When you’re pregnant, the 40 weeks of gestation are filled with changes that affect mother and child. Medical imaging helps us keep an eye on things during this time, and ultrasound is an important part of that process.
To help you better understand, let’s have a look at what ultrasounds are and why and when we recommend them at various points as you’re carrying your baby.
If you live in the Lake Mary, Florida, area and are expecting a bundle of joy, Dr. Christopher Quinsey and our team can help keep you and your baby healthy during your pregnancy.
Also referred to as sonography or ultrasonography, this type of digital imaging uses high-intensity sound waves to examine structures inside your body.
We use a device called a transducer to probe the area, either externally or inside the vaginal canal, and the device converts electrical signals into sound waves.
The sound waves echo back and forth and send the signals to a computer through electrical signals, which then appear on a nearby screen as images so we can observe what’s going on.
Keeping track of your baby’s health throughout the pregnancy is paramount. Using an ultrasound to examine the baby gives us the chance to show not just the fetus, but imaging of the amniotic sac, ovaries, and placenta to check for abnormalities that could pose a problem.
An ultrasound can confirm pregnancy and even determine the gestational age of the baby. It’s also a safe option that doesn’t expose you or the fetus to X-rays or anything that would pose a risk during pregnancy.
The purpose of ultrasounds during pregnancy varies at different stages of the process:
As we already mentioned, ultrasounds can confirm pregnancy and even detect a heartbeat, but they can also confirm multiple fetuses, find abnormal growths, and examine your uterus, ovaries, placenta, and cervix.
They can detect a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy (a fetus not attached to the uterus), too.
During the remaining months, an ultrasound can monitor your baby’s development, including:
We can also monitor amniotic fluid levels, measure the length of the cervix, and see if there are conditions affecting the placenta (placenta previa and placental abruption).
A lot is happening while you’re pregnant, and ultrasounds help us learn what’s going on throughout your pregnancy. If you’re expecting and need an ultrasound or other medical imaging, make an appointment with Dr. Quinsey and our staff today.
