check that the beginnings of pregnancy are taking place in the best possible conditions so as not to disturb your child's growth.
In any case, you will see that this adventure is a magical moment. Feeling your baby growing in your womb and occasionally kicking is a unique experience (making some dads jealous). Since we are not doctors, we cannot accompany you during this important phase.
However, we can help you prepare for the arrival of your cherub by offering him > a complete scalable baby room as pretty as it is safe (because our furniture is all made from environmentally friendly materials without toxic products).
Besides, do not hesitate to continue reading with our article dedicated to the non-toxic baby room
