Ultrasound for pregnancy is a non-invasive, safe and painless approach to see what’s taking place inside your uterus. These scans help create a visual image of your womb, placenta and baby using sound waves. They allow the doctor to look for any physical abnormalities, monitor your pregnancy and examine your baby’s development and health.
Here’s all about how this kind of scan is carried out.
What to Expect In an Ultrasound Scan for Pregnancy?
A good maternity hospital carries out this procedure in its ultrasound department so you need not visit a diagnostic centre separately. So, look up a “top pregnancy hospital near me” to get an ultrasound scan for yourself and your baby.
The scan generally takes place in a room with low lighting that helps the doctor get a clearer view of the images displayed on the screen.
Usually, a friend, a family member or your husband is allowed to accompany you in the room during the procedure. You can learn that in advance when booking an appointment.
Based on the type of scan you would have, you must change into a gown or remove some of your clothes. Then you need to lie down on the examination table to get scanned.
Transabdominal Scan During Pregnancy
This type of scan is generally done with a full bladder in the 1st trimester
You must drink lots of water before the appointment to have a full bladder for the pregnancy ultrasound.
You’ll need to drink several glasses of water before your appointment so that you have a full bladder during the procedure. This allows the baby to be easily viewed since your uterus moves higher into your abdomen and pushes the bowel up to be out of the scene.
During an abdominal scan, you need to lie on the examination table on your back, keeping the abdomen exposed. For better sound conduction, a cool gel will be applied to your belly.
Then a transducer will be slid back and forth over the stomach. This device transmits sound waves which are translated by a computer into images on a video monitor.
Transvaginal Scan During Pregnancy
If you’re overweight or the baby is still very deep in the pelvis, the pictures won’t be much clear through a transabdominal scan. Therefore, a transvaginal scan is needed and it’s done through the vagina.
It will provide a clearer image of your baby, particularly if your pregnancy is at an early stage. For this kind of pregnancy ultrasound, a full bladder is not required.
You must undress from the waist down before lying flat on the examination table. The position should be the same as that during an internal check-up.
A wand-shaped transducer will be carefully inserted into your vagina. It will start transmitting sound waves. The probe doesn’t go inside too deep and won’t harm the baby or you in any case.
The resultant echoes are then translated by a computer into images on a monitor. Your baby’s measurements are recorded and videos or still pictures are taken for interpretation.
Ultrasounds are scheduled at certain stages of pregnancy to get important information that helps make sure the healthiest pregnancy possible. Search for the “best maternity hospital near me” to receive all the necessary scans.