Ultrasound technology uses sound waves to create a visual image (sonogram) of your baby, placenta, and uterus during pregnancy. It gives your healthcare provider valuable information about your pregnancy and your baby's health. Show
During an ultrasound, a technician (sonographer) uses a handheld instrument called a transducer to send sound waves through your uterus. These waves bounce off the inside of your body and your baby, and a computer translates the echoing sounds into video images that reveal your baby's shape, size, position, and movements. When do you get your first ultrasound?More and more doctors have ultrasound equipment in their office and are doing ultrasounds for their patients during the first trimester – as early as 6 to 10 weeks. When you call your healthcare provider to schedule your first prenatal appointment, ask whether you'll be having an ultrasound. Your provider may want you to have an early ultrasound if you've had a previous pregnancy complication, such as a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. In the early stages of pregnancy, you may have a transvaginal ultrasound, which uses a wand-shaped transducer that's put in your vagina. Transvaginal ultrasound can provide better images in early pregnancy compared to a transabdominal ultrasound (which uses a transducer on the outside of your abdomen). Transvaginal ultrasound also makes it easier to diagnose early pregnancy problems, such as a miscarriage or a molar or ectopic pregnancy. Not all women have a first-trimester ultrasound. It's standard to have just one ultrasound during pregnancy – a mid-pregnancy transabdominal ultrasound between 18 and 22 weeks. This is sometimes called an anatomy ultrasound, because it evaluates your baby's anatomy. You can also find out your baby's sex at the mid-pregnancy ultrasound if you want (and if you haven't already found out from NIPT or another prenatal test). What happens during a pregnancy ultrasound?During a transvaginal ultrasound:
During a transabdominal ultrasound:
Why do I need a pregnancy ultrasound?Ultrasound allows your provider to check your baby's health and development, monitor your pregnancy, and look for any physical abnormalities. First-trimester ultrasound:If you have an ultrasound in the first trimester, it's usually too early to get a good look at your fetus's organs and limbs. But your provider can:
Second-trimester ultrasound:A second-trimester (mid-pregnancy) ultrasound allows your provider to:
Third-trimester ultrasound:A third-trimester ultrasound allows your provider to:
How long does an ultrasound take?Ultrasounds vary in length, depending on the purpose of the ultrasound and how quickly and clearly images are available on the screen. In general, a transvaginal or transabdominal ultrasound takes between five and 20 minutes. A mid-pregnancy (anatomy) ultrasound takes longer – about 20 to 45 minutes – because the sonographer will look closely at your baby's basic anatomy, including the head, brain, face, neck, chest, heart, spine, stomach, kidneys, bladder, arms, legs, and umbilical cord so your provider can make sure they're developing properly. If you've had worrisome results from other ultrasounds, or if there's any other cause for concern, the sonographer will do a more thorough (level II) scan to check even more details of your baby's body. This can take anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes or more. How many ultrasounds will I have during pregnancy?You may have only one ultrasound (your mid-pregnancy ultrasound at 18 to 22 weeks). Or you could have several ultrasounds, for example:
Are ultrasounds safe?Yes. Numerous large studies done over the last 35 years have found no evidence that ultrasounds harm developing babies, or that there's a cumulative effect from having multiple scans. (Ultrasounds don't involve radiation, like X-rays do.). At the same time, experts caution against unnecessary ultrasounds, pointing out that while there are no known negative effects to date, ultrasounds are a form of energy, and it's conceivable that they affect a developing baby. This may be especially true during the first trimester, when the embryo or fetus is more vulnerable to external factors. Some centers (often found in malls and private offices) sell packages of 3D ultrasounds and 4D ultrasounds as keepsakes. While it can be tempting to get realistic photos and videos of your baby in a non-medical setting, experts recommend against it. There's no guarantee that staff at these clinics are trained properly – or that the ultrasound operator will be qualified to help you if you have questions, or if your ultrasound reveals a problem. What if a pregnancy ultrasound shows a problem?If problems are suspected in your pregnancy, or there's something concerning in your ultrasound results, you may be referred for a more detailed ultrasound that will be interpreted by a radiologist or maternal-fetal medicine specialist (MFM). Often, a follow-up test shows that a suspicious ultrasound was no cause for concern. In the unlikely event that your baby has a health problem, information from your ultrasound can help you and your provider determine how to give your baby the best outcome possible. For example, serious heart rhythm problems can be treated with medication while a baby is still in the womb. Other abnormalities, such as a urinary tract blockage, can be treated with surgery even before birth. And knowing about any birth defects can help your provider deliver your baby safely and determine what care your baby will need right after birth. If your baby has a dire health problem, being informed allows you to consider all the options, whether that means making the difficult decision to terminate a pregnancy, intervene medically, or prepare for the birth of a baby who needs special care. There are people who can help you navigate the results of a concerning ultrasound. A genetic counselor can help answer a lot of your questions and guide you through your decision-making process. Many high-risk pregnancy providers can refer you to a social worker for guidance, too. At what weeks do you get ultrasounds when pregnant?Most women get an ultrasound in their second trimester at 18 to 20 weeks of pregnancy. Some also get a first-trimester ultrasound (also called an early ultrasound) before 14 weeks of pregnancy. The number of ultrasounds and timing may be different for women with certain health conditions like as asthma and obesity.
How many ultrasounds do you get during pregnancy?Most healthy women receive two ultrasound scans during pregnancy. "The first is, ideally, in the first trimester to confirm the due date, and the second is at 18-22 weeks to confirm normal anatomy and the sex of the baby," explains Mendiola.
Is 7 weeks too early for an ultrasound?It's common for women to have a 7 week ultrasound and for many, it's their first real look at their baby. Sometimes also called a dating scan, an ultrasound at 7 weeks helps to confirm baby's presence and development, but it can also help to rule out pregnancy complications.
What month do you get your first ultrasound?Months of the Year. |