No doubt pregnancy is a very exciting time, and seeing your little bundle of joy on ultrasound is definitely a highlight. Somewhere between 18 and 22 weeks, generally, you will be sent for a diagnostic ultrasound. It is also sometimes referred to as an anatomy scan. What should you expect? Read on to find out.
How should I prepare?
While you may need to provide a urine sample for your physician, you do not need a full bladder for this scan. Fluid provides an excellent “window” for viewing organs, or in this case, the fetus. At this point in the pregnancy, there should be sufficient amniotic fluid to provide beautiful viewing of the baby.
How long will I be there?
Expect to spend 45 minutes to an hour in your exam. It takes time to measure everything that needs to be measured. The good news is that this is just more time you get to spend looking at your little prince or princess! (This time should be extended if you are carrying multiple fetuses.)
Why does it take so long? I just want to know the sex of the baby!
While seeing the baby is very exciting and knowing how to prepare the nursery and what color clothes to purchase is important to many parents, please keep in mind the purpose of this exam is to closely analyze the health and growth of the baby. Numerous measurements will be made and compared to one another to insure proper growth and help to possibly identify markers for any number of anomalies.
There are no proven biological effects of ultrasound on fetuses. Unlike many other imaging modalities, ultrasound uses no radiation, only sound waves. Limited use of ultrasound has proven to be harmless and generally, the benefits greatly outweigh any risks that may be involved.
Can the ultrasound technologist give me the results of the exam?
This will depend on the facility in which you are having the ultrasound performed. In private practices, you will likely find out everything during the exam. However, in a general outpatient facility or hospital, often times the technologist will not be able to give the results. As hard as this is, try not to read too much into the facial expressions of the technologist. Many times, the frustrated or discouraging faces are due to a baby moving just as the perfect image is obtained. You can feel the little guy or gal bouncing off of your uterine walls, imagine trying to catch the perfect still photograph while that is going on!
What if something IS wrong?
I know it sounds cliché, but try not to panic. Ultrasound has come a long way, but it is not definitive. If you are a low risk patient and the ultrasound is suspect for an anomaly, you will likely be sent for a level II ultrasound. This exam is very similar to the anatomy scan, but the fetus is looked at in much more detail. You may also be given the option for any number of other procedures, including amniocentesis, that when used in conjunction with ultrasound can provide a more accurate diagnosis. You should speak with your partner and physician to decide what course of action is appropriate for you.
There are a few ways this can be handled. Some technologists may simply say “no”. However, if they are open to the family observing, the easiest way, I’ve found, is for the family members to wait in the waiting room until the lengthy, boring part of the exam is completed. Once the measurements are completed, the family may join you. If you do want to know the sex, and the technologist is open to checking, this would be a good time to have him or her show you. Again, keep in mind that ultrasound is not definitive, so the guess at the gender is just that: a guess.
Pregnancy is a joyful, emotional, sometimes overwhelming experience. Hopefully these tips can provide a little reassurance for just one small part of the process. The most important thing to keep in mind is that pregnancy is about you and the baby. Feel free to ask questions. The tech may not be able to answer, but don’t let that stop you from asking. Your peace of mind is at stake so don’t be afraid to seek answers to any question you may have. After all, you will only experience this pregnancy once! Savor every moment.
