What Happens During Your 12 Week Scan & How You Can Prepare

Previously we discussed the 12 week scan. The idea of going for a scan can seem a bit daunting. So, we have the ins and outs of the 12 week scan for you.

Why Get A 12 Week Scan?

Besides the fact that you are probably bursting at the seams to see your baby, a 12 week scan provides your doctor with important information relating to you and your baby’s health. It doesn’t have to be bang on 12 weeks, the scan can take place between 11 and 13 weeks.

What Can You Tell From A 12 Week Scan?

Having an ultrasound at 12 weeks allows your doctor to:

Tell how many babies you are expecting.
Monitor your baby’s heart rate - usually 160bpm.
Check baby is developing well.
Determine gestational age by measuring from the crown to the rump.

Where Do I Get My 12 Week Scan?

You can book an appointment in your local maternity hospital/ward or there is the option to attend a private clinic. The decision is up to you and your partner depending on a number of factors from location to income.

How Do I Prepare For My Scan?

Firstly, it’s important to remain calm. Seeing your baby for the first time can be nerve wracking, as well as finding out how your baby is developing etc. Try to take a few deep breaths before going in to calm yourself.

It’s worth drinking some water before you go in as a full bladder can give a clearer picture of your baby. Don’t go overboard, you’ll want to be concentrating on seeing your baby for the first time, not how much you need to use the loo!

What Happens During The Scan?

During the scan the sonographer or midwife, will apply a cold gel to your tummy. This gel allows the transducer to glide over your stomach easily. What’s a transducer we hear you ask? It’s a wand that will slide over your belly in order to get a look at your baby inside.

An image of what’s going on inside the womb will appear on the screen in black and white, sometimes grey. It may look a bit confusing to you, but don’t worry your sonographer will be able to interpret what’s going on. If your baby (or babies) position is good, you may be able to get a 3D scan. Unfortunately the gender can not be verified at this early stage.

How Jinga Snap Gave Me Peace Of Mind During My Pregnancy

The topic of pregnancy has been at the forefront this month on our Jinga Tribe Blog, one of our readers, Rachel, got in contact to tell us how Jinga Snap helped her during her pregnancy.

“I had heard of Jinga Life from a friend. I downloaded the app straight away and would use it to store my medical records and keep track of my partners diabetes. When I found out I was expecting, I knew Jinga Life would be a great help in keeping track of everything. I’m not very organised and knew baby brain would affect me, so using Jinga Life to track my appointments and blood works was great.

Whilst reading a blog post, I saw a new feature had been added to the website, Jinga Snap. Curious as to what it was I downloaded it. I couldn’t believe it! I now had a great platform on my phone that could store my sonograms. I didn’t have to worry about the print out of my 12 week scan getting lost, I had the images right there on my phone, ready to be shared with future aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents at the touch of a button!

Both Jinga Life and Jinga Snap have given me peace of mind throughout these early stages of my pregnancy.”