Obstetrical Ultrasound

• Your doctor wants you to have an ultrasound examination to evaluate your pregnancy.
• In most pregnancies women only need one scheduled ultrasound, but for a variety of reasons your physician may request additional sonograms.

First Trimester:

• During the first trimester a vaginal ultrasound is performed to verify heart beat, confirm dates, and evaluate pelvic structures.
• Vaginal sonography involves the insertion of a small transducer into your vagina. This exam is typically not painful. A full bladder is not necessary to obtain high quality images of your baby.
• The sonographer will provide you with keepsake photos at the end of your exam.

Second Trimester:

• During the second trimester an abdominal ultrasound is performed to verify fetal growth, and perform a full anatomical survey of the baby.
• It is sometimes possible to identify the fetal sex.
• The sonographer will provide you with keepsake photos at the end of your exam.
• Abdominal ultrasound involves a transducer on the surface of your abdomen. A small amount of gel is used on the skin to ensure a good transducer contact. A full bladder is necessary to visualize pelvic organs.

Third Trimester:

• During the third trimester an abdominal ultrasound is performed to analyze fetal well being including fetal growth, fetal movement and amniotic fluid.
• Abdominal ultrasound involves a transducer on the surface of your abdomen. A small amount of gel is used on the skin to ensure a good transducer contact. A full bladder is necessary to visualize pelvic organs.
• The sonographer will provide you with keepsake photos at the end of your exam.

Results:

• Although a sonographer may play a critical role in extracting the information essential to deriving a diagnosis, the rendering of a final diagnosis of your ultrasound study represents the practice of medicine, and, therefore, is the responsibility of your physician.
• Your final results will not be available at the end of your exam.

May I Bring my Family with me?

• This is a diagnostic evaluation of the fetus, requiring full attention of the sonographer. Children and extended family members can be distracting during this procedure. If extended family members accompany you, they will be asked to sit in the waiting area until the sonographer can complete the study of the fetus. You may bring one other person in the room with you at the beginning of the exam, all others can join you for the last ten minutes of the ultrasound.

Preparations for Obstetrical Ultrasounds:

Preparations for 1st Trimester Obstetrical Ultrasound

• You DO NOT need to drink fluid prior to your exam.
• A full bladder is not necessary to obtain high quality images of the pelvic region when using the transvaginal probe.
• Plan on 30 to 45 minutes to complete this exam.

Preparations for 2nd and 3rd Trimester Obstetrical Ultrasound

• Please drink 24 ounces of clear fluid one (1) hour before your appointment.
• Please do not empty your bladder before the ultrasound.
• A full bladder is necessary to evaluate your cervix and better visualize the baby if it is positioned low in your pelvis.
• Plan on 45 minutes to 1 hour to complete this exam.