How to Tell If Baby Has Hair on Ultrasound
Prenatal ultrasounds can be a fun way to peek inside your womb and determine baby’s gender. It’s also an exciting opportunity to see if baby already has any hair.
When to Begin Looking
The earliest you can typically begin to determine if a baby has any hair is at the 20 week ultrasound, when the ultrasound technician takes a close look at baby’s face.
Factors Covering Baby’s Hair
There are a few factors that may be covering baby’s hair and make it difficult to see. These include :
- Amniotic Fluid: Depending on the position of the baby in the womb, the amniotic fluid may be covering the head and blocking visibility.
- Placental Position: The placenta can also be covering the baby’s head preventing visibility of the hair.
- Size of Head: As the baby grows, the size of baby’s head will increase and make it easier to visualize any hair.
Tips for Best Visualization
Here are a few tips to get the clearest view of baby during the ultrasound :
- Drink Lots of Water: Have mom drink plenty of water prior to the ultrasound to ensure the bladder is full. This will move the baby higher and away from any fluid for the best visibility of baby’s head.
- Position Change: Have mom position herself differently to move the baby around for a better view.
- Early Ultrasound: Try and have baby’s ultrasound earlier in the pregnancy when baby is still growing.
Ultimately, baby’s hair is often visible during the second trimester pregnancy ultrasound. If not, there’s nothing to worry about; baby’s hair will grow in eventually.