Doppler Prenatal

Doppler Prenatal

Expectant Mothers and Ultrasound - an Overview

An ultrasound exam, or sonogram, is a procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to scan a woman's abdomen and pelvic cavity to produce images of a baby in the uterus. Fetal ultrasound images help your OB/GYN physician evaluate your baby's development, possible problems, or confirm a diagnosis.

Most expectant mothers will have an initial ultrasound in the first trimester to confirm and date the pregnancy and then again in the second trimester – between 18 and 22 weeks – when more details are visible.

Although the terms ultrasound and sonogram are technically different, they are used interchangeably and reference the same exam.

 

Types of Ultrasound Exams

 

There are seven types of ultrasound exams – they scan for different things, but the process is similar. The types of exams include:

Transvaginal Ultrasound: Most often used during the early stages of pregnancy, the technician will use a specially designed probe transducer inside the vagina to generate sonogram images.

Standard Ultrasound: This ultrasound uses the traditional over the abdomen transducer to generate 2-D images.

Advanced Ultrasound: Similar to the standard ultrasound, but targets a suspected problem by using more sophisticated equipment.

Doppler Ultrasound: A Doppler ultrasound test uses reflected sound waves to evaluate blood as it flows through a blood vessel.

3-D Ultrasound: In 3D fetal scanning, the sound waves are sent at different angles, instead of being sent straight down as in the 2D scan. The echoes are processed by a sophisticated computer program which translates the waves into a 3D image.

4-D or Dynamic 3-D Ultrasound: Uses specially designed scanners to look at the face and movements of the baby prior to delivery.

Fetal Echocardiography: Used primarily to assess suspected congenital heart defects, this ultrasound assesses the baby's heart anatomy and function.

 

Why Are Ultrasounds Performed?

 

Your health care provider may use a fetal ultrasound to:

• Confirm the pregnancy and its location
• Determine your baby's gestational age
• Investigate signs or symptoms
• Identify fetal abnormalities
• Confirm the number of babies
• Study the placenta
• Determine fetal position before delivery
• Evaluate your baby's growth
• Perform other prenatal tests

 

How & When is an Ultrasound Performed?

When having a traditional ultrasound, the technician will place a gel on the abdomen, used as a conductor for the sound waves. The sound waves bounce off bones and tissue returning to the transducer to generate black and white images of the fetus.

Doctors at an OB/GYN clinic may perform an ultrasound at any point during pregnancy, however no recommended number of ultrasounds exist for routine prenatal care.

Your OB/GYN doctor may perform an ultrasound earlier in pregnancy to determine:

• Presence of more than one fetus.
• Due date or gestational age (the age of the fetus).

Later in pregnancy, doctors may use ultrasound to determine the:

• Health of the baby
• Placenta location
• Amount of amniotic fluid around the baby
• Position of the baby
• Baby's expected weight

 

Are there Risks or Side Effects of an Ultrasound?

The long-term effects of repeated ultrasound exposure on the fetus are not fully known. It is recommended that healthcare providers only use ultrasound when medically indicated.

 

 

About the Author

Samantha Gluck is a writer who specializes in various topics including pediatric healthcare, OB/GYN healthcare, business and much more.

My second prenatal appt?

I will be 8 weeks 1 day. What will they do at this appt. This is my 2nd child and my 2nd prenatal with my 1st was at 11wks and i heard the heartbeat. This one is a bit early and im wondering what they will do will they be able to hear the heartbeat with a doppler? My ultrasound appt is on the 4th and they said they will NOT be doing any ultrasounds on the appt in a few days (8 weeks 1d) ideas on what they wil do

That is soon to be having a 2nd appointment already.

The first appointment is usually a physical, pap smear. blood work.

Your second they may attempt to hear the heartbeat, but its mainly to check your vitals and make sure you are doing okay.

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