11 Weeks Pregnant Ultrasound: What to Know Before Your Appointment

Prepping for an 11-week prenatal ultrasound? At 11 weeks, you’ve almost finished your first trimester! Your baby has already graduated from an embryo to a fetus and is starting to look more like a tiny person day by day.

This article will cover what to expect at your 11-week ultrasound, detail the fetal anatomy you might see, explain what to know about nuchal translucency scans and discuss how to save your ultrasound images.

 

11 reasons to get an ultrasound at 11 weeks pregnant

At 11 weeks, it’s typical for your practitioner to requisition an ultrasound for you. An ultrasound at this stage of pregnancy will screen for several things, like:

1. Confirming weeks of gestation to adjust the due date: An ultrasound at this stage is sometimes called a ‘dating scan’.
2. Measuring the fetus: Measuring the crown rump length is also used to narrow down the due date, as this measurement can help determine the gestational age.
3. Analyzing the progress of fetal development: This assesses if the fetus is developing as expected.
4. Checking for multiple embryos: If confirmed, they will attempt to identify the types of twins or multiples.
5. Verifying the pregnancy is intrauterine (embedded in the uterus): When embryos implant outside the uterus, it is considered an ectopic or molar pregnancy.
6. Discerning the source of vaginal bleeding (if applicable): Light bleeding can sometimes be normal in early pregnancy, but it is recommended to inform your doctor so an assessment can be made.
7. Examining the condition of the cervix, ovaries and uterus: This is to evaluate how the patient’s body is adjusting to the pregnancy.
8. Checking the location and health of the placenta: This helps determine if it is developing as expected.
9. Ensuring amniotic fluid is sufficient: This determines if fluid is within expected levels.
10. Assessing the fetal heart rate: The heart rate can be compared to expected rates for the stage of gestation.
11. Measuring nuchal translucency: This helps to screen for genetic abnormalities.

 

 

What does a nuchal translucency screening tell you?

A nuchal translucency (NT) screening is an optional scan that is performed between 11 and 13 weeks gestation. It measures the fluid level at the back of the fetus’ neck to see if the measurements are within expected parameters. Some fluid is to be expected, but too much might be indicative of a potential risk of certain chromosomal anomalies, like Trisomy 21 (i.e., Down syndrome). It is often one of several routine prenatal screenings during the first trimester. But keep in mind that it is a screening test, not a diagnosis.

If your NT ultrasound comes back positive or inconclusive and you want more information, your practitioner may order further screening tests. For instance, noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is a highly accurate genetic screening based on blood samples. NIPT identifies the risk of Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities.

After screening tests come diagnostic tests. These are the tests that provide diagnoses. With your consent, your physician may order the following:

• Chorionic Villus sampling (CVS): A small sample of tissue is removed from the placenta for genetic testing and analysis.
• Amniocentesis: A sample of amniotic fluid is withdrawn and sent to the lab for testing. Keep in mind that amniocentesis is normally performed after 15 weeks.

 

What to expect at an 11-week ultrasound appointment

During your appointment, a trained ultrasound technician or sonographer uses a wand called a transducer coated in a conductive gel to transmit microbursts of sound waves through your body. Painless and at too high a frequency for human ears to hear, these sound waves create echoes as they come in contact with structures and tissues. Ultrasound technology processes the echoes into images that you can see in real-time on a monitor.

When performed by physicians, sonographers, and other trained technicians, ultrasounds are a safe, low-risk procedure according to Health Canada and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.

 

Is an 11-week pregnancy ultrasound internal or external?

There are two main types of pregnancy ultrasounds: transvaginal and transabdominal. In a transvaginal (internal) ultrasound, the gel-coated transducer wand is inserted into the vagina. In a transabdominal (external) ultrasound, the technician applies the clear gel to the abdomen and rubs the transducer through it to capture images.

By 11 weeks pregnant, you’ll likely receive a transabdominal ultrasound. At this point in your pregnancy, the fetus is large enough that the technician will be able to capture details through your abdominal wall. In some cases, patients may need a transvaginal ultrasound to obtain better imaging angles, but this is usually not necessary.

 

How to prepare for your appointment

While ultrasound scans are safe and low impact, there are some steps you can take to prepare for your appointment, such as:

• Bringing 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). Also bring your health or insurance card and photo ID.
• Setting your appointment for a time when your baby is active: Fetal movement helps the ultrasound technician capture better images. Having a cold sugary beverage before might also give your baby a little extra stimulation.
• Showing up with a full bladder: Sound waves travel more freely through liquid. A full bladder gives your technician a better chance to capture clear images.
• Drinking plenty of water during the week before your ultrasound: If you’re well-hydrated, your amniotic fluid stays clear, which makes for sharper images.
• Wearing loose and comfortable clothes: Choose clothes you can easily take on and off.
• Having a support person with you: For patients who want a support person, it may be helpful to ask the imaging clinic in advance if this is allowed. Most clinics permit someone to accompany you during the scan, but policies may vary.

