Ultrasound Services

Throughout your pregnancy, there may be indications when your provider will order an ultrasound. Each patient's individual history will dictate when the ultrasounds are ordered. Some patients will experience the first ultrasound early in their pregnancy to evaluate the gestational age, fetal number or viability.

At 12 weeks, you may be offered an Ultrascreen exam. This is the most sensitive screening for Down's Syndrome, Trisomy 18 and Trisomy 13 available to low-risk patients. This test includes an ultrasound as well as a finger stick for blood work.

Most patients will typically undergo an ultrasound for routine scanning of fetal anatomy at approximately 18-20 weeks gestation. The anatomic survey is a very important part of your obstetric care as it provides a detailed look at the fetal brain, face, heart, abdominal organs, limbs, umbilical cord, placenta, amniotic fluid and uterus. In addition, the anatomic survey creates a unique bonding experience with your unborn child and the fetal sex may be determined at this time, if the patient wishes, and the anatomy is well seen.

We will give you a couple of keepsake photos as well as loading those and others that we get for you onto a CD for you to keep. We ask that you keep bringing this CD back for each ultrasound exam so that all of your baby's pictures are together on one CD.

Early OB ultrasound is used to determine fetal viability, location and number of fetuses. This exam is done transvaginally. This is the same as a pelvic transvaginal scan.

Ultrascreen is the most sensitive screening available for low-risk patients to assess the risk of the fetus having Down's Syndrome, Trisomy 18 or Trisomy 13. This is a two part test. The first part is an ultrasound of the fetus to assess the nuchal lucency (a thin pocket of fluid on the back of the fetal neck) and to assess whether the fetus has a nasal bone. The second part of the test is a finger stick to get a blood sample. There are two chemical markers that are evaluated as part of this test. Once this information is sent to a lab, we will receive information that will tell us what the chances of the fetus having one of these three chromosomal defects is. If this test comes back with a positive result, further testing options will be discussed with you.

This ultrasound takes place between 19-20 weeks. Although you don't need to have an extremely full bladder like you do for the Ultra screen we do ask that you don't go right before your exam. Having a little bit in your bladder can be helpful. During this exam we will be assessing the fetal anatomy, taking measurements of the fetus and if you would like, we may be able to tell you fetal gender. We welcome families to this exciting time, but we remind you that this is a diagnostic test, not entertainment. There is always the possibility that we may find abnormal results that you may not want to share with others.

Biophysical profile is an exam used to assess the fetus for signs of distress. We will be looking for the fetus to show certain reflexes as well as assess the amniotic fluid levels. We may also be doing measurements of the fetus that will give us an idea of the fetal weight.

Amniocentesis is a procedure that may be offered to you if there is a concern for a fetal chromosomal defect. A needle is inserted into the gestational sac under ultrasound guidance in a sterile environment in order to extract fetal cells. These cells are sent to a lab to evaluate the fetal DNA for chromosomal defects.

A pelvic ultrasound uses sound waves to make a picture of the organs and structures in the lower belly (pelvis).

A pelvic ultrasound looks at the bladder and:The ovaries, uterus, cervix, and fallopian tubes of a woman (female organs).

Organs and structures that are solid and uniform (such as the uterus and ovaries) or that are fluid-filled (such as the bladder) show up clearly on a pelvic ultrasound. Bones or air-filled organs, such as the intestines, do not show up well on an ultrasound and may keep other organs from being seen clearly.

Pelvic ultrasound can be done two ways: transabdominal or transvaginal.

A small handheld device called a transducer is passed back and forth over the lower belly. A transabdominal ultrasound is commonly done for young women who have never been sexually active or in addition to a transvaginal ultrasound when organs cannot be clearly visualized on the transvaginal scan.

The transducer is shaped to fit into a woman's vagina. For transvaginal ultrasound, you will empty your bladder. You will be asked to lie on your back with your feet in the stirrups similar to a Pap smear exam. Transvaginal ultrasound often makes a clearer picture than transabdominal ultrasound because the transducer probe gets closer to the organs being viewed. Hysterosonogram. A hysterosonogram is done to look at the inside of the uterus by filling the uterus with fluid during a transvaginal ultrasound. Sometimes, a small sample of tissue (biopsy) may be taken with small tools inserted through the vagina during a transvaginal ultrasound.