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A pregnancy ultrasound is an imaging test that uses sound waves to create a picture of how a baby is developing in the womb. It is also used to check the female pelvic organs during pregnancy.

Ultrasound

I Would Like to Learn About:

• How the Test is Performed

  To have the procedure:

  • You will lie on your back on an exam table.
    
  • The person performing the test will spread a clear, water-based gel on your belly and pelvis area. A hand-held probe will then be moved the area. The gel helps the probe transmit sound waves.
  • These waves bounce off the body structures, including the developing baby, to create a picture on the ultrasound machine.

  In some cases, a pregnancy ultrasound may be done by placing the probe into the vagina.

  Placing the probe into the vagina

  Transvaginal ultrasound is a test used to look at a woman's reproductive organs, including the uterus, ovaries, and cervix. Transvaginal means acros...

  

  Image

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• How to Prepare for the Test

  You will need to have a full bladder to get the best ultrasound image. You may be asked to drink 2 to 3 glasses of liquid an hour before the test. Do not urinate before the procedure.

• How the Test will Feel

  There may be some discomfort from pressure on the full bladder. The conducting gel may feel slightly cold and wet. You will not feel the ultrasound waves.

• Why the Test is Performed

  An ultrasound may be done to determine if there is a problem with the pregnancy, how far along the pregnancy is, or to take measurements and screen for potential problems.

  Talk to your health care provider to determine the most appropriate scanning schedule for you.

  A pregnancy ultrasound may be done during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy to:

  • Confirm a normal pregnancy
  • Determine the baby's age
  • Look for problems, such as ectopic pregnancies or the chances for a miscarriage
  • Determine the baby's heart rate
  • Look for multiple pregnancies (twins, triplets, etc.)
  • Identify problems of the placenta, uterus, cervix, and ovaries
  • Look for findings that might indicate an increased risk for Down syndrome

    Down syndrome

    The nuchal translucency test measures the nuchal fold thickness. This is an area of tissue at the back of an unborn baby's neck. Measuring this thi...

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  A pregnancy ultrasound may also be done in the second and third trimesters to:

  • Determine the baby's age, growth, position, and sometimes gender
  • Identify any problems with how the fetus is developing
  • Look for twins, triplets, etc.
  • Look at the placenta, amniotic fluid, and pelvis

  Some centers are now performing a pregnancy ultrasound around 9 - 13 weeks of pregnancy to look for signs of Down syndrome or other problems in the developing baby. This test is often combined with blood tests to improve the accuracy of results.

  How many ultrasounds you will need depends on whether a previous scan or blood test has detected problems that require follow-up testing.

• Normal Results

  The developing baby, placenta, amniotic fluid, and surrounding structures appear normal for the gestational age.

  Note: Normal results may vary slightly. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

• What Abnormal Results Mean

  Abnormal ultrasound results may be due to some of the following conditions:

  • Birth defects
  • Ectopic pregnancy

    Ectopic pregnancy

    An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that occurs outside the womb (uterus). It is life-threatening to the mother.

    

    Image

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  • Poor growth of a baby while in the mother's womb
  • Multiple pregnancies
  • Miscarriage
  • Problems with the baby's position in the womb
  • Problems with the placenta, including placenta previa and placental abruption
  • Too little amniotic fluid
  • Too much amniotic fluid (polyhydramnios)

    Polyhydramnios

    Polyhydramnios is too much amniotic fluid surrounding an unborn infant.

    

    Image

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  • Tumors of pregnancy, including gestational trophoblastic disease
  • Other problems with the ovaries, uterus, and remaining pelvic structures

• Risks

  Current ultrasound techniques appear to be safe. Ultrasound does not involve radiation.

Related Information

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