 

What can you see on an ultrasound at 11 weeks pregnant?

You and your health team will learn valuable information at your 11 weeks ultrasound. Your fetus will be about 2 inches (5 cm) long, and the head will make up almost half its total length. Your ultrasound will show you the beginnings of recognizable features including:

• Visible limbs, on which fingers and toes are no longer webbed and developing nails
• Ears moving into proper position
• A nose gaining definition
• Translucent skin
• Closed eyelids
• A gradually hardening jaw

Other development is not visible at this point, but still ongoing and important. Internal organs like lungs and intestines are forming, while glands and the circulatory system are beginning to operate.

 

Questions to ask during and after your ultrasound appointment

Your technician cannot legally answer questions about the details found in your ultrasound or discuss the results with you. Instead, they’ll prepare the 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 technician before and during your ultrasound appointment:

• How long will the appointment last?
• Can I have someone in here 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 practitioner will go over the results of your 11 weeks pregnant ultrasound with you at a follow-up appointment. The ultrasound provides insight into your own health, as well as fetal development, so don’t hesitate to ask questions.

Questions to ask at your follow-up appointment:

• What are the signs of a healthy pregnancy at 11 weeks? Do I fit those markers?
• Is there any adjustment to my due date?
• How big is the fetus? What is the crown rump length?
• Is the heartbeat in a normal range?
• What were the results of the nuchal translucency test?
• Do any results require more testing? If so, what kind?
• What changes will I notice in the next few weeks?
• When is my next ultrasound?

 

How to access and share your 11-week ultrasound pictures and report

At 11 weeks, you may want to share images of your fetus with loved ones. If you want early access to your images, possibly even prior to your follow-up appointment, you can use PocketHealth.

PocketHealth enables fast access, sharing and permanent storage of all your health images and information in one place. You can conveniently print or share your pregnancy ultrasound images with friends and family so everyone can keep track of your progress.

If you need clarity on the terms in your ultrasound report, PocketHeath can lend a hand. Report Reader provides definitions of imaging terminology so you can read and understand your reports with ease and confidently discuss the results with your practitioner.

 

Frequently asked questions

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding 11 week ultrasounds.

Can you tell the sex of the baby at 11 weeks?

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. At 11 weeks pregnant, the fetus is beginning to develop genitalia and other sexual characteristics, but your ultrasound technician may not be able to discern them at this time depending on how the fetus is positioned.

Before the genitalia is fully formed, it’s referred to as the genital tubercle. The nub theory predicts the baby’s sex by examining the angle of the tubercle and predictions are accurate in almost 91% of cases at 11 and 12 weeks.

When do I have my prenatal anatomy scan?

The second trimester is when patients will have their prenatal anatomy scan, typically around 18 to 20 weeks gestation. While fetal biometry and other anatomical measurements will be taken during earlier ultrasounds to evaluate growth and development, the fetus’s full anatomy won’t be completely assessed until closer to 20 weeks.

Is 11 weeks too early for an ultrasound

11 weeks is not too early for an ultrasound. In fact, many patients have their first ultrasound as early as 6 weeks, typically to confirm gestational dates or perform other baseline evaluations. It all depends on the individual and their provider’s recommendations. Some patients may not receive their first scan until 10 to 11 weeks, which may also be considered standard.

Can twins go undetected at 11 weeks?

Sometimes multiple fetuses may not be detected by 11 weeks, but this is rare. It can happen if one twin is hidden behind the other, especially if it is smaller than its sibling. Positioning and image clarity of the ultrasound are also factors that can contribute to a hidden twin. However, by 11 weeks, it is very likely that a multiple pregnancy would be detected.

 

Feel confident throughout your pregnancy journey

PocketHealth makes it simple to keep track of your pregnancy scan reports and other medical results. All your vital imaging is in one secure location and can be accessed online anytime. If needed, reports can also be easily shared with other physicians in your care team. When used in conjunction with your medical provider’s professional advice, it is a powerful tool for organizing and understanding your imaging results and your health.

Another tool for your health is MyCare Navigator, which provides personalized insights to your health and identifies any recommended follow-up steps. This feature can also generate individualized questions to ask your doctor based on the findings in your report, ensuring you make the most of your consultation.