20-week ultrasound

The 20-week ultrasound is part of prenatal screening and it is a medical screening for physical abnormalities in your baby.

It can be done between 18 and 21 weeks of pregnancy. It is similar to the 13-week scan, but of course, your baby is now bigger and more developed. This is why more details can be examined now.

The ultrasound technician will visualize your baby by moving an ultrasound probe across your abdomen. An ultrasound doesn’t hurt and is not dangerous, your baby won’t feel a thing. The ultrasound takes about 45 minutes.

The ultrasound technician will discuss the results with you immediately after the ultrasound. In 95 out of 100 pregnancies, there is no sign of abnormalities. Follow-up testing is then not necessary. In about 5 out of 100 pregnancies, the ultrasound technician sees something that can be an abnormality. It’s not always clear if it’s indeed an abnormality, how serious it is and what it will mean for the health of your baby. This is why you can opt for follow-up testing.

You won’t have to pay for the counseling appointment and the ultrasound. Follow-up testing sometimes takes away from your deductible.