11 week ultrasound: Reasons, procedure, and what to expect

11 weeks is a common time for the first ultrasound screening in pregnancy. Sometimes, due to certain medical indications, you may have your first ultrasound earlier, starting from week 5. However, in this case, an 11 week ultrasound is commonly scheduled for a follow-up.

At this time, an ultrasound can be performed either transvaginally or transabdominally. Your baby is about the size of a fig, which allows you to get a clearer image of the fetus with both ultrasound types. During an 11 week ultrasound, you can expect to see a more distinguished baby shape with the head, torso, limbs, fingers, toes, and some other physical features. You can also expect to hear the heartbeat and see fetal movement.

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At 11 weeks, you’ve gone quite a long way in your pregnancy. In just a couple of weeks, you will enter the second trimester, so it’s an exciting milestone in your journey.

This time is also exciting because you will be able to see your baby in an ultrasound. You may have already had your first viability or dating ultrasound before, around 7 or 9 weeks. However, it’s common for healthcare professionals to schedule an additional follow-up screening around this time. The exciting news is that an 11 week ultrasound can show you more – your baby grows fast, and by this time, it should get a more recognisable shape. In this article, we’ll tell you what to expect from your 11 week ultrasound, regardless of whether it’s your first or a repeated screening.

Is It Common to Have an Ultrasound 11 Weeks Pregnant?

The first ultrasound screenings in pregnancy can be held as early as 6-9 weeks. In certain cases, when there are medical indications or a high-risk pregnancy, it’s also possible to have the first screening earlier, at 5 weeks. However, although such early screenings are considered a normal practice, today, many healthcare providers prefer to wait if there are no specific reasons to have an ultrasound early.

In many cases, routine screenings begin around 10-12 weeks. So, yes, having the first ultrasound 11 weeks pregnant is rather common. Furthermore, it’s also common to have a follow-up, first-trimester ultrasound at this time if you had one earlier. A follow-up is needed to confirm the results of the first ultrasound and rule out any complications.

Why You Might Need an 11 Week Ultrasound?

If it's your first screening, a doctor will use an 11 week ultrasound for the following purposes:

• To confirm pregnancy viability. The earliest scans are pivotal for locating a pregnancy in the uterus and ensuring its normal development. To assess viability, doctors monitor the fetus’s development, growth, and heartbeat.
• To detect the number of embryos. There are several signs that can hint that you are pregnant with two or more babies. These include more severe early pregnancy symptoms, faster weight gain, and increased fatigue. Yet, an ultrasound is the only definitive way to identify multiples. During the screening, a doctor will check the number of sacs and embryos.
• To establish gestational age. Although you may already have an idea of when you got pregnant, it’s important to accurately establish your gestational age with a doctor. This is needed to calculate the estimated due date and ensure proper preparation for labor. During an 11 week ultrasound, your healthcare provider will measure the crown-rump length of the embryo to determine your gestational age.
• To examine potential problems. Finally, your first ultrasounds are important for evaluating both fetal and maternal health in order to identify any possible complications early and address them in a timely manner. This check is performed regardless of whether you have adverse symptoms or not, just to ensure a healthy pregnancy development.

As you can see, there are quite many important reasons to have your first ultrasound at this time. However, it’s also possible that you have already had your first ultrasound earlier. In this case, a doctor can schedule you for a follow-up ultrasound 11 weeks pregnant. This is commonly done for one of the following reasons:

• To follow up on problems and abnormalities.
• To identify the placental location.
• To observe uterine or abdominal growth.
• To identify hydramnios or oligohydramnios, etc.

If you’ve been suggested to have a repeat ultrasound, don’t worry just yet. It’s important to remember that close screening and monitoring of your pregnancy is important to ensure optimal fetal and maternal health.

Even if you have a history of pregnancy complications or you’re facing adverse symptoms like pain, in many cases, timely medical intervention and proper treatment can help sustain pregnancy. As you move toward your second trimester, pregnancy risks, such as a miscarriage, are dropping rapidly. At 11 weeks, in particular, you have a 98.3% chance of maintaining your pregnancy. So it’s important to avoid unnecessary stress and focus on following your doctor's recommendations to make your pregnancy journey healthy and pleasant.

