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Your doctor may also order more ultrasounds if they detected a problem in a previous ultrasound or blood test. Ultrasounds may also be done for nonmedical reasons, such as to produce images for the parents or to determine the sex of the baby. While ultrasound technology is safe for both mother and child, healthcare practitioners discourage the use of ultrasounds when there is no medical reason or benefit. In the second trimester 12 to 24 weeks and the third trimester 24 to 40 weeks or birth , an ultrasound may be done to:.
During an ultrasound earlier in the pregnancy, you may need to have a full bladder for the technician to get a clear image of the fetus and your reproductive organs. You should drink two to three eight-ounce glasses of water one hour before your scheduled ultrasound. During an ultrasound, you lie down on an examination table or bed. An ultrasound technician applies a special gel to your abdomen and pelvic area.
The gel helps the sound waves travel properly. Next, the technician places a small wand, called a transducer, onto your belly. They move the transducer to capture black and white images onto the ultrasound screen. The technician may also take measurements of the image on the screen. They may ask you to move or hold your breath while they capture images. The technician then checks to see if the necessary images were captured and if they are clear. Then, the technician wipes off the gel and you can empty your bladder. More advanced ultrasound techniques may be used when a more detailed image is required.
These may give the doctor the information necessary to make a diagnosis if they detected problems during your traditional ultrasound. A transvaginal ultrasound may be done to produce a clearer image. This ultrasound is more likely to be used during the early stages of pregnancy, when capturing a clear image may be more difficult. For this test, a small ultrasound probe is inserted into the vagina. The probe rests against the back of your vagina while the images are captured. Unlike a traditional 2-D ultrasound, a 3-D ultrasound allows your doctor to see the width, height, and depth of the fetus and your organs.
This ultrasound can be especially helpful in diagnosing any suspected problems during your pregnancy. A 3-D ultrasound follows the same procedure as a standard ultrasound, but it uses a special probe and software to create the 3-D image. It also requires special training for the technician, so it may not be as widely available. A 4-D ultrasound may also be called a dynamic 3-D ultrasound. Unlike other ultrasounds, a 4-D ultrasound creates a moving video of the fetus. It also captures highlights and shadows better. This ultrasound is performed similarly to other ultrasounds, but with special equipment.
A fetal echocardiography is performed if your doctor suspects your baby may have congenital heart defects. This test may be done similarly to a traditional pregnancy ultrasound, but it might take longer to complete. We understand that your ultrasound is an opportunity to bond with your growing baby. You may wish to bring your partner or other support person to share in this special time.
Young children, especially very young children, do not usually find ultrasounds entertaining or exciting. They may even become distressed by being in a dark room with strangers examining their mother.
If you must bring young children, you should bring another adult if possible so that if your child becomes upset or distracting, there is someone to look after them and take them outside if needed. This is especially important if you are attending for prenatal diagnosis CVS or amniocentesis. Your sonographer needs to be able to concentrate, and the presence of young children or many family members can sometimes be distracting.
We would please ask that you keep this in mind when planning your visit to us.
We will give you images of your baby in a variety of formats, so you can share this exciting time with your family and friends. We will provide selected printed images of your baby. We will provide a CD version of your ultrasound images, so you can copy, email and print at home as you desire. This CD will contain a series of still ultrasound images.
Never did I do that again lol! Hopefully I can down some water, ultrasound tech is on time, get to see the little bean and then go pee lol. We prefer to use our own CDs, provided at no additional charge. Why would I have a dating scan? If your periods are infrequent or irregular, please discuss the optimal time for the test with your doctor or our reception staff. Early days Your NHS pregnancy journey Signs and symptoms of pregnancy Health things you should know Due date calculator Week by week 4 to 8 weeks 9 to 12 weeks 13 to 16 weeks 17 to 20 weeks 21 to 24 weeks 25 to 28 weeks 29 to 32 weeks 33 to 36 weeks 37 to 40 weeks 40 weeks plus Pregnancy week by week Twins Antenatal care with twins Pregnant with twins Healthy multiple pregnancy Getting ready for twins Preparing for the birth Where to give birth: Handy infographic that shows what you can expect at each antenatal appointment during your pregnancy.
You do not need to bring your own CD. We prefer to use our own CDs, provided at no additional charge. In the interests of the environment and minimising waste, you may decide to limit what image formats you receive from us for example, CD only with no printed images. Please let your sonographer know what image formats you prefer.
If more images are needed by either you or your doctor, these can be readily provided. All our ultrasound images are electronically stored for ready access if needed. This can be particularly important if comparisons with previous ultrasounds are needed for example, following the progress of an abnormality. You should try to arrive for your ultrasound at least 10 minutes before your scheduled appointment. This will give you time to relax before your scan and complete patient information forms at reception.
This is usually adequate time for your ultrasound to be performed and reviewed, the report to be written, your images to be prepared, and your consultation with the ultrasound doctor. Most appointments do not take this length of time however delays are sometimes unavoidable due to difficult or complicated ultrasounds. It is important that we are able to take the time needed to ensure an accurate and thorough assessment occurs for all patients.
We appreciate your understanding in this matter. Because of this level of service, we are unable to routinely offer bulk billing. When you book your appointment, our reception staff will advise you of the cost of the ultrasound and the expected Medicare rebate. We suggest that you consider registering for the Medicare safety net, entitling you to access the benefits of this scheme.
If you have difficulties with the cost of your ultrasound, you should discuss this with your referring doctor, or alternatively, our friendly reception staff may be able to assist you with your enquiries. Standard fees will apply for your pregnancy ultrasound and you will still require a referral from your doctor.
We provide a personal and professional service with a specialist doctor in the practice to review your ultrasound as it is being performed. Dr Ladwig will meet with you after the ultrasound to discuss your results and answer any questions. We understand that you may be anxious about your ultrasound and hope this consultation provides reassurance and information.
You may not wish to wait for this consultation with our doctor and plan to just return to your referring doctor to discuss the results. If you do not wish to wait for this consultation, please talk about this with your sonographer at the end of your ultrasound. We understand that pregnancy is an exciting time and know that many families are keen to find out the sex of their baby during the pregnancy.
A dating scan is an ultrasound scan to determine how many weeks pregnant you are and your due date. Dating scans are used to confirm how many weeks pregnant you are and your expected due date. It’s not compulsory, but you should discuss whether you want or need a dating scan with. I need help with instuctions before dating ultrasound.: K so i what are the instructions before my dating ultrasound. i know i have to have alot.
The gender of the baby can usually be determined at the week morphology ultrasound. If you are planning prenatal diagnosis CVS or amniocentesis , the sex of the baby can be accurately determined from this test. It is good for parents to keep in mind that the pregnancy ultrasound is primarily a medical examination, assessing your baby for significant problems that can sometimes occur. Establishing the gender of your baby is important to us, but you should remember that your sonographer also has many other important things to examine to ensure that your baby is healthy and developing normally.
If you want to know the sex of your baby, please tell your sonographer at the beginning of the examination. This will give us multiple opportunities to establish the gender of your baby. If you do not want to know the sex of your baby, please tell your sonographer at the beginning of the ultrasound. The sonographer will then not focus on this area during the scan. Ultrasound is safe for your baby. It has been used to assess pregnancies for many years and there is no evidence that ultrasound causes any serious birth defects or harmful effects to babies.