14 Weeks Pregnant Ultrasound: What to Know Before Your Appointment

By 14 weeks pregnant, you’re officially in your second trimester! Your baby is now fully formed and has even started to develop hair (also known as lanugo) to keep warm as it continues to grow in the coming months. If you haven’t had one already, now is a good time to screen for any chromosomal anomalies. We will also cover other aspects of your 14-week scan, including details about nuchal translucency screenings, what your ultrasound reveals at this stage, recommended questions to ask and how to understand and share your images.

While most patients receive their ultrasound results during a follow-up appointment, PocketHealth offers faster access by notifying you as soon as your final report is uploaded. This early access allows you to review your results and prepare any questions for your doctor.

 

 

Why get an ultrasound at 14 weeks pregnant?

Typically, most patients have an early ultrasound (6-8 weeks) to check for viability and establish gestational dates, and/or a nuchal translucency screening at 11-13 weeks to test for chromosomal abnormalities. If you haven’t had either of these, you may be scheduled for a scan at 14 weeks to evaluate:

• The size of the fetus: Your practitioner will likely start using head and thigh bone measurements to measure development, called fetal biometry measurements.
• Bone tissue formation: Your technician will be able to see more well-defined and proportionate arms and legs. They can also evaluate for any structural irregularities.
• External development of sex organs: Sex organs will continue to develop on the outside of your baby’s body, while ovaries or testes continue to grow inside. It may be too early to see the baby’s sex, however.
• Fetal heart rate and blood flows: Your doctor will be able to track your baby’s heart rate and confirm that vessels are developing normally.
• Sufficient amniotic fluid: Amniotic fluid levels must not drop below a certain level or it can impact the health of you and your baby.
• The health of your placenta, uterus, ovaries and cervix: Your placenta provides nourishment for your baby. Ultrasounds show if your placenta is able to support continued development. Ultrasounds also confirm that your cervix is lengthening appropriately and check other functions of your body.
• Discerning the source of vaginal bleeding, if applicable: Vaginal bleeding is not always cause for concern, but an ultrasound can help your doctor determine the cause.

If you didn’t have a scan between 11 and 13 weeks, your ultrasound may also determine:

• Your due date: Ultrasound information can confirm your due date.
• Check for multiple pregnancies: Your doctor will be able to confirm the existence of more than one fetus during this ultrasound.
• Genetic anomalies: Found by measuring nuchal translucency.

 

What can you see on an ultrasound at 14 weeks pregnant?

Using the results of your 14 weeks ultrasound, your healthcare practitioner will learn valuable information about how the fetus is developing and how your body is changing. This week, the fetus will be about 3.4 inches (8.5 cm) from head to bottom. Here are some specifics the ultrasound will show:

• Biparietal diameter: Measurement of the developing skull of the fetus to better determine fetal weight and age.
• Ovaries or testes: By now these will be fully formed. Genitalia is becoming distinct on the outside of the body.
• More movement: Your baby can turn its head and bring its fingers to its mouth. Swallowing muscles will be developing as well.
• Fine hair: The fetus will begin to grow fine hair (lanugo) and develop unique fingerprints.
• Yolk sac disappeared: It has been absorbed by the fetus for nourishment.

 

Can you tell the baby’s gender on a 14-week pregnancy ultrasound?

Though sometimes used as synonyms, sex and gender mean different things. Sex refers to physical characteristics and attributes, while gender refers to the social roles individuals use to identify themselves in the world. Here are some commonly asked questions about whether you can determine a baby’s sex by their 14-week ultrasound.

How to identify baby gender from scan report?

The ultrasound images will likely allow your doctor to see the genital tubercle, or the very beginnings of genitalia forming. Called the nub theory, by 13 weeks, it’s over 98% accurate in predicting sex by examining the angle of the tubercle. And accuracy continues to increase with gestational age. That said, if the baby is not at the right angle for good imaging, you may need to wait for your anatomy scan ultrasound to find out the sex of your baby.

14-week ultrasound gender accuracy

Predictions of sex are fairly accurate at 14 weeks. By now the baby’s genitalia have developed internally and have become much more distinct externally, but it is common to wait until around to determine the sex of the baby during your anatomy scan ultrasound between 18-20 weeks.

 

 

Nuchal translucency ultrasound at 14 weeks

A nuchal translucency (NT) screening is not a diagnostic test, but a measurement of the thickness of the area of fluid buildup at the back of the baby’s neck. Some fluid is expected, but too much might indicate a potential risk of chromosomal anomalies like Trisomy 21 (i.e., Down syndrome). Note that ideally, it’s recommended to have this test between 11 and 13 weeks, even if it’s at 13 weeks and 6 days, because the fluid starts to be absorbed by the fetus at 14 weeks. Ask your doctor about the optimal timing if you want to schedule.

