The browser you are using is too old for our website. Please visit www.aptaclub.ie from Chrome and you will be able to browse normally.

Pregnancy

      Baby scans and pregnancy ultrasounds

      Baby Scan

      Baby scans and pregnancy ultrasounds

      Summary

      Your first pregnancy scan can be an exciting yet nerve-wracking experience. It offers the first tangible signs of what’s going on inside and it’s the closest you’ll come to meeting your baby until they’re delivered into your arms. Learn about why scans are offered, and what to expect during a typical ultrasound scan.

      What is an ultrasound scan?

      An ultrasound scan bounces sound waves back and forth to build up a simple black and white picture of your baby as it grows in the womb. It’s a painless procedure with no known side-effects for mum or baby.

      Your routine pregnancy scans

      As part of the HSE pregnancy care program you will be offered two scans during your pregnancy. The first scan, also known as the dating scan, will take place before your 15th week of pregnancy, (typically around 12 weeks). The second pregnancy scan, also known as the fetal anatomy or anomaly scan will take place anytime between your 18th and 22nd week. 

      peranting-icon-circle.png

      Brighter futures start here

      Discover more about infant development to help shape your baby's future

      Join now for free

      Early pregnancy scan

      If you are experiencing pain or bleeding, have had a previous miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy, you may be invited to have an early scan between six and ten weeks. This is not the same as an ultrasound scan as your baby will be very small at this stage. During this scan a probe will be inserted into your vagina to gain a clearer picture of developments and identify a heartbeat. Although more invasive than an ultrasound, it is a simple and pain-free procedure. Your medical team will be on hand to give you plenty of support and reassurance throughout.

      Growth scan

      You may be invited to have a third ‘growth’ scan around 32 weeks. This scan is not required for all pregnancies, but it is sometimes offered as a precaution to check your baby’s growth and position in the final few weeks.

      There are no known risks to mother or baby of having an ultrasound scan.

      Your baby scan questions answered

      Where are scans carried out?

      Pregnancy scans are usually carried out in a maternity unit by specially trained radiographers or sonographers, midwives or obstetricians. Your first scan appointment will be triggered when you notify your GP of your pregnancy

      How many baby scans do I have?

      You will usually have two ultrasound scans as part of your pregnancy. Additional scans may be requested by your midwife. The first scan is sometimes called the ‘dating’ scan. The second scan is sometimes called an ‘anomaly’ scan.

      You may choose to pay for extra scans during your pregnancy, such as an early scan or if you’ve had a previous pregnancy loss or are concerned about miscarriage.  You will need to book these scans yourself.  Your GP can advise you on where to get these private pregnancy scans in your area.

      What happens in a pregnancy scan?

      You’ll be asked to lie on the bed and pull your clothing up or down to reveal your tummy. The lights will be dimmed to enable the sonographer to get a good view of the screen. The sonographer will spread gel onto your bump to allow the probe to move freely, before taking screenshots of ultrasound images and recording measurements on their computer.

      When can I find out if it’s a boy or a girl?

      During your anatomy scan the sonographer may also be able to identify your baby’s gender. Your sonographer will usually ask you first, but if you’d prefer not to know make it clear at the start of your scan. Bear in mind that their prediction cannot be 100% accurate.

      How long do baby scans take?

      The ultrasound pregnancy scan typically takes 20 minutes to complete, depending on a number of factors. A wriggly baby can be trickier to measure and may require several attempts to take measurements to ensure accuracy.

      What are the risks of baby scans?

      There are no known risks to mother or baby of having an ultrasound scan.

      How much do baby scans cost?

      The two scans that you have through the HSE are free.

      The HSE provide 2D scans, but it is possible to pay for 3D or 4D baby scans through private services. These types of scans will show clearer and more vivid representations of your baby, but they are not essential.

      What time off work can my partner and I have for scan appointments?

      The Government advice for the rights of pregnant women and their partners with respect to leave from employment for ante-natal appointments is as follows:

      Employers must give pregnant employees time off for antenatal care and pay their normal rate for this time off. The father or pregnant woman’s partner has the right to unpaid time off work to go to 2 antenatal appointments.

      Remember, the definition of ante-natal appointments is not limited to pregnancy scans and medical appointments; it could also include antenatal or parenting classes if they’ve been recommended by a doctor or midwife.

      Your baby's future health begins here

      Your baby's future health begins here

      At Aptaclub, we believe that experience helps to build resilience; that
      each new encounter, whether in pregnancy or after birth, can shape your
      baby’s future development. With our scientific expertise and one-to-one
      round the clock support, we can help you and your baby embrace tomorrow.

      Join Aptaclub

      Related articles

      Questions about feeding and nutrition?

      Our nutritionists and feeding advisors are always on hand to talk about feeding your baby. So if you have a question, just get in touch.

      Brighter futures start here

      Discover more about infant development to help shape your baby's future

      Join now for free

      Your privacy is important to us and therefore we would like to explain how we use cookies on this website. With your consent, we will use cookies to measure and analyse how our website is used (analytical cookies), to tailor it to your interests (personalisation cookies), and to show you relevant advertising and information (targeting cookies) we think you will like. For more information please read the cookie statement.

      Privacy Settings

      You can choose your preferences anytime for cookies and tracking. For more information please read our cookie policy.

      • Strictly necessary

        They are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services (setting your privacy preferences, logging in, filling in forms, etc.). You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work.

      • Analytical cookies

        They allow us to count visits and traffic sources, to measure and improve the performance of our site. They show us which pages are the most and least popular and how visitors move around the site. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.

      • Personalisation cookies

        They enable website’s enhanced functionality and personalization. They may be set by us or by third parties whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies, some or all of these services may not function properly.

      • Targeting cookies

        They may be set through our site by our advertising partners, to build a profile of your interests and to show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.