Congratulations mama!
You’ve entered one of the most exciting and rewarding phases of your life journey. Pregnancy is beautiful, isn’t it? It’s an amazing journey of unpredictable emotion, changing bodies, and the unbelievable joy of having a little life growing inside of you.
You’re never alone in this journey, and, as I found out through my pregnancy, most of the strangeness that we experience is absolutely normal.
The first trimester is one of change and adaptation, but getting that first glimpse of your baby makes it all worth it!
WHY HAVE A 12-WEEK SCAN?
Before we begin, you might want to bookmark this NHS GUIDE on the 12-week scan (dating scan).
For the most part, although you have a choice your first scan is essential.
It normally occurs between 10 and 14 weeks, with 12 weeks being considered the perfect time. I was anxious to check on the progress of my baby and to make sure that there were no medical abnormalities. My scan was not just exciting but made sure that my baby was healthy with thorough checking of the organs as well as the position of the placenta.
WHAT HAPPENS AT MY 12-WEEK SCAN?
Before it begins, remember to drink lots of water before your scan.
You may be uncomfortable, but you will thank me later. You get to go for your scan with your partner and experience this together.
Once you’re comfortably lying down on the bed, you will be asked to lift up your clothes to reveal your beautiful belly. 12-week scans normally take between 15 and 30 minutes, but it might take longer if your baby is lying in an awkward position.
Top tip – loose-fitting clothing is ideal!
The gel that is put onto your tummy may feel cold and icky – completely normal. That’s where the fun starts, and the sonographer will apply a little pressure with the probe that they use. Images will appear on the screen that’s close to you, and that’s it.
There are times when the sonographer can’t get clear images. This could be due to the baby being in an awkward position, if he or she doesn’t move or if you have had enough water to drink before your scan. Don’t fret over it; it’s likely that you will be booked for another appointment.
12-WEEK SCAN: THE BABY
There are amazing things happening inside you that you cannot see.
That little life is starting to take shape! Your baby will grow to approximately 6cm in length by the end of the first trimester. He or she will also have a heartbeat, and the brain, stomach and intestines all begin to develop. You may even see little stumps where the arms and legs will grow.
‘Don’t be disappointed if you really can’t make out any particular shape or form, it’s not unusual.
As long as your baby’s health and well-being is in order, you’ve got nothing to worry about! You may hear your baby’s heartbeat, and the scan can reveal whether you’re expecting more than one baby as well as the expected due date.
Your antenatal checkups are a must, although you will probably only get another scan if it is necessary.
Should your initial external scan not reveal much, your sonographer could also use an internal scan which is slightly more uncomfortable and invasive, but nevertheless gets the job done.
These are the sacrifices that we make as moms, and ultimately, it’s all for your baby.
CAN THE 12-WEEK SCAN PICK UP ANY HEALTH PROBLEMS?
Some health conditions or possible problems with your baby’s development can be picked up during the 12-week scan and, of course, your doctor will take the time to discuss this before the scan.
If you are having the screening test, Down’s syndrome is one condition that the scan may pick up. Although this scan may not definitely confirm that your baby has Down’s, it does help you and your doctor decide what additional tests might be required.
The Down’s syndrome test is sometimes called a nuchal translucency scan and, at this stage, it involves a blood test and the sonographer examining the quantities of fluid at the back of your baby’s neck since, in Down’s, a baby may have more fluid in this position.
Your doctor might recommend this test especially if you are an older mum or if your blood tests have shown a higher risk.
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