Ultrasound is valuable for seeing how a pregnancy develops throughout pregnancy.
It uses sound waves to form an image of the inside of the uterus so health professionals can take measurements and evaluate what they see.
Ultrasounds in pregnancy are primarily performed for two reasons. They evaluate the overall health, growth, and development of a pregnancy and detect medical complications and conditions.
The purpose of a prenatal ultrasound changes at the different stages of pregnancy. At InnerVisions Healthcare, we perform limited early ultrasounds to determine your gestational age (how far along you are) and whether your pregnancy is viable and growing inside the uterus.
At our clinic, we do not diagnose problems or the sex of the baby. In most cases, those are not done until later in pregnancy.
Reasons For a Prenatal Ultrasound
This type of ultrasound will be scheduled when you see your physician. It will…
- Verify your pregnancy
- Determine your pregnancy’s gestational age and due date
- Examine the uterus, ovaries, and cervix
- Examine the amount of amniotic fluid
- Check the growth, movement, and heart rate
- Identify the location of the fetus (in or outside of the uterus)
- Screen for early pregnancy complications, such as miscarriage
- Detect problems with the organs, muscles, and bones
- Check for multiples, such as twins
- Check the fetus’ position in the uterus and the location of the placenta
What if Problems Are Suspected?
Birth defects and genetic disorders are usually found at the anatomy ultrasound, which is performed at or around 20 weeks into the pregnancy. In most cases, this ultrasound also discovers the sex of the fetus.
Ultrasound is just one tool used to find problems. It is used in conjunction with blood testing and DNA screening.
Patient history is vital for this as well. Some conditions are hereditary.
If You Think You’re Pregnant, What Should You Do?
At InnerVisions Healthcare, we can provide a medical-grade urine laboratory test followed by an ultrasound. We provide the basic information you need about your pregnancy.
We will also provide you with information on your options.
All of our services are offered at no cost to you. Contact us to make an appointment today!