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I would call you dr's office and ask if you can do one based on your concerns. I would think they would oblige. Either way they will probably listen to the baby's heartbeat with a doppler and if they can't hear it they should definitely do the ultrasound. Congrats!
I think in general (unless you are a high-risk pregnancy) you will get 3 US - 1 in the beginning, 1 in the middle and 1 towards the end. At my first doctor's appointment, I did have an ultrasound. They will want to see what's going on and that usually happens between 10 - 12 weeks.
Cramping can be normal as long as they aren't extreme. I think the rule is that if they are stronger than your pd cramps, you'll want to talk with your doctor.
I had A LOT of ultrasounds! But just becuase I had some issues :( I did have one at my first appointment, but that is just how my dr does it. They will listen to the heartbeat for sure though, and everytime (or at least they better!!!!) If you really want one though, you can ask to have one, but your insurance may not cover it.
you genereally would have an ultrasound at around ten weeks like roddybride09 said. I had one at my very first apointment when i was about 9 1/2 weeks i think and we also listened to the baby's heart beat.
It's going to depend on your doctor's office. I agree with the pps to let your doctor know your concerns about the cramping and see if they might do one earlier. If your doctor actually has an ultrasound machine set up in their office (and you don't have to make a separate appointment at a special clinic), I think they're more likely to accomodate you.
At 12 weeks the baby might still be too low in your pelvis to hear the heartbeat via doppler, so depending on their policy they might do a quick ultrasound just to confirm the heartbeat. We had to do this at our 16 week appointment because the baby was still too far down to hear with the doppler.
I think every doctor is different. Best to call and ask yours. I went in at 9 weeks and they gave me an ultrasound. I have another scheduled for 21 weeks. I don't even know if I'll get another one after that :)
I've heard other stories where someone goes in at 9 weeks and the person is shocked it's just a 'confirmation' appt.
Try not to stress too much about the cramps. It's probably the fact that your uterus is swelling and growing and displacing your intestines. Your intestines don't like to move around, and it feels a lot like gas cramps, diarrhea cramps, or menstrual cramps. That doesn't really go away until the middle of the second trimester!
First of all, congrats!! I second that you should call your dr office and confirm. Mine didn't do one until 11 weeks but I went in at about 7 weeks. Usually if they do a type of screening in the first trimester to measure the nuchal folds they will do one right around how far along you are, so they may have you in for an appointment and then schedule one right away, but it never hurts to call and ask, since you may want your SO there so he can see the baby, too.
I only get one more after that, at around 20 weeks, for anatomy check & gender. Unless there are any problems they said that insurance does not cover any more unless medically necessary. It is easy to get worried about cramping, etc (I thought something was wrong when my nausea went away all of a sudden lol), but it is perfectly normal as long as it is not severe or does not get stronger in intensity with each one. Enjoy your pregnancy and congrats again!
I had two. The "standard" ultrasound we think of, I got around 21 weeks. But for my first appointment, around 8 weeks or so, I usually got an internal ultrasound. It looks like a big long phalic type do jabber. And they put a condom on it. and stick it in you. From what I understood, it wasn't to measure heartbeat, or determine sex. It was to basically see the baby's size to roughly determine the due date. (?) My doctor would call it the "peanut stage". So cute. Because those little buggers are in the shape of a peanut shell... all head and belly.
I had my first ultrasound at around 16 weeks (at a clinic), but then again, I didn't know for sure that I was pregnant until around 13 weeks. I had another at the doctor's office at 20 weeks, and I don't believe I have another one scheduled.
And as for the cramps, like MightySapphire said, it's probably just your uterus. I had the worst cramps at the beginning of my pregnancy, starting when I was about a month. At around 12 weeks, I was still having them here and there, and the baby is just fine. I still get them now and then, but they are much less intense.
