Pregnancy Ultrasound
Prenatal test to keep you and your baby healthy
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Prenatal Ultrasound for Peace of Mind
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) provides comprehensive prenatal (pregnancy) care for expecting moms and their babies. Ultrasound examinations are an important diagnostic test during pregnancy for these and other reasons:
- To date a pregnancy
- To view the placenta
- To check amniotic fluid
- To rule out or confirm the presence of twins or other multiple births
What is an Ultrasound?
Also called a sonogram, an obstetrical ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of the developing fetus. Because the sonogram uses sound waves and not X-rays, it is safe for the developing baby.
An obstetrical ultrasound exam allows providers to accomplish these things:
- Look at the uterus and ovaries
- Check the fetus to be sure that its size is appropriate for its age
- Check the fetus to be sure the fetal anatomy — including heart, spine and kidneys — is structurally normal
It is important to know that a normal ultrasound does not promise a healthy baby. There are many abnormalities that an ultrasound alone cannot detect, including Down syndrome.
There are currently no known fetal or maternal risks associated with ultrasound use during pregnancy.
More About Pregnancy Ultrasound
We offer several types of ultrasounds:
- Abdominal ultrasound — Non-invasive test that captures images from outside the body
- Transvaginal scan — Typically done in early pregnancy as the sonographer (technologist who performs the exam) inserts a small probe into the vagina
- Three-dimensional (3-D) ultrasound — Creates life-like images
- Four-dimensional (4-D) ultrasound — Creates photos that move in real time
An ultrasound exam may be a part of your routine prenatal care during pregnancy. Alternately, your care team may suggest an ultrasound to investigate a suspected or known issue with your pregnancy. In this case, you also may see a maternal-fetal medicine provider for specialty care.
In most cases, you’ll have a pregnancy ultrasound around 18 weeks of gestation, or during the second trimester. You shouldn’t feel pain during an ultrasound. However, you may feel some discomfort due to a full bladder, which is sometimes needed for the best images. The need for a full bladder varies depending on your gestational age and the person performing your ultrasound.
Anatomy Scan
The anatomy scan — or full fetal survey — provides the chance for your prenatal team to look closely at your developing baby. During the anatomy scan, they check that your baby’s limbs and organs are developing correctly.
Since this is also the gender scan, your team might be able to determine the sex of your baby during this ultrasound. Be sure to tell them in advance if you don’t want to know the gender.
In preparation for your ultrasound:
- You may eat regular meals before having an obstetrical ultrasound.
- If you are more than 14 weeks pregnant, you don’t need to take any special preparations.
- If you’re having a biophysical profile, please eat a meal or snack one hour before the exam.
During the exam, you’ll lie on a table with your abdominal area exposed. The sonographer will put a warm, water-based gel on your skin. The gel helps to transmit sound waves. The sonographer will move an instrument called a transducer (about the size of a microphone) over the skin surface.
An ultrasound typically takes around 35 minutes. You may call your doctor to discuss the results.
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Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Our OB/GYN team provides care to patients throughout all stages of life, from family planning and pregnancy to intimate health and menopause.
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