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What is a perinatal ultrasound?
Who should have a perinatal ultrasound?
How often should you have a perinatal ultrasound?
How do you prepare for a perinatal ultrasound?
What happens during the procedure?
What happens after the procedure?
What are the benefits of a perinatal ultrasound?
What are the risks of a perinatal ultrasound?
Where can I go for a perinatal ultrasound?
What is a perinatal ultrasound?
Perinatal ultrasound is a common procedure that allows a doctor to view a "picture" of a pregnant woman's baby using sound waves.
Who should have a perinatal ultrasound?
A nearly automatic part of prenatal care, perinatal ultrasounds are performed on an estimated 70 percent of all pregnant women in the U.S. Most doctors recommend the ultrasound at least once during pregnancy, usually to set a due date and make sure the baby is growing as it should.
How often should you have a perinatal ultrasound?
As recommended by your obstetrician.
How do you prepare for a perinatal ultrasound?
You should drink about 32 ounces of water one hour before your exam because a full bladder helps to transmit the sound waves, thereby producing a better image.
What happens during the procedure?
For a transabdominal perinatal ultrasound, you lie down on an examination table and a gel is applied to your uncovered belly. The technician will slowly move the ultrasound transducer wand back and forth over your abdomen. The transducer emits inaudible sound waves, which are reflected back, creating an image of the baby on the monitor. The painless procedure should take from 15 to 30 minutes.
For a transvaginal ultrasound, you lie down on a table as the ultrasound transducer is placed in your vagina and moved around. Transvaginal ultrasounds are performed most often in the very early stages of pregnancy. There may be minimal discomfort.
What happens after the procedure?
Physically, you should experience no side effects or discomfort. However, you may want to immediately empty your bladder after the procedure. Because the results are immediate, your doctor or the ultrasound technician should be able to discuss details with you.
What are the benefits of a perinatal ultrasound?
A perinatal ultrasound exam helps your doctor determine when your baby is due and makes sure that your baby is growing as it should. It also helps detect multiple births, some birth defects and determine the baby's position. It can be useful to pinpoint the cause of bleeding, measure amniotic fluid and confirm a possible miscarriage. Perinatal ultrasound is also helpful in guiding other prenatal tests, such as amniocentesis.
What are the risks of a perinatal ultrasound?
Perinatal ultrasound has been safely used on pregnant women for more than 30 years. Because it does not use X-rays, the procedure is safe for both the mother and the baby. The ultrasonic waves used in the procedure cannot be heard or felt by the baby or the mother. In some cases, however, perinatal ultrasound can miss some fetal abnormalities or indicate an abnormality when one is not present.
Where can I go for a perinatal ultrasound?
Perinatal ultrasound services are offered at the following locations:
Grant Medical Center
111 South Grant Ave.
Phone: (614) 566-9350
Scheduling: (614) 566-1111
Fax: (614) 566-8259
Doctors Hospital
5100 West Broad Street
Phone: (614) 544-1021
Scheduling: (614) 566-1111
Fax: (614) 851-8657
Eastside Health Center
4850 East Main St.
Phone: (614) 566-0899
Scheduling: (614) 566-1111
Fax: (614) 566-0967
Riverside Methodist Hospital
3535 Olentangy River Road
Phone: (614) 566-5253
Scheduling: (614) 566-1111
Fax: (614) 566-6826
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