When is an Anatomy Ultrasound?
This ultrasound takes place during the second trimester around the 19-20 week mark to monitor the development of the baby.
What does an anatomy ultrasound look for?
The anatomy ultrasound offers much clearer images than those taken during the first trimester. It also allows for more detail when it comes to size and overall health. A typical anatomy sonogram will look at the four chambers of the heart, the kidneys, bladder, stomach, brain, spine and sex organs. It will also check for hard and soft markers that may indicate an increased risk of chromosomal abnormalities. In addition to estimating the weight, your sonographer will likely also be able to determine the sex of your baby.
What you can expect at an anatomy ultrasound?
During your ultrasound, we ask that you recline on an exam table with your stomach exposed. Your sonographer will apply a gel and then move a transducer over your stomach. Sound waves emitted from the transducer bounce off fluids and internal organs, and then are recorded and converted by a computer to create a 2-dimensional image of your baby on the screen.
We will likely need to change up our angles in order to get the best view, and then we’ll freeze-frame the picture to take a measurement of different parts of the body. This process typically takes 30 to 45 minutes depending on the positioning of your baby.
