[Jill83]

My GP says first scan at 18weeks. .I should not wait that long should I? Can I request to get one done? This is my first bub and at 6weeks I'm showing a lot..either I'm having more than one or the weeks are more..

[Alacritous~Andy]

You may wish to look into the 12 week NT scan + bloods if you are interested in screening for some genetic disorders. Depending on your age, it won't be overed by Medicare though, so there will be out of pocket expenses.

[LovingTheBeach]

In addition to the previously mentioned NT scan, my GP sent me for a dating scan to give an indication of due date, but that was because I had come off the pill four months earlier with no period before being pregnant. You could always ask and see what the GP says?

[raone]

I had dating scaning at 7, 12 week scan and 20 week. I had to pay for the first two though as I was only 28. Just tell your GP you want them.

[MrsLexiK]

I had a dating scan due to a fam history of ectopic pregnancies and a higher chance of miscarriage. I also had a 12 week scan really because we wanted to see bubs again not because we were phased by the NT part of it. I got some back from medicare but the 18 - 22 week scan is the one where they check flow etc and is the one that is seen as the important one.

I highly doubt you would be showing at 6 weeks even with more then 1 in there, you could be bloated though I suffered from this, by nightime I was really bloated it sucked! You could easily be further along though and if you think you could be then yes request a dating scan. I think mine cost around $130 or something and I got about $50 back from medicare.

[againagain]

I think (could be wrong) that only the 18-20 week ultrasound can be fully covered for you. You could have the 12 week ultrasound but you will be out of pocket for some of it, same with a dating scan.

[elizabethany]

Yup, most women get a scan at 12 weeks, and many of those do the NT tests.

Generally you only get a dating scan if there is uncertainty about you dates, for example, while I knew my LMP, DH was out of the country 14 days after (and I wasn't naughty ) so I must have O'd late. My dating scan showed I was 10 days behind.

The 18 week scan is the big one, they check pretty much anyting that could cause problems.

[Koobie83]

I didn't get a dating scan but had one at 12 weeks (NT scan) in conjunction with the blood test I took 5 days prior. Then had a morphology scan done at 20 weeks. My friends OB didn't refer her for a scan earlier either. It was odd.

[Rolex]

If you're unsure about your dates, you can request a dating scan. I had one with this pregnancy, more as a viability scan after consecutive miscarriages, and it was bulk billed. My NT scan at 13 weeks was also bulk billed but only because I'm over 35. Morph scan at 19 weeks I paid $60 out of pocket.

[MsCert]

I'd recommend getting at least a 12 week scan, if not one at 8 weeks as well.

It's good to see your baby is developing, you hear a lot of about missed miscarriages and you wouldn't want to find out that late. Best to know what's happening early on.

My 12 week Nuchal Translucency scan was covered by Medicare, I'm 28. I had it done at RPA in Sydney.