Most healthy women receive two ultrasound scans during pregnancy. “The first is, ideally, in the first trimester to confirm the due date, and the second is at 18-22 weeks to confirm normal anatomy and the sex of the baby,” explains Mendiola.

Dec. 2, 2004 — Having multiple ultrasound examinations during pregnancy is unlikely to cause any lasting harm to the developing fetus, according to a new study that confirms the long-term safety of the commonly used procedure.

• Important scans during pregnancy.
• Understanding the purpose of your scans.
• Your very first scan: between six and eight weeks.
• Your first trimester anomaly scan: between 11 weeks and 13 weeks and four days.
• Second trimester scan: between 18 and 23 weeks.
• Sonars during the third trimester.
• After your due date.

A growth scan is an ultrasound scan done during the last trimester of pregnancy to determine the growth of the baby. It can be done once or many times (as per the requirement). The first fetal growth scan is suggested to be done between 28 weeks and 32 weeks of pregnancy to determine the growth and fetal wellbeing.

Anatomy Scan (18-20 Weeks) This detailed pregnancy ultrasound, which generally happens between weeks 18 and 20 in the second trimester, lasts 20 to 45 minutes if you’re having one baby and longer if you’re having multiples. It’s the most thorough check-up your baby will have before they’re born.

Pregnancy can be seen on a scan from the 6th weeks (halfway through your first trimester), but doctors recommend these early scans to be done between 7th to 12th weeks to ensure that your baby is normally growing inside you.

The fetus is most vulnerable during the first 12 weeks. During this period of time, all of the major organs and body systems are forming and can be damaged if the fetus is exposed to drugs, infectious agents, radiation, certain medications, tobacco and toxic substances.

Experts say the best time to get pregnant is between your late 20s and early 30s. This age range is associated with the best outcomes for both you and your baby. One study pinpointed the ideal age to give birth to a first child as 30.5. Your age is just one factor that should go into your decision to get pregnant.

The reason why the baby is overdue is usually not known. Sometimes it is because of a genetic predisposition (hereditary). Women who have already had a baby that came much later than their due date are more likely to have an overdue baby in future pregnancies.

Most women are able to use the bathroom during labor — to urinate and to have a bowel movement. Your health care provider will probably encourage you to do so because it’s possible that a full bladder might slow down your baby’s descent.

While women feel embarrassed about pooping during labor, it’s totally natural. And, it might even be healthier for both mom and baby. “If women poop during the delivery they are using the right muscles,” said Dr. Christine Greves, a doctor at the Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology at Orland Health.

Stool softeners work by adding moisture to the stool to soften it and make it easier to pass. A stimulant laxative, on the other hand, forces your intestines to contract and gives you the urge to poop. The stool softener is not for long-term use; it is to get you through the initial slow-down after birth.

Yes, childbirth is painful. But it’s manageable. In fact, nearly half of first-time moms (46 percent) said the pain they experienced with their first child was better than they expected, according to a nationwide survey commissioned by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) in honor of Mother’s Day.

Crowning is often referred to as the “ring of fire” in the birthing process. It’s when your baby’s head becomes visible in the birth canal after you’ve fully dilated. It’s the home stretch — in more ways than one.

The baby is pushed out of the uterus, through the cervix, and along the birth canal. The baby’s head usually comes first. The umbilical cord comes out with the baby.