What to Expect at an Ultrasound

Ultrasounds – along with a plethora of other tests, including the monitoring of uterine lining and blood hormone levels – are a natural part of any modern pregnancy, and as a Surrogate, your pregnancy will be no different. So what should one expect from that first ultrasound?

Including the Intended Parents

You may or may not have the Intended Parents with you for this appointment. While some will make the trip, assuming one is needed, it’s just as common for that to be impossible. It’s for this reason that Intended Parents who can’t physically be there, will still want to be there virtually, via Zoom, FaceTime or whatever their preferred method is. Other Surrogates will record the appointment on their phones and then send the video later for posterity, which has the added bonus of immortalizing the trip. If there is a method that you’re most comfortable with, offering it to them ahead of time may make the decision-making process simpler.

Getting Permission

Medical facilities all have their own rules and regulations, as well as stringent privacy laws. For this reason, it’s highly advisable to secure permission from your clinic to either record or transmit live video well before the actual ultrasound appointment takes place, in case there are any hiccups in the approval process. 

The Procedure

As a Surrogate, the ultrasound itself won’t be anything you aren’t used to. After the wand is inserted vaginally, the technician will be responsible for scanning your uterus to locate, count, measure, and record the number of embryos growing there. They will also be looking for any sign of heartbeats, as well as any possible hemorrhages or forming complications within the uterus.

 A lack of a heartbeat isn’t a big deal at this stage, any more than the presence of one is a guarantee. Surrogates get scanned for heartbeats very early during their pregnancy – sometimes too early for a heartbeat to be detected. In cases where there is no heartbeat found, your IVF specialist will decide how to proceed.

In less ideal instances, sometimes an embryo starts to develop but does not result in a viable pregnancy – or a chemical pregnancy occurs, in which the Surrogate’s hormone levels indicate a pregnancy that does not actually exist. This ultrasound will determine whether either of these are the case in your particular pregnancy. If they are, your IVF specialist will advise you on next steps. But don’t worry – these things happen, and in no way determines the future of your efforts with a Surrogate. The family you envision for yourself is still just around the corner. 

 That’s all there is to it! If you have any other questions about Surrogate ultrasounds, egg donation or surrogacy, please contact us and we’d be happy to assist you.d blood hormone levels – are a natural part of any modern pregnancy, and as a Surrogate, your pregnancy will be no different. So what should one expect from that first ultrasound?

Including the Intended Parents

You may or may not have the Intended Parents with you for this appointment. While some will make the trip, assuming one is needed, it’s just as common for that to be impossible. It’s for this reason that Intended Parents who can’t physically be there, will still want to be there virtually, via Zoom, FaceTime or whatever their preferred method is. Other Surrogates will record the appointment on their phones and then send the video later for posterity, which has the added bonus of immortalizing the trip. If there is a method that you’re most comfortable with, offering it to them ahead of time may make the decision-making process simpler.

Getting Permission

Medical facilities all have their own rules and regulations, as well as stringent privacy laws. For this reason, it’s highly advisable to secure permission from your clinic to either record or transmit live video well before the actual ultrasound appointment takes place, in case there are any hiccups in the approval process.

The Procedure

As a Surrogate, the ultrasound itself won’t be anything you aren’t used to. After the wand is inserted vaginally, the technician will be responsible for scanning your uterus to locate, count, measure, and record the number of embryos growing there. They will also be looking for any sign of heartbeats, as well as any possible hemorrhages or forming complications within the uterus.

A lack of a heartbeat isn’t a big deal at this stage, any more than the presence of one is a guarantee. Surrogates get scanned for heartbeats very early during their pregnancy – sometimes too early for a heartbeat to be detected. In cases where there is no heartbeat found, your IVF specialist will decide how to proceed.

In less ideal instances, sometimes an embryo starts to develop but does not result in a viable pregnancy – or a chemical pregnancy occurs, in which the Surrogate’s hormone levels indicate a pregnancy that does not actually exist. This ultrasound will determine whether either of these are the case in your particular pregnancy. If they are, your IVF specialist will advise you on next steps. But don’t worry – these things happen, and in no way determines the future of your efforts with a Surrogate. The family you envision for yourself is still just around the corner. 

That’s all there is to it! If you have any other questions about Surrogate ultrasounds, egg donation or surrogacy, please contact us and we’d be happy to assist you.