I didn't get offered the 12 wk scan when I was pregnant with DD. yet my friend in the same town and same dr did and she was the same age as me.
With my 2nd pregnancy I didn't ask for it and the dr just booked me in for a dating scan. When I was having the scan the lady mentioned something about the NT test and I said I didn't even know that's what I was booked to have it done and she said I didn't have to if I didn't want to. But the scan itself didn't cost me anything but the blood test cost around $40.
With this pregnancy (I'm only about 6 weeks) I only had bloods today and the dr mentioned booking in for a scan once results were back. Not sure if it was for dating or NT scan though.

In saying all that, i really wanted one with my first pregbanxy but I think that was more coz it was my first pregnancy and I really wanted to see that there really was a baby growin in me rather then having the scan for medical purposes.

Hello all, thanks for the replies :)
I do have a health care card. I rung up the ultrasound place to see if it was cheaper with the HCC, but it isn't. She also said that depending on what the doctor wrote, then I might not be able to get any money back from Medicare.


By chance a friend of the family emailed me this morning and asked if I wanted to do some work for her on Friday. She pays cash in hand and what she will pay me will pretty much cover the costs of my ultra sound. So I have had to cancel and I have booked for next Wednesday.

If it wasn't for the fact I haven't seen the heart beat yet I wouldn't be as worried, but I need to know that everything is ok :)

Like I said thanks so much for the replies

thats great you have the money know its always nice to have reassurance that the bubba is ok

this is my 4th baby, and i'm only 24, and i;ve never had it done for any of the pregnancies, and it wasnt something i was overly concerned about missing either. it wasnt even offered to me except for my 3rd pregnancy but i declined, the first 2 they said i could but given me age i wasnt at a high risk anyway so really i didnt need to have it done, so didnt :)

I did not have a dating scan or 12 week scan for either of my pregnancies. We did have the 20 week scan done though. We didn't want to have any unnecessary procedures done and after reading alternative information about ultrasounds, I thought it was best for our babys to have as few as possible. As with anything medical, I think it's important to be fully informed on both sides about the benefits, risks and alternatives.

I think it's a personal choice and if it makes a mother feel more secure and relaxed to see her baby or to rule out if there are any abnormalities then I think it's a good thing to have done.

I didnt get it done. My gp was annoyed and couldnt understand why I wouldnt. I explained that if my kid had down syndrome it wouldnt make a difference. I take and love all my kids. I didnt see the point in knowing. Hes not my doctor anymore. And my daughter didnt have downs. But I wouldnt have loved her less. The test is pointless.