Ultrasound in Pregnancy: What to Expect, Purpose & Results

A prenatal or pregnancy ultrasound uses sound waves to create a picture of your baby on a screen. Pregnancy care providers use it to check on the health of your baby and detect certain pregnancy complications. It’s common to have two ultrasounds during pregnancy, but you may have more if your provider feels it’s medically necessary. Understanding what these ultrasounds involve, why they’re performed, and what to expect can help you feel more prepared and informed throughout your pregnancy journey.

Understanding Prenatal Ultrasounds

Prenatal ultrasounds, also known as fetal ultrasounds or pregnancy ultrasounds, are one of the most important diagnostic tools available to healthcare providers during pregnancy. Your provider will talk to you about when you can expect ultrasounds during pregnancy based on your individual health history and any specific risk factors you may have. These ultrasounds use advanced technology to visualize your developing baby and monitor the health of your pregnancy in real time.

The primary purpose of prenatal ultrasounds is to establish a baseline understanding of your baby’s development and growth throughout pregnancy. By monitoring your baby at different stages of pregnancy, your healthcare provider can ensure that everything is progressing as expected and identify any potential complications early on.

Purpose and Benefits of Pregnancy Ultrasounds

Pregnancy ultrasounds serve multiple important functions in prenatal care. They are essential tools that help healthcare providers make informed decisions about your pregnancy management and ensure the best possible outcomes for both you and your baby.

Primary Purposes of Ultrasound

• Checking on the overall health and development of your baby
• Confirming the due date and gestational age of your pregnancy
• Detecting pregnancy complications such as ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage
• Screening for congenital conditions (conditions your baby is born with)
• Guiding the needle during certain diagnostic procedures like amniocentesis or CVS (chorionic villus sampling)
• Evaluating fetal heart rate and movement patterns
• Assessing placental position and amniotic fluid levels
• Monitoring multiple pregnancies if you’re carrying twins or more

Ultrasound is also an important tool to help providers screen for congenital conditions. A screening is a type of test that determines if your baby is more likely to have a specific health condition. Your provider also uses ultrasound to guide the needle during certain diagnostic procedures in pregnancy like amniocentesis or CVS. Additionally, an ultrasound is part of a biophysical profile (BPP), a test that combines ultrasound with a nonstress test to evaluate if your baby is getting enough oxygen.

Safety of Prenatal Ultrasounds

One of the most common concerns expectant parents have is whether ultrasounds are safe for their developing baby. The good news is that extensive research has demonstrated the safety of prenatal ultrasounds when used appropriately. Studies have shown ultrasounds are safe during pregnancy, and there are no harmful side effects to you or your baby when performed by trained healthcare professionals using appropriate equipment and techniques.

However, while ultrasounds are safe for you and your baby, most major medical associations recommend that pregnancy care providers should only do ultrasounds when the tests are medically necessary. If your ultrasounds are normal and your pregnancy is uncomplicated or low risk, repeat ultrasounds aren’t necessary. This recommendation helps ensure that ultrasounds are used judiciously and appropriately, rather than for non-medical reasons such as simply wanting to see your baby or obtain keepsake images.

Even though prenatal ultrasounds are safe, you should only have them when it’s medically necessary. If there’s no reason for an ultrasound (for example, if you just want to see your baby), your insurance company might not pay for it. It’s important to discuss with your provider which ultrasounds are medically necessary for your specific situation.

Timing and Types of Pregnancy Ultrasounds

The number and timing of ultrasounds during pregnancy can vary based on your individual circumstances, your healthcare provider’s recommendations, and whether you have any specific health conditions or pregnancy complications.

Typical Ultrasound Schedule

It’s typical to have one or two ultrasounds during pregnancy. However, the number and timing vary depending on your pregnancy care provider and if you have any health conditions. If your pregnancy is high risk or if your provider suspects you or your baby has a health condition, they may suggest more frequent ultrasounds.

First Trimester Ultrasound (11-13 weeks): Some providers perform your first ultrasound closer to 12 weeks of pregnancy. This early ultrasound helps confirm pregnancy viability, establish an accurate due date, and screen for certain chromosomal abnormalities.

Anatomy Ultrasound (18-20 weeks): You can expect an ultrasound around 18 to 20 weeks in pregnancy. This is known as the anatomy ultrasound or 20-week ultrasound. During this ultrasound, your pregnancy care provider can see your baby’s sex (if your baby is in a good position for viewing their genitals), detect birth disorders like cleft palate or find serious conditions related to your baby’s brain, heart, bones or kidneys. This is typically the most detailed ultrasound of pregnancy and provides comprehensive information about your baby’s structural development.

Third Trimester Ultrasounds: If your pregnancy is progressing well and with no complications, your 20-week ultrasound may be your last ultrasound during pregnancy. However, if your provider detects a problem during your 20-week ultrasound, they may order additional ultrasounds. Third trimester ultrasounds are typically performed to assess fetal growth, monitor amniotic fluid levels, determine fetal position, and evaluate any complications that may have developed.

Early Pregnancy Detection

Pregnancy care providers can detect an embryo on an ultrasound as early as six weeks into the pregnancy. An embryo develops into a fetus around the eighth week of pregnancy. If your last menstrual period isn’t accurate, it’s possible that it may be too early to detect a fetal heart rate, and your provider may recommend a follow-up ultrasound in one to two weeks.

What Happens During Your Ultrasound

Understanding what to expect during your ultrasound appointment can help you feel more comfortable and prepared. Most prenatal ultrasounds are performed transabdominally, meaning the ultrasound probe (called a transducer) is moved across the surface of your abdomen after applying a water-based gel.

During the ultrasound, your healthcare provider or ultrasound technician will:

• Apply warm gel to your abