#463: The 20 Week Ultrasound: Dissecting the Anatomy Scan

2026-04-29

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The 20-week anatomy scan has become a routine part of modern pregnancy, but is it truly essential, or just another layer of over-monitoring?After receiving a listener question, Dr. Stu and Blyss dissect the purpose, limitations, and unintended consequences of the anatomy scan. From what providers are actually looking for, to why so many women walk away with more anxiety than answers, this episode challenges the assumption that more information always equals better outcomes.At the end of the day, the real question isn’t can we look, it’s should we?...

The 20-week anatomy scan has become a routine part of modern pregnancy, but is it truly essential, or just another layer of over-monitoring?

After receiving a listener question, Dr. Stu and Blyss dissect the purpose, limitations, and unintended consequences of the anatomy scan. From what providers are actually looking for, to why so many women walk away with more anxiety than answers, this episode challenges the assumption that more information always equals better outcomes.

At the end of the day, the real question isn’t can we look, it’s should we?

Additional References:

Birthing Instincts Podcasts:

Episode 446: Baby Aspirin For All??

Episode 459: Over-Monitoring & Outcomes, How Are We Doing & Who Benefits.

Episode 313: Comforting Truths About Low Lying Placentas

Episode 274: I Remember Every Detail

Pub Med Study: Therapeutic ultrasound as a potential male contraceptive: power, frequency and temperature required to deplete rat testes of meiotic cells and epididymides of sperm determined using a commercially available system

Cleveland Clinic: What to Expect at Your 20-Week Ultrasound (Anatomy Scan)

Discussed in This Episode

The many names of the anatomy scan (and what it’s supposed to do)

Ultrasound, anomaly scan, fetal survey—same test, very different interpretations

The 11 major conditions they look for vs. everything else that gets added on

How tiny measurements turn into weeks of stress and follow-ups

The rise of false positives and soft markers

Ultrasound-free pregnancy: radical or reasonable?

Why more testing keeps becoming the standard, regardless of outcomes

Podcast Produced by: Raquel Hernandez, Pride and Joy Doula Care

This show is supported by

WeNatal | Go to WeNatal.com/Birthinginstincts for a free magnesium with any subscription order, or wenatal.com/birthinginstinctswnp for the new Protein + offer.
LMNT | Got to lmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with any order
Christian Hypnobirthing | Go to christianhypnobirthing.com and use the code BI50 for 50% off the first three months of your monthly subscription.
Restorative Roots | Go to restorativeroots.com and use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to get $20 off
Girls Who Know | Go to girlswhoknow.com and use code INSTINCTS for 15% off

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