An ultrasound is one of the tests you may have when you become pregnant. This prenatal test is a useful tool for monitoring your baby’s health and development. It can also evaluate your reproductive organs, such as the length of your cervix—a factor that is related to premature births. Most women have at least one prenatal ultrasound during their pregnancy, but that number varies based on other prenatal tests and your individual circumstances.
Ultrasound has been used for decades with little risk to women and their unborn babies. When performed by qualified medical professionals, ultrasounds are considered safe because they use sound waves rather than radiation to get a picture of your baby in the womb. Even so, they are only recommended when your doctor believes they are medically necessary. Although ultrasound is considered standard care for many pregnant women, it is an optional test and you can choose not to have it.
If your physician suggests an early ultrasound, it will be done in the first trimester of your pregnancy. A standard ultrasound is completed in the second trimester.
Ultrasound can be used in several ways, such as:
- Confirming a pregnancy
- Monitoring the position, movement, muscle tone and heart rate of your unborn baby
- Evaluating your placenta, uterus, cervix and ovaries
- Confirming the maturity of your baby and projecting its birth date
- Watching for signs of abnormal growth in your baby
- Detecting twins, triplets and other multiple births
- Identifying an ectopic pregnancy, which occurs when the fetus does not attach to the uterus
- Watching for signs of a miscarriage
Additional ultrasounds may be recommended during your second (12 to 24 weeks) or third (24 to 40 weeks) trimester for high-risk pregnancies, multiple births or to detect any abnormal development. Your physician compares ultrasound results to other tests, such as prenatal blood tests to decide whether additional diagnostic or screening tests may be needed.
Although a standard 2-D ultrasound is most common, there are six more types of ultrasound and each is used for different reasons.
- Advanced Ultrasound. This test uses more advanced technology to look for specific problems.
- Doppler Ultrasound. This method of ultrasound shows blood flowing throughout the fetus, including the limbs, brain and organs.
- Transvaginal Ultrasound. This form of ultrasound inserts a probe, covered with a disposable sheath, inside the vagina to create the image. This offers a better view of the baby, ovaries, cervix and uterus.
- 3-D Ultrasound. The developing fetus is shown in 3D-images using special probes and software. 3-D images can also identify any problems inside the uterus.
- 4-D Ultrasound or Dynamic 3-D Ultrasound. Both methods allow physicians to examine the face and movement of your baby, which are recorded as video.
- Fetal Echocardiograms. Your baby’s heart structure and function can be examined to anticipate possible heart problems before delivery. These are often performed by pediatric cardiologists.
Whichever method is used, the goal is always to make sure you and your baby receive the right care at the right time in your pregnancy. The information can also help maternal-fetal specialists and obstetricians work with you to plan your pregnancy and delivery. Combined with other test results, an ultrasound may change the type of delivery you have, and it may allow specialists at Riley at IU Health to plan immediate care for your child at birth, if necessary.
What to Expect
What to Expect
Most standard ultrasounds are transabdominal—which means the abdomen is the site where the probe will transmit sound waves. You will rest on your back while your abdomen is exposed, cleansed and covered with a clear gel. The purpose of the gel is to help transmit sound waves. Your healthcare provider will slide a handheld transducer over your belly to capture pictures of your baby, which can be seen on a computer monitor. Other than the pressure you may feel over your belly, you should have little or no discomfort.
If you have a transvaginal ultrasound, you will start the test with a full bladder. (Transvaginal means the probe introduces sound waves through the vagina.) You will undress below the waist and be covered with a sheet for your privacy. While you rest on your back with your feet in stirrups, your provider slides a small probe into your vagina. There is very little discomfort other than the pressure from the transducer.
After an Ultrasound
The results of an ultrasound will be read by your doctor and shared with you within a few days of your test. In some cases, results are available to you immediately afterwards.
If your results are normal and your pregnancy is not considered high risk, you will continue having regular prenatal checkups for the rest of your pregnancy with no additional ultrasounds. If your initial ultrasound shows a cause for concern, your physician will likely order additional tests to help confirm or rule out problems. This may include additional ultrasounds later in your pregnancy.
Occasionally, an ultrasound suggests a problem when there is none, causing anxiety for expectant parents. Physicians at Riley at IU Health can guide you through this period and coordinate any follow-up care and testing you or your baby may need. If your baby is diagnosed with a disorder or a genetic condition, Riley at IU Health offers a multidisciplinary team of maternal-fetal specialists and genetic counselors that can provide compassionate support and expert care before, during or after birth.
There is also a possibility that an ultrasound can miss certain disorders, such as Down syndrome or birth defects. For the sake of accuracy, ultrasound is always paired with other forms of prenatal screening.
Key Points to Remember
Key Points to Remember
- Prenatal ultrasound is an optional prenatal test that reveals information about a fetus while it is still growing in the uterus.
- Physicians consider it a useful tool for examining the health of mother and baby.
- There are many types of ultrasound, including 2-D, 3-D and 4-D technologies—all of which are used for specific reasons.
- Prenatal ultrasounds generally have little or no discomfort.
Support Services & Resources
Support Services & Resources
These valuable resources can help expectant parents become more informed about prenatal tests.
We offer a broad range of supportive services to make life better for families who choose us for their children's care.
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