If your NT test comes back inconclusive or positive, you can request more information or ask your practitioner to discuss further testing, such as:

• Noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT): This screens the fetus’s risk of having a chromosomal disorder. A sample of your blood is used to test the baby’s DNA for chromosomal anomalies.
• Chorionic Villus sampling (CVS): Performed by extracting cells, called chorionic villi, from the placenta. They carry the same genetic material as the fetus and can test for many anomalies.
• Amniocentesis: This test uses a needle to extract a small amount of amniotic fluid from the uterus, which is tested for chromosomal and genetic conditions.

 

What to expect at a 14 weeks pregnant ultrasound appointment

During a medical ultrasound, a sonographer or trained technician uses a hand-held device called a transducer to make sound waves (too quiet for human ears to hear) that travel painlessly through your body to your baby. An ultrasound machine can detect the sound waves and use them to create an image of your baby’s exact size, shape and position.

Unlike X-rays, ultrasounds don’t use radiation to capture images and are safe when performed by a trained sonographer or ultrasound technician. Only practitioners trained to give fetal ultrasounds can give you a pregnancy ultrasound.

You’ll most likely receive a transabdominal ultrasound at your 14 weeks appointment. During a transabdominal ultrasound, you’ll be asked to change into a gown and lie down on your back on a reclined, cushioned table. The sonographer will place gel on your belly and abdomen and slide a transducer across the gel to capture detailed images of different parts of your womb, cervix and the developing fetus.

Pregnancy ultrasounds require some preparation. You can make sure you’re ready for your 14 weeks transabdominal ultrasound by:

• Bring a copy of your requisition: This documentation communicates exactly which type of exam you require and makes the check-in process easier (in case your practitioner hasn’t sent your requisition in advance to the clinic or hospital).
• Arrive with a full bladder: Sound waves travel more easily through liquid, so a full bladder helps your sonographer capture the best images possible of your baby.
• Book your appointment when your baby is more active: Drinking a cold sugary beverage right before your appointment can also help make your baby more active, which allows the ultrasound technician to capture as many images as possible.
• Have a support person join you during the appointment: Not all facilities allow support persons to attend, so be sure to check ahead with the imaging clinic or hospital for guidance.
• Drink lots of water in the week leading up to your ultrasound: Staying well hydrated helps keep amniotic fluid clear, allowing for better images.
• Wear loose and comfortable clothing: Make sure that whatever you wear is easy to take off and put on.

 

Questions to ask during and after your ultrasound appointment

At your 14 weeks ultrasound appointment, the ultrasound technician can’t legally answer questions about what can be seen in your ultrasound or discuss the results of your ultrasound report. The technician will prepare images, which are reviewed by a radiologist. The radiologist then prepares a report for your practitioner to discuss with you at your ultrasound follow-up appointment.

Questions to ask the ultrasound technician during your appointment:

• How long will the appointment last?
• Can I have someone in the room with me?
• Can I take photos or videos of my own during the appointment?
• How will you share the results with my healthcare team, and when?

Your healthcare practitioner will go over the results of your 14 weeks pregnant ultrasound with you at your follow-up appointment. The ultrasound provides insight into the health and development of the fetus and your own health, so make sure to ask any questions you may have, including this list to get you started.

Questions to ask your practitioner at your follow-up appointment:

• What are the signs of a healthy pregnancy at 14 weeks? Am I on track?
• How big is the fetus?
• Is the heartbeat in the normal range?
• Do any results require more testing? If so, what kind?
• What changes to my body or moods will I notice in the next few weeks?
• When is my next ultrasound?
• Is there any change to my due date?

 

How soon can I get my 14 week pregnancy ultrasound images and report?

You may be eager to access your 14 weeks pregnant ultrasound images and report as soon as possible. Turnaround times depend on the imaging facility and your doctor’s office. It can sometimes take up to a week or more to receive your report, or you might not get it until your follow-up appointment with your doctor.

With PocketHealth you can quickly and easily access and share your pregnancy ultrasound images and report–often before your follow-up appointment with your practitioner.

PocketHealth enables you to securely access, share and store your imaging and other health information in one place. You can also easily share images with family and friends and see how your baby is changing over time.

Pregnancy ultrasound terminology can be complicated, but PocketHealth Report Reader is there to help. Report Reader makes it easier to understand terms in your ultrasound report and feel more prepared and confident when speaking to your pregnancy care practitioner.

 

Feel empowered throughout your second trimester

Your 14 week pregnancy ultrasound will track your baby’s development, using biparietal diameter measurements for the remainder of the pregnancy. Being prepared for your ultrasound can help you feel comfortable during your appointment and confident when speaking with your practitioner. The more knowledge you have, the more empowered you’ll be as you continue through your second trimester.

Additionally, having access to your pregnancy images allows you to easily share your scans with friends and family whenever you like. You can also download them to email, save them to your computer or flash drive or print your ultrasound pictures.

Learn more about how to use PocketHealth to access and share your pregnancy ultrasound records.