How Many Ultrasounds Do You Get During Pregnancy?

If you're pregnant, you've probably already started wondering what your ultrasound schedule is going to look like.

Maybe you've heard a friend talk about having three scans. Someone else tells you they only had one. Then you see people online talking about their 12-week, 20-week, 28-week and 32-week scans and suddenly you're wondering:

Wait... how many ultrasounds am I actually supposed to have?

The answer is: it depends.

Every pregnancy is different, and the number of medical ultrasounds you have will depend on your individual circumstances and what your healthcare provider recommends.

It's also worth knowing that medical ultrasounds and elective keepsake ultrasounds are two different things.

How many ultrasounds are normally done during pregnancy?

There isn't one set number that applies to every pregnancy.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), a standard prenatal ultrasound is generally performed around 18 to 22 weeks of pregnancy. Some people may also have an ultrasound during the first trimester, depending on their individual circumstances.

Your healthcare provider may recommend additional ultrasounds if they feel that your pregnancy needs closer monitoring.

So while one person may have a couple of routine scans, another person may have more. It doesn't necessarily mean that anything is wrong ... sometimes additional imaging is simply part of providing the appropriate care for that particular pregnancy.

Your doctor or midwife is always the best person to talk to about which medical ultrasounds you need.

What happens at an early pregnancy ultrasound?

Early pregnancy ultrasounds can be a little different from the scans you see later on.

At this stage, your baby is still very small, so the purpose of a medical ultrasound may include things such as estimating how far along you are, confirming the pregnancy's location or determining whether there is more than one baby.

What your provider looks for will depend on how far along you are and why the ultrasound has been recommended.

What is the 18–22 week ultrasound?

You've probably heard people refer to this as the 20-week scan or anatomy scan.

ACOG recommends that patients be offered a second-trimester ultrasound for fetal structural defects, ideally between 18 and 22 weeks.

This is an important part of prenatal care and is different from an elective 3D or 4D keepsake ultrasound.

A medical ultrasound is performed for a specific clinical purpose and forms part of your care with your healthcare provider.

So where do 3D and 4D ultrasounds come in?

This is where things get a little more fun.

A 3D or 4D keepsake ultrasound isn't intended to replace your regular prenatal care. Instead, it's an opportunity to spend some extra time seeing your baby and sharing that experience with the people you love.

3D imaging can give you a more detailed, three-dimensional view of your baby's features, while 4D imaging adds movement, allowing you to watch your baby move in real time.

And if you've ever seen a baby yawn, stretch or seemingly suck their thumb during a 4D ultrasound, you already know why parents get so excited about them.

At Baby Smiles, we offer a range of ultrasound experiences for different stages of pregnancy, including 3D, 4D and HD imaging.

Can I have more than one keepsake ultrasound?

Absolutely.

Some parents want one special appointment to capture beautiful images of their baby. Others love coming back at different stages of pregnancy to see how much their little one has changed.

There isn't a right or wrong way to do it.

Your medical ultrasounds should always follow the recommendations of your healthcare provider. If you'd also like to enjoy elective keepsake ultrasounds along the way, that's a personal choice you can make based on the experience you'd like to have.

So, how many ultrasounds will you have?

Unfortunately, there's no magic number we can give you.

Your healthcare provider will recommend the medical ultrasounds that are appropriate for your pregnancy, and that can look different from person to person.

If you're interested in adding a keepsake ultrasound to your pregnancy journey, you can choose an experience based on your stage of pregnancy and what you'd love to capture.

Pregnancy can feel like it's flying by, and getting to pause for a little while and actually see your baby is pretty incredible.

One appointment might capture a tiny profile. Another might catch a yawn or a stretch. A later appointment might give you a glimpse of the little face you've been imagining for months.

Those are the moments you'll want to remember.

Ready to see your little one? Explore Baby Smiles' ultrasound experiences and find the package that's right for you.