Obstetricians use ultrasound exams to monitor pregnancy in expecting mothers. An ultrasound is a specialized form of sound waves that bounce through the body and return in echoes. These echoes are transformed into images using a specialized tool called a transducer. You can view ultrasound images as pictures on a video screen.
Ultrasound
Baby Ultrasound: What You Need To Know
A standard ultrasound exam provides information on:
- Fetal position
- Fetal size and weight
- Location of placenta
- Number of fetuses
- Fetal movement, breathing and heart rate
- Fetus sex
Your obstetrician can also determine your baby’s gestational age during a standard ultrasound exam and identify physical development milestones and congenital anomalies. Your obstetrician may perform a limited ultrasound exam to answer specific questions about your pregnancy, like fetal heart rate and position within the uterus.
Ultrasound Risks
Ultrasound exams do not pose a risk to your pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have concluded there are no links between ultrasounds and congenital disabilities, development problems, or childhood cancer.
Medical professionals must perform all ultrasounds to ensure no risk of injury to you or your baby.
Your First Ultrasound
You can expect to have at least one ultrasound during your pregnancy to determine your baby’s gestational age, heart rate, and the risk for genetic disorders. This ultrasound, which obstetricians generally perform in the first 18-22 weeks of pregnancy, can also reveal additional fetuses.
Ultrasounds at Sylacauga Obstetrics & Gynecology
At Sylacauga Obstetrics & Gynecology, we perform at least two ultrasound exams for our pregnant patients.
Our certified obstetricians will perform the first exam transvaginally. Transvaginal ultrasounds provide the most precise pictures and allow our team to date the pregnancy in the first trimester accurately.
For the second exam and any after that, we will typically use an obstetric ultrasound. Our obstetricians perform this ultrasound abdominally to examine your baby’s sex, growth, placenta, fluid, and potential anatomic anomalies.
To schedule an ultrasound at Sylacauga Obstetrics & Gynecology, give us a call at (256) 249-6995.
3D & 4D Ultrasounds
Creating a new life is exciting, and many women are eager to see their babies during exams. With 3D and 4D ultrasounds, expectant mothers can get a more detailed, realistic image of their unborn baby.
Both 3D ultrasounds and 4D ultrasounds use the same sound wave technology to create images; however, they provide different results. 3D ultrasounds create a still image of your baby that is three-dimensional. 4D ultrasounds can capture movement, allowing you to see your baby kick, smile, open their eyes, and more!
Sylacauga Obstetrics & Gynecology offers 3D ultrasounds and 4D ultrasounds in Sylacauga, Alabama, to give mothers a better glimpse of their unborn babies. We also use this technology to identify congenital disabilities that we cannot detect during standard ultrasounds.
Certified Ultrasound Technicians in Sylacauga, AL
Sylacauga Obstetrics & Gynecology has an expert, knowledgeable, and certified team of ultrasound technicians and obstetricians who perform ultrasound exams. We are committed to providing the highest quality healthcare for mothers, and we do so in a safe and comfortable environment.
Our Sylacauga Obstetrics & Gynecology team wants to be there for you from your first ultrasound to childbirth and beyond. You can schedule an ultrasound appointment at our office in Sylacauga, Alabama, by calling (256) 249-6995 or completing our contact form.