Hitting the 20-week mark of pregnancy is a major accomplishment. Youre halfway there to meeting your little one!

What also typically happens around 20 weeks? You get to go to your anatomy scan, also known as a level 2 ultrasound. This is where you get to see your baby in-depth and how much he or she has grown. At this point in your pregnancy, youve probably only had one, maybe two sonograms, so youre probably dying to see how everything is progressing.

Not sure what to expect at your anatomy scan? Here are 10 things to keep in mind before heading to your appointment:

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An ultrasound technician will look closely at every single internal part of your babys body, including the four chambers of the heart, the kidneys, the bladder, brain, spine and more, as well as all the external areasthose cute tiny fingers, toes, legs, arms, and even the little rump.

To ensure theyre getting the perfect view, the technician will twist and turn the ultrasound wand all over your belly, controlling the images on screen. While they will likely be explaining what each part is showing up on the screen, feel free to ask questions so you fully understand everything youre viewing. Its quite the show!

If you didnt find out the gender of your baby during a noninvasive prenatal test in the first trimester, then the moment of truth awaits: Is your baby a boy or a girl? This can be an incredibly exciting moment for both you and your spouse, especially if youve had intense gut feelings over which one it could be. Note that depending on what position your baby is in, it could be tougher to determine.

If you dont want to find out the gender until birth, thats okay toojust let your technician know and shell have you look away when shes examining the sex organs.

Did you know the placenta can implant itself in different positions in your body? For example, if youre not feeling flutters or kicks just yet, you may learn you have an anterior placenta or a placenta that grows in the front of the uterus.

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You could also have a posterior placenta, which is located at the back of the uterus; a fundal placenta, located at the top of the uterus; a low-lying placenta, which is at the bottom of the uterus; or having your placenta simply be on the side of the uterus. Luckily, where the placenta is located doesnt typically affect pregnancy or delivery, but speak with your doctor if you have any concerns.

Whether youve put on one or 10 pounds in your pregnancy so far, you might be curious to know just what your actual baby weighs these days. Around the 20-week mark, a normal range is around a whopping 8-13 ounces. But dont be alarmed if youre measuring ahead or behindthis is, of course, just an estimate!

The technician will also measure the baby from crown to rump, as well as its middle section and around the head. He or she still has a lot more growing to do,but will likely have a few growth spurts coming up, so be prepared!

While you may be quickly in and out at your other doctors appointment, youll need to set aside at least 30-45 minutes for your anatomy scan. Sometimes it can take upwards of an hour, especially if your baby is squirming around and not showing the technician what needs to be seen.

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Most of the time, changing positions on the table or having the technician wiggle around the wand can get the baby to move, but if theyre not able to get the detailed photos they need, you may need to come back. This doesn't mean anything is wrong, so take it as a positive thing: Just another chance to see your baby!

At your last ultrasound, you may have gotten just three or four photos of your babyand the fetuswas likely just the size of a gummy bear. This time, youll get to take home at least a dozen or more photos of various parts of your baby (which are much more developed than last time).

Note that this ultrasound may be the last time you see the baby before its born, so really take in these photos. Get some cute frames to put one or two of the photos in, or displaythem on your fridge so you can see him or her every time you grab a snack.

Most anatomy scans offer standard 2-dimensional images, but more and more offices are converting to 3D or even 4D ultrasound technology. It doesnt hurt to ask if this is something your practice offers.If they dont, you can always find a place that offers private ultrasoundsyou may just need to pay a little extra for it.

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If youre curious about what your baby looks like, seeing him or her in 3D or 4D can really give you a clue if theyre taking more after mom or dad. So long as the baby is in a good position, youll get a solid glance at more of their features.

Seeing your baby on-screen during your anatomy scan can really put things into perspective about what he or she is doing in there. It may be pretty surprising to see just how much theyre moving around!

If youve got an especially wiggly baby, youll see it all come up on the screen. They could be doing anything from sprawling out their legs to putting their hands over their head to even sucking their thumb. No matter what position theyre in, its truly mesmerizing to watch (and this is only the beginning!).

It can be truly surreal to see your baby right there on the screenin front of you, especially as the first time youre seeingthem starting to look like a real human! Its true that you never realize just how cute baby feet and toes are until you see them in black and white on your own child.

Every single body part the technician scans over will make you squeal with delight, wondering how in the world this nearly fully developed human is growing inside of you. If you didnt think childbearing was a miracle before, you surely will now!

Even though the anatomy scan is an exciting time, you might be surprised that youre a bit nervous before heading in. This is totally normal (after all, youre a mom now and the worrying never ends).

Its easy to be scared that the technician is going to find something wrong, butremember that its better to be prepared in advance. If you end up getting referred to a specialist, you can get likely get whatever the problem is under control and prepare for whats to come. But chances are, youll come away from the anatomy scan relieved and happy.

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10 Things To Expect At Your 20 Week Anatomy Scan | BabyGaga - BabyGaga