Questions & Answers

My doctor is a licensed ultrasound tech and has a machine right in the OB room, so he does one at every appointment for me. But I also live in a small town. When I had my son (in a big city), I only got the three but one was because of vaginal bleeding at about 32 weeks.

Don't lie about lack of movement just to get another scan - that is terrible advice, you may take a slot from someone with real need meaning their treatment my get delayed. You can pay for a private reassurance scan if you really want another.

My doctor doesn't do one beyond the 20 week one, unless something is wrong. However, there are places around that will do non diagnostic ultrasounds...the kinds just for fun. These places aren't worried about measurements or problems. They are there specifically for you to have a bonding moment with your baby, hear the heartbeat, find out the gender (if you want) and get pictures of your little one. There may be a places in your area like this. Check it out. We have ours scheduled for about 6 weeks from now.

I had 4 ultrasounds but It really only meant to be 2. One at 13 weeks and 1 at 20 weeks. I had to go back at 22 weeks because they couldn't properly see her heart in the first one, then I had to go back again at 27 weeks because my cervix showed that it shortened from week 20 to week 22. Phew!

So, normally no ultrasounds after 20 weeks.

I got one at my 39 week appointment but only to check that baby was head down its a maybe thing when it comes to ultrasounds this far along.

Where I live you get an ultrasound at every appointment high risk or not. I had 12 with my DD (and that was only because I was doctorless for 4 months) and this one I've had more than 20. Last pregnancy, at 37-39 weeks you really couldn't see much, they would just check the placenta a lot.

I've had two so far and i'm only 8 weeks along. I am high risk though so I am getting them about every two weeks.

You won't have anymore unless there is thought to be something wrong or unless you are overdue. If you are overdue they will do a stress test ultrasound to see how much fluid is surrounding the baby, if there is enough they will allow you to go up to 14 days past your due date with a stress test every second day(I was 13 day past). If you want you could request an ultrasound or lie and say you are concerned about lack of movement and they would give you one for sure. Once you are past week 38 it gets pretty squishy in there and there isn't much to see and it's too hard to fit all of baby on the screen. If you are comfortable with 3d ultrasounds you could do that.

I also don't get any anymore. Last one was the 20 week anatomy scan. Unless there are problems or you become overdue, they don't do them.

I think most insurance companies only cover a maximum of 2 ultrasounds per pregnancy (if you are low risk the whole way through). But like the other people said, you could get an elective 3d/4d ultrasound when you're farther along at a private clinic. I think they can be kind of spendy but worth it if it's that important to you to get a another look!