I just realized how spoiled I am! I've had some issues with this pregnancy, so we get an ultrasound done every visit. Our first was at 7+5 weeks, and our second was at 12 weeks. (That was when it was still a "normal" pregnancy.) Then we had them done every two weeks, one at my regular OB and one at my perinatologist's office with the super high tech fancy one. Our first u/s she looked just like a little grape. She didn't start looking like a baby until maybe 16-17 weeks! And of course the gender u/s was really fun (we had to do it twice because the first appt. she was crossing her feet into her crotch and wouldn't let us see!).
What Tanya123 is talking about is a transvaginal u/s. They only do those really early on, since they are higher resolution and your little peanut is too small to see with a regular u/s. If you get them done later in the pregnancy, it's usually to measure something for diagnostic purposes. I think at 12 1/2 weeks, if they do an u/s on you they would use that. Wear a panty liner, that thing leaves a lot of goop!
Since you are at 12 1/2 weeks I would think that they would do one. They want to verify your approximate due date by size. This is really important bc if you choose to do some of the optional tests for birth defects then they have to be done at certain ages of the fetus.
I would agree with just calling to see if they will do it in the office that day so that you can have your SO with you.
@Tanya - I started laughing reading your post. When I had the internal US done, I was cracking up in my head. They literally put a condom on this thing. I felt kind of violated lol!
I wouldn't try to leverage for an extra ultrasound if it's not needed, as that's not the best use of resources. Definitely bring up your concerns about cramping in the morning to your OB, but don't overexaggerate them. You don't want a problem on your problem list that isn't genuine!
That being said, many OBs do a transvaginal US at the first appointment if they can't get the heartbeat by doppler. So you should have some confirmation of whether you are in a high or low risk category... Your doctor wants this information too!
Also at 12 weeks we got a comprehensive US coupled with a blood draw to do the sequential screen which gives you your risk of major chromosomal abnormalities. I think that was my favorite US so far!
@Mrs DG - the sequential screening US was by far my favorite too. Seeing the baby in full detail actually had me tear up.
I know! It was so amazing and you could see the anatomy so well since the baby is little more than thin skin, bones and organs at that stage. We had to remind our tech though that we weren't as interested in 10 fingers and 10 toes as we were about outflow tracts, nasal bone and brain development. (aka pediatricians make horrible patients!)
@Roddy - Ha ha. It's a bizarre experience, huh? No one told me about that one.
Thanks for the clarification, Mighty.
Reading all your experiences made me more exited about our first US appointment. We just found out we're pregnant last week!
Congratulations to the newly pregnant moms! If you post on the baby list thread, we can get you on there with your due date :)
I just wanted to say that if you're having cramps with no bleeding, it's probably because you are dehydrated. I was having some major cramps the past few days, and my doctor suggested trying half cranberry juice, half water (because I am having a hard time getting enough water - it just tastes gross to me now) and thankfully the cramping has just stopped. Try upping your liquids and see if that helps.
I agree with everything Mrs. DG said. :)
I think each doctor differs. I went in to my first OB appointment thinking I'd get an ultrasound but alas, I didn't. I asked about the US schedule and found out that my doctor only does one -- at around 20 weeks for fetal development. Unless there is a concerning reason, he doesn't order any more. He is a relatively non-invasive OB/GYN.
Regarding your cramps, I want to say it's safe to bet they are typical of the uterine growth and stretching that women experience in the first trimester. Before I found out I was pregnant, I insisted my period was well on its way due to the intense menstrual-like cramps I had. If you experience bleeding, phone your doctor.
Best wishes!
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next friday I have my first OB appt. I'll be 12 1/2 weeks. Will they do an ultrasound since its only my first appt? I know they will be doing exams, lab work etc but I would really like to have one done so I can see and hear the heart beat! The papers they sent me in the mail said they typically dont do them until 16 weeks until there is concern to do it earlier. Can I request them to do one? I have been having cramps on and off sometimes when I wake up but its nothing bad. I think it may be from my bladder being full when I wake up?