The Basics of Ultrasound: What You Can Expect During Your Pregnancy
Ultrasounds are incredible. Pregnant women and their partners all over the world have anxiously looked forward to the day when they could finally get an ultrasound. However, if you have never had one, you should know that an ultrasound is not to be feared. An ultrasound is a medical exam used to determine the shape, size, and condition of things in the body that cannot be seen otherwise. An X-ray can help doctors to see bones and metallic structures in the body, but soft tissue is left completely in the dark. Ultrasounds can pick up specifics about soft tissues, such as organs, nerves, tendons, and the important contents of a pregnant woman's uterus.
An ultrasound uses something called a transducer to direct and bounce sound waves off of these soft tissues and then sends the findings to a computer in the form of a picture. Without proper training, these pictures can be difficult to interpret. Luckily, there are specialists who are trained in the ways of ultrasound and can offer the answers. Ultrasound technicians and radiologists work closely with medical doctors to make sure that anything seen on an ultrasound is diagnosed and treated properly.
It should be known that there are multiple types of ultrasound, all used for different purposes. There are specific ultrasounds for most regions of the body. Pregnant women can usually expect to receive one of two types of ultrasounds.
Standard Ultrasound. The standard ultrasound is performed routinely on pregnant women as a baseline. In the early stages of pregnancy, the transducer is placed just above the pubic bone to pick up the beginnings of life. A standard ultrasound is usually the first ultrasound a woman has during her pregnancy, at around 10–12 weeks. A second ultrasound that takes place around 20 weeks is also standard. This is to ensure that the fetus is developing properly, not missing any important parts. Not only can the outside of the baby's body be seen, but their internal organs are also visible due to how translucent their skin is.
Transvaginal Ultrasound. A transvaginal ultrasound is an ultrasound that is performed by placing the transducer, which is in the form of a probe, inside a woman's vagina. This is usually done when the woman presents herself to the doctor before her tenth week of gestation. The baby may be too small to see on a standard ultrasound. A transvaginal ultrasound can also be ordered if greater detail or another perspective of an internal structure is required.
For more information about ultrasounds, visit a medical center like EVDI Medical Imaging.
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