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The anatomy scan at 18 to 22 weeks: a detailed look at your baby

NNova editorial team · 5 min read

The anatomy scan is a routine, detailed ultrasound usually done between 18 and 22 weeks. It checks your baby's structures, placenta, and amniotic fluid, and if something looks unusual, a repeat scan or specialist review is often suggested.

What is usually checked at the anatomy scan

The anatomy scan is a detailed ultrasound. The sonographer or provider looks at your baby's growth and development, the placenta, and the amniotic fluid. The scan helps show how your baby's body is forming and how the pregnancy is going. It can find many, but not all, differences in development.

  • the head and brain
  • the face and spine
  • the heart and major blood vessels
  • the stomach, abdomen, and kidneys
  • the arms and legs
  • the placenta, amniotic fluid, and sometimes cervical length

How to prepare

Many people need little or no special preparation. Some offices ask you to arrive with a full bladder, which can help with certain views. Most scans are done over the abdomen. A vaginal ultrasound is used only when the provider needs a closer look at the cervix. Ask your provider what to expect for your appointment.

If the scan shows something unusual, it is not a final diagnosis. Many findings turn out to be normal, and a repeat scan or a referral to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist is often the next step.

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General information only; it does not replace advice from your doctor or midwife.