What is 12 week scan Ireland?
The 12 week ultrasound is the first pregnancy scan you’ll have, it’s also known as the ‘dating scan’. This is a really important scan because it confirms how far along you are and checks your baby’s development. It will also give you those unforgettable images of your growing baby!
What happens during the scan?
The first step is for the’sonographer’ to put some ultrasound gel onto your stomach. This may feel a little cold but it helps the probe to move more easily over your tummy.
Next, the ultrasound screen will be angled so the sonographer can see your baby better. They’ll then guide the probe over your tummy using a little pressure Ultrasound Belfast. The picture will then appear on the screen in black and white.
You’ll then get some questions from the sonographer about your symptoms and a blood test will be taken. The results of the blood test are used to work out your baby’s chance of having Down syndrome, Edwards’ syndrome or Patau’s syndrome.
If you have any concerns about the result of your test, you can discuss it with your midwife or GP and they will advise you on what to do. They can also tell you about a screening test called the nuchal translucency (NT) test that will help find if your baby has Down syndrome, and will also help identify other chromosomal anomalies like Edwards’ and Patau’s.
The NT screen is offered to all pregnant women in England and Wales, but you can choose whether or not you want to have it. This involves a blood test and the fluid at the back of your baby’s neck is measured during the scan.