What is an ultrasound?

An ultrasound (sometimes called a sonogram) is a diagnostic test that uses sound waves to “look” inside your body. The handheld wand or transducer emits a sound wave of a very high frequency that bounces off of the tissues. The echoes that return are measured and turned into a picture by the computer in the ultrasound machine. The denser a tissue is, the brighter the echo will be. Water filled spaces have little for the sound to bounce off of, so they will look black. Bone is very dense, so it will have a bright white echo. Everything in between will be a shade of gray. With ultrasound we are able to look deep into your body and get a picture without having to do surgery or expose you to x-rays.

Is ultrasound safe?

Ultrasound has been used in obstetrics for over 30 years. No harmful effects have been found to be caused by ultrasound. The sound wave is strongest as it leaves the transducer and enters the gel. It is immediately absorbed by the tissues it passes through.  But, since ultrasound does introduce a sound wave that is above the normal range of sound it is suggested that its use be reserved for diagnostic purposes over a short duration.

What will happen at my ultrasound visit?

If you are not pregnant, or are less than 12 weeks pregnant, you will probably have a vaginal ultrasound. You will be asked to undress from the waist down and a transducer will be placed in your vagina. This allows us to use a higher frequency of sound that will give us much clearer pictures. It also allows us to avoid looking through your stomach muscle, so it allows us to get closer to the area of interest.

If you are more than 12 weeks pregnant, or your health care professional has asked that the vaginal approach not be used, we will ultrasound you from the top of your tummy. We will first apply gel to your abdomen to give the sound waves something to travel through. The transducer will be moved around to see your baby from different angles. We will take measurements and pictures of specific features. We will also try to take pictures for you to take home as keepsakes.

Do I need to prepare for my ultrasound?

If you are having an abdominal ultrasound (for pregnancy past 12 weeks) you will be asked to drink a glass of water within one hour of your ultrasound. You may not empty your bladder until after your ultrasound is completed. This allows your full bladder to help push your baby up out of your pelvis so we can get a better look at him or her. If your bladder is empty when you arrive for your scan you may be asked to reschedule for another time. Since our patients are patiently waiting to use the restroom after their procedure, we ask you to be on time so as not to make those scheduled after you have to wait any longer than possible.

We try very hard to stay on time with our ultrasound appointments. Emergencies do occur, but we ask you to do your part by not coming late. If you are more than 5 minutes late for your appointment there may not be time to perform a complete scan and you may be asked to reschedule. We also will not wait for friends and relatives who are not at the office when your scan is scheduled. PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE AND BE ON TIME!