Answers to your frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Ultrasound
What is the Procedure of an Ultrasound?
An Ultrasound Test is carried out by a doctor who has been specially trained for the purpose. An Ultrasound Test usually takes between 20 minutes to an hour, and normally doesn’t require any special preparation.
For an Ultrasound of the gall bladder or liver (also called Ultrasound Upper Abdomen or Ultrasound Whole Abdomen), the individual needs to fast or abstain from any kind of eating for several hours before the Ultrasound begins. Some individuals may feel more comfortable in loose-fitting clothes for the duration of the Test.
A bladder that is full of water is able to generate better pictures or images of the uterus and other organs (since air is a bad conductor of ultrasound and makes the scan a failure). Therefore, in the case of an Ultrasound for a woman who has early pregnancy and individuals for lower abdomen ultrasound, plenty of water must be drunk – and the individual must be careful not to urinate for some time before the Test.
In the case of an External Ultrasound, the Transducer (a wand-like instrument) is placed over the part of the body (for example, the heart or the abdomen) that needs to be studied and has been administered a lubricating gel before-hand for this purpose. This process is usually free of any kind of pain or discomfort.
What is an pregnancy ultrasound scan?
An ultrasound scan involves transmitting high frequency sound waves through the belly into the uterus. These bounce off the baby and the returning echoes are translated by a computer into an image on a screen that reveals the baby’s position and movements.
Most parents look forward to their scan because it gives them the first glimpse of their baby. The doctor will give you an ultrasound report with a printout of your baby’s images. However, it is important to remember that the main purpose of the scan is not to provide the first photo for your baby album. It is to check that your baby is growing and developing normally.
What is a pregnancy ultrasound scan used for?
Depending on which stage of pregnancy they are done at, ultrasound scans can:
· Check your baby has a heartbeat
· Say whether you are pregnant with one baby or more
· Detect an ectopic pregnancy where the embryo implants outside of the womb, usually in the Fallopian tube.
· Find out the cause of any bleeding you may be having
· Accurately date your pregnancy by measuring your baby
· Assess the risk of Down’s syndrome by measuring fluid at the back of your baby’s neck at 11-14 weeks (a scan knows as nuchal translucency scan).
· Examine your baby to see if all the organs have developed normally
· Assess the amount of amniotic fluid and locate the placenta.
· Measure your baby’s rate of growth over several scans.
Will the scan reveal the sex of my baby?
Due to the alarming rise in female foeticides, disclosing the baby’s sex is punishable by law. It is as much an offence for you to ask about the sex of your baby as it is for the doctor to disclose it. Most hospitals will have you sign a document prior to your ultrasound, which states that you will not ask the doctor or sonographer about the sex of your unborn baby. Although ultrasounds are capable of doing so, hospitals, doctors are not permitted to disclose the sex of your unborn baby.
How is the pregnancy scan done?
If you’re having a scan in early pregnancy, you’ll need to drink several glasses of water beforehand so that your uterus is pushed out of your pelvis by your bladder.
If your baby is still too deep in your pelvis, or if you are overweight, the images will not be very clear, so a transvaginal scan may be necessary. The vaginal transducer or probe is long and narrow to fit comfortably inside your vagina. The doctor or sonographer will usually use a condom to cover the transducer and will lubricate this with plenty of gel so it slides in easily. It is not necessary to go in very deeply, and it will not harm you or your baby in any way. Vaginal scans give a much clearer picture of your baby, especially at a very early stage of pregnancy.
Does an ultrasound hurt?
An abdominal scan is painless except for the discomfort of the transducer pressing on your tummy if you have a very full bladder.
Is an ultrasound safe?
Ultrasounds have been used in pregnancy for more than 40 years and medical research has found no side effects.
Why is an ultrasound scan done during the first trimester?
Ultrasound scans during the first trimester are mainly done to rule out ectopic pregnancy, assess the age of the foetus and to confirm a normal or multiple pregnancy.
Why is an ultrasound scan done during the third trimester?
The third trimester scans are usually growth scans to assess the weight of the baby and see the amount of fluid around it. In certain situations, Doppler ultrasound may be required to assess the fetal blood flow especially in high risk pregnancies.