Timing
- 20-22 weeks of pregnancy
Purpose
- Determine the growth and health of the baby/babies
- Evaluate placental position
- Measure of the amount of amniotic fluid
Description
This is a detailed scan of your baby/babies anatomy. The scan is performed transabdominally. In women at high risk for preterm delivery (multiple pregnancies, previous preterm birth, abnormalities of the uterus or previous cervical surgery) we may also carry out a transvaginal scan to measure the length of the cervix.
Examining your growing baby/babies
During the scan, we will examine each part of the fetal body in detail. Special attention is paid to the brain, face, spine, heart, stomach, bowel, kidneys and limbs.
Girl or boy? Determining fetal sex
The gender of your baby/babies can usually be determined at this ultrasound. In some cases, the baby may have their legs crossed or be facing away from the abdomen and thus the sexual organs will not be visible during the anatomic ultrasound.
What if I don’t want to know the gender?
Many expectant parents are excited to know, others want to wait until the birth to find out if they are having a girl or boy. If you do not wish to know the gender of your baby, please tell your care provider and ultrasound technician.