Why wont my doctor send me for an ultrasound ?

Question

Is there a reason why my doctor won't send me for an ultrasound until i am 16 weeks?

Answer 1

I had routine ultrasounds at 12 and 20 weeks.

Answer 2

wow my doc didnt sendm e until 20 weeks! your going early actually

Answer 3

I guess it depends where in the world you are. In the UK you can go once at about 12 weeks for a dating scan so they can determine the exact date your due and then another scan at 20 weeks to check for anomalies as well as s*x if you wish. Although every area of the UK does things differently.

If you have any cause to be concerned about your childs wellbeing then explain this and the doctor might send you early. I for example had 5 scans in 10 days in the first 7 weeks of my pregnancy due to abdominal pain, i was so early they couldnt find the baby so i had numerous tests and scans to make sure everything was ok. Hope all goes well :D

Answer 4

This actually varies from doctor to doctor.  When I first got pregnant, I asked about early ultrasounds, and my answer was this: At 20 weeks the baby is more developed.  Some insurance companies will only cover 1-2 ultrasounds.  If that is the case, then your Dr is waiting until a later date to check everything.  Also at 16 weeks it is hard to determine the gender, and a level II ultrasound is more accurate later in pregnancy (thats the one they do to check for defects that can be seen).  Even though you are getting an ultrasound at 16 weeks instead of now, he might be doing it at this later time so there will be adequate spacing between this one and the next one where he will check for development.

Answer 5

i dont know where u r from butin australia u are usually sent at 12 weeks to check for down syndrome and then 20 weeks to check the babies measurements and growth and any abnormalities

. i have never heard of having a scan at 16 weeks , that is too late for the down syndrome screening.

Answer 6

If your pregnancy is progressing normally there is no need for an ultrasound prior to 16 weeks. From 16 weeks they can take the better measurements and detect the babies gender as well as find any physical abnormalities.

Answer 7

Alot of insurances only cover one that could be one of the reasons. Another one is that quite a few doctors only send you in at that time because they don't feel the reason or are not concerned so they think there is no reason to have one earlier. And they do a lot more than tell the babies s*x if they can see it at that ultrasound.

If you want they have clinics and places that do ultrasounds earlier but they are a little costly.  

Answer 8

it is not proven yet if ultra sounds are bad for baby yet.. so they try to keep them as little as possible so they usually wait until 16-18 weeks