Ultrasound examination
Ultrasound is a form of diagnostic imaging which employs the use of high frequency sound waves. The sound can neither be heard nor felt, and is passed from a hand held transducer through the body. It is then reflected as echoes from internal organs, much like a depth finder on a boat. The ultrasound machine transforms the returning echoes into images of organs on the screen.
Unlike other forms of diagnostic imaging, there have not been any confirmed harmful effects attributed to the clinical use of ultrasound. It is therefore widely used to examine such things as organs in the body and pregnancies.
Various ultrasound examinations require specific preparation to be followed before arriving for your appointment. These instructions will be given at the time of booking your appointment, and must be followed to ensure the effectiveness of the examination. Some examples of such preparations include fasting before an abdominal ultrasound or having a full bladder for a pelvic examination.
Abdominal (transabdominal) examinations are those performed routinely at 18-20 weeks. This involves gel being placed on the abdomen and the transducer is placed on the abdomen to obtain images. This is not usually an uncomfortable procedure.
The most common reasons for requesting such examinations include:
Abnormalities not detectable by ultrasound include blindness and deafness. There may also be cases where there are normal variations in the baby's appearance or anatomy, which can be puzzling and require follow-up examinations, or further testing for an optimal diagnostic outcome.
You may bring your partner or an alternative person to your pregnancy scan. Limiting the observers to one person enables the Sonographer to concentrate on this important medical examination. During your pregnancy there is usually just one routine ultrasound scan performed at 18-20 weeks.
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