How Is an Ultrasound 11 Weeks Pregnant Done?

For the majority of early pregnancy ultrasounds, doctors choose a transvaginal ultrasound. In this type of screening, a doctor inserts a condom-covered wand inside your vagina to receive an image. This method is preferred for early scans because it implies a very close location of a transducer to your pelvic organs. As a result, this type of ultrasound provides a more detailed image of a fetus, which is still rather small. You may have the same type of ultrasound at 11 weeks. But not necessarily.

At 11 weeks, your baby is already bigger, which allows doctors to receive a clear enough image transabdominally. If you have this kind of ultrasound scheduled, during the procedure, you will lie on your back, and a sonographer will apply gel to your belly and move a transducer around it to receive an image.

How Do You Prepare for an Ultrasound?

As you already know, an 11 week sonogram can be performed either transvaginally or transabdominally. The choice depends mainly on your provider’s preference, as well as on what they can see in a screening at this time.

The preparation process depends on the selected type of ultrasound. If it’s transvaginal, you typically don’t need any special preparation, although it's usually suggested to pee before it to prevent discomfort from the pressure on the bladder.

On the contrary, if you’re having an abdominal ultrasound, you may be asked to do it with a full bladder. A full bladder helps enhance the movement of sound waves and receive a clearer image.

Regardless of an ultrasound type, for your own comfort, you may also want to choose the right clothes for your appointment. A loose top or dress can provide faster and easier access to your belly.

What Does an 11 Week Ultrasound Look Like?

As you prepare for your 11 week sonogram, you might also be wondering what you will see during it. Knowing what you will see is actually an important part of preparing for your first screenings, as it helps set realistic expectations and minimize the stress related to the uncertainty.

So, what does a normal 11 week ultrasound show? First and foremost, a doctor will be able to see the basic pregnancy structures, such as the gestational sac, the yolk sac, and the umbilical cord. The gestational sac will look like a dark area inside the uterus with a smaller light spot that represents the yolk sac. Yet, the most exciting part is that you will be able to see a distinguished baby shape.

Your baby at 11 weeks ultrasound will look like a C-shaped figure with a distinguished head, torso, and limbs. At this time, you might be able to see the following physical features:

• A well-formed face
• Long, thin limbs
• Fingernails and toenails
• Tooth buds

Additionally, you might be able to see fetal movement. And you can expect to have your baby’s heartbeat detected at 11 weeks.

FAQ

What is the size of my baby at 11 weeks?

At 11 weeks, your baby should be around 41 mm long. This is about the size of a fig, and it keeps growing rapidly. It already has many prominent physical features, such as limbs with fingers and toes, facial features, and tooth buds.

Can I hear the heartbeat during an ultrasound 11 weeks pregnant?

Yes. It’s possible to detect the flickering of the cardiac tissue rather early in pregnancy, around 6 weeks. However, the heartbeat can be more reliably detected between 10 and 12 weeks. Your healthcare provider will likely use a fetal Doppler at 11 weeks to get an audible sound of the heartbeat.

I’m 11 weeks pregnant, and I still haven’t had a scheduled ultrasound. Should I worry?

No, this is not necessarily a cause for concern. Although it’s common to have your first screening during an 11 week ultrasound, every practice is different. It’s possible that your doctor just has a different timeline for your appointments, which is also okay. It’s also possible that your doctor doesn’t rush with an ultrasound because you have a low-risk, uncomplicated pregnancy. In any case, if you’re concerned about not having an ultrasound, don’t hesitate to contact your healthcare provider to discuss this.

Conclusion

When reaching 11 weeks of pregnancy, you might already be tired of the uncertainty and want to have your first ultrasound appointment as soon as possible. The good news is that an 11 week ultrasound is a popular timing for this.

At 11 weeks, your baby is already big and developed enough to let you see a distinguished fetal shape in an ultrasound. It’s also possible to perform an ultrasound transabdominally instead of transvaginally. Hopefully, this guide will help you understand what you should expect from your  ultrasound 11 weeks pregnant, so that you can set realistic expectations and prepare well.

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