Obstetric Ultrasound

What is an Obstetric Ultrasound?

Ultrasound is a diagnostic imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images. Obstetric ultrasound is used to produce images of a baby (embryo or fetus) in pregnant women as well as the mother’s uterus and ovaries. It does not use ionizing radiation and has no known harmful effects. It is the preferred method for monitoring pregnant women and their unborn babies.

Need to Know

You may be asked to change into a gown prior to the procedure
Your physician may instruct you to have the procedure performed with a full bladder
The sonographer may elect to do a transvaginal ultrasound in which an ultrasound probe is inserted into the vagina for detailed internal images

Nice to Know

The exam is painless, non-invasive and radiation-free. There are no known side effects to ultrasound.
All sonographers performing these exams are female
Although internal imaging is usually painless, some may feel a slight discomfort

Frequently Asked Questions

To confirm pregnancy
Assess viability, location, and age of pregnancy

Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the body’s tissues, structures, and blood flow. A transducer/probe and ultrasound gel work in combination to absorb the reflected sound waves to produce images on the monitor.

The sonographer will request that you lay on the exam bed on your back. Warm, water-based ultrasound gel will be applied on the skin and/or the transducer. The sonographer will use the transducer on the skin moving it around as necessary to obtain images for the physician to interpret.

If the internal exam is necessary, you will be asked to empty your bladder and lay on the exam bed with your feet in stirrups.

You may be instructed in advance to arrive with a full bladder.

The benefits of Abdominal Ultrasound:

Ultrasound images are shown in real-time
The structure and movement of the body’s internal organs, as well as blood flowing through blood vessels are able to be seen and recorded
The exam is painless
No ionizing radiation is used for this procedure

Risks you should be aware of: