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Diagnostic Ultrasound

Obstetrics

What is an Ultrasound?

An ultrasound is a noninvasive diagnostic procedure which enables a technologist or physician to visualize your internal anatomy without the risks associated with an X-ray.

Ultrasound is a procedure which uses high frequency sound waves to help determine fetal age and placental localization in pregnancies.

The exam is painless, although you may experience slight discomfort from your full bladder if you have been instructed to drink liquids prior to your exam.

How do I prepare for my ultrasound test?

If this is your FIRST trimester of pregnancy: A full bladder is most important. We recommend that you drink 24-38 ounces of clear liquid right before this test. Remember that we want you to have a full bladder, but don’t want you to be in pain. Do NOT urinate prior to your exam.

If this is your SECOND trimester of pregnancy: A partially full bladder is required. Once again we recommend that you to drink 24-38 ounces of liquids prior to examination. Do not urinate prior to your exam.

If this is your THIRD trimester of pregnancy: At this point in your pregnancy, a full bladder is not required. We ask that you not urinate one hour prior to this examination. No need to drink water for this test.

What if my Doctor ordered an endovaginal ultrasound examination? How do I prepare?

No special preparation is required for this type of ultrasound examination.

What about food prior to an obstetrical ultrasound?

It is recommended that about 30 minutes before the examination, you should eat a snack containing natural sugar. If your appointment is within an hour after eating a meal, a snack is not needed.

Recommended snacks: Fresh fruit or juice. If the Dr. has prescribed a special diet for you (example: diabetic diet), never consume foods that you have been instructed to avoid.

What is the procedure like?

You will be asked to change out of your street clothes into a hospital gown.

You will lie on an ultrasound table, and a conducting gel will be applied to your abdomen/pelvic area. The Technologist will move a wand-like instrument (transducer) over the gel, creating and capturing the most relevant images.

Many women want to know if the Technologist can determine the sex of the baby. Your baby’s sex is difficult to determine before 20 weeks, and even then, opinions are not guaranteed.

How can I be sure that I have the most accurate test possible?

We understand that you want to share in this special test with your family. However, bringing small children -or- many people to the exam area is NOT recommended or allowed.

It is really important that the Technologist not be distracted by excessive noise such as talking, children running around the area, or a lot of external motion. The precise detail the Technologist must document requires his/her attention to be strictly devoted to performing the examination.

Therefore, please help us to HELP YOU by limiting then number to a MAXIMUM of two other support people accompanying you into the ultrasound area. It is extremely difficult to accommodate children in the ultrasound area. Since we do not have day care capabilities in our waiting area at this time, we suggest that you do not bring small children to the waiting area to be left there without supervision. We appreciate your cooperation in limiting your accompanying support people as much as possible to assure accuracy of your exam.

PLEASE try not to ask a lot of questions during the exam as this will distract your Technologist. We will be happy at the END of your exam to give you a photo of your ultrasound to share with others, and answer any questions you may have at that time.

If you have any other questions about your upcoming ultrasound exam, please do not hesitate to call our Radiology Dept. (485-2632) prior to your exam for more information.