A prenatal ultrasound, or pregnancy ultrasound, is a safe way to monitor the health of your fetus and your pregnancy. It can diagnose genetic conditions or other problems in the fetus and help your care team make important decisions that support the health of you and your baby.
In most cases, an obstetric ultrasound provides reassurance — and an exciting opportunity to see your baby. If you wish, you can find out your baby's sex during your ultrasound.
Other names for prenatal ultrasound include pregnancy ultrasound, obstetric ultrasound, and obstetric sonography.
A prenatal ultrasound is an imaging scan that lets the doctor see your baby. The ultrasound wand sends sound waves into your belly, which bounce back after hitting tissues and structures in the body. The technology then creates images based on these sound waves.
Ultrasound lets your care team check that your pregnancy is progressing normally. A prenatal ultrasound shows the fetus's growth, anatomy, and position in the uterus. It also lets them check the position and development of your placenta and measure amniotic fluid levels.
Most people have two ultrasounds during their pregnancy—a nuchal translucency scan around ten weeks and an anatomy scan around twenty weeks. But it's not unusual to have more than two ultrasounds.
Not everyone gets an early ultrasound. Your doctor may do this ultrasound to confirm the pregnancy or confirm how far along the pregnancy is. They may also use to check on the status of the embryo and uterus after vaginal bleeding.
It's typically done between six and nine weeks of pregnancy.
An early pregnancy ultrasound can help to relieve concerns about miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is when an embryo implants outside of the uterus.
The goals of the nuchal translucency ultrasound are to estimate your due date, check your baby's size and heartbeat, and measure the fluid at the back of the neck. It's typically done between ten and thirteen weeks of pregnancy.
If the amount of fluid is high, this could be a sign of Down syndrome, congenital heart disease, or other health issues. This ultrasound doesn't confirm a diagnosis. In many cases, babies have a higher-than-normal level of nuchal fluid but don't have any health problems.
If your ultrasound results are abnormal, your health provider will suggest a more definitive test, such as an amniocentesis or noninvasive prenatal test.
During an anatomy scan ultrasound, the obstetric sonographer measures your baby and looks for abnormal signs in their heart, spine, brain, lungs, and other organs. The anatomy scan also assesses your placenta, amniotic fluid, cervix, uterus, and ovaries.
Anatomy scans are typically done between eighteen and twenty weeks of pregnancy. If the anatomy scan reveals any concerns, you may need additional tests or extra monitoring in your pregnancy.
By the time of the anatomy scan, it's possible to tell their sex. In rare cases, the baby's position makes it impossible to see the baby's genitals.
You can tell the technician if you want to know the sex right away or not. You may prefer to receive information about your baby's sex in an envelope to open later. Or, you may prefer to find out your baby's sex when you give birth.
Growth ultrasounds check the baby's growth. You may need growth ultrasounds if measurements of your belly suggest the baby is growing more slowly or quickly than expected. Growth ultrasounds are typically done after twenty-four weeks.
During a biophysical profile scan, the sonographer checks your baby's heart rate, movement, and breathing. (While babies don't actually breathe, the chest moves later in pregnancy as the baby practices breathing.) They also check on the amount of amniotic fluid.
A biophysical profile scan is typically done after twenty-six weeks. Your doctor may combine this scan with a non-stress test to monitor the baby's heart rate during movement and contractions.
Prenatal ultrasounds can diagnose conditions and prepare parents for what to expect. A fetal diagnosis also helps your care team to prepare any medical support your baby may need after birth. Rarely, it may be possible to perform surgery on a fetus in the womb to address a problem found in an ultrasound.
Ultrasounds help you and your providers decide on the best method of delivery. If an ultrasound shows that your placenta is covering your cervix late in pregnancy or your baby is in a breech position, you may need a C-section. If your baby is growing too large or too small, your provider may induce labor early to keep your baby safe.
You will get more ultrasounds and monitoring in the third trimester if you have gestational diabetes or other health conditions. This is to ensure these conditions are controlled and not affecting the fetus.
Ultrasound technology is safe for you and your baby. It does not use radiation. Still, you should only get an ultrasound if you need it for a medical reason. Some companies offer prenatal ultrasounds solely to see your baby and to get a photo or video 'keepsake.'
Medical experts, including the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, recommend against these types of ultrasounds. Because private ultrasound companies don't need to comply with the same regulations or standards as ultrasound techs in doctors' offices, they could share wrong information.
Most prenatal ultrasounds are abdominal ultrasounds. If you get an early ultrasound (before you're eight weeks pregnant), you will likely need a transvaginal ultrasound. Here's what you can expect at your prenatal ultrasound visit.
For a transvaginal ultrasound, you will need to remove your clothes from the waist down. You will lie on an exam table and place your feet in stirrups.
The technician will cover the transducer with a condom and put lubricant on it. They will then insert the transducer into the vagina.
Images generated from the transducer's sound waves will appear on a screen. The technician will look at the screen and take measurements.
Your technician may move the transducer slightly to visualize a different angle. This can cause discomfort but shouldn't be painful.
You won't likely identify your fetus unless the technician points it out to you because it is too small at this stage. The technician may not be able to share information about your pregnancy while you're getting the ultrasound. Instead, you will meet your doctor after the ultrasound to discuss the results.
For the ultrasound, you will recline on an exam table. The technician will ask you to lift your shirt, and they may need to lower your pants further down your pelvis. If you're wearing a dress, the technician can put a drape over your legs.
The technician will put gel on your belly. The gel lets the soundwaves travel more easily. Then, they will move the smooth transducer around on your belly to see your uterus and fetus from different angles.
The technician will take many pictures and measurements, studying the different images. It's normal for them not to talk much as they do this. The technician may be able to show you your baby's face, hands, feet, and more on the screen.
After your ultrasound, your doctor will discuss the results with you. You may also receive images from your baby's ultrasound that you can take home with you, or they may be able to send you digital copies.
You can eat and drink as normal before a prenatal ultrasound. The clinic may ask you to come with a full bladder for a first-trimester or anatomy scan ultrasound. This can help the technician better see the fetus and surrounding tissues.
You can bring up to two people with you during your ultrasound. At UPMC, we ask that you don't bring any children to your ultrasound. This makes it easier for the technician to do the test.
Pregnancy ultrasounds can take 20 minutes to an hour, depending on the purpose and how far along you are in your pregnancy. The longest prenatal ultrasound is usually the anatomy scan, as the technician closely examines the baby's important organs.
UPMC provides a compassionate and empowering approach to prenatal care. We take the time to explain all tests, answer your questions, and reassure you.
Our ultrasound sonographers and obstetrics teams have extra training in high-risk pregnancies. Our nationally renowned obstetrical surgeons can also perform advanced procedures to treat some problems while the fetus is still in the womb.
At UPMC, you'll feel reassured knowing that you and your baby are getting access to advanced imaging technologies and the best care.
In addition to standard 2D ultrasounds, we also offer 3D and video (4D) ultrasounds. These specialized ultrasounds can help if the doctor is concerned about a potential problem. They're optimal if you need a medical procedure in pregnancy that requires ultrasound guidance.
UPMC's expertise and experience help us better identify and respond to any concerning signs in prenatal ultrasounds. By recognizing signs of complications earlier, we can improve health outcomes for you and your baby.
Last reviewed by a UPMC medical professional on 2024-09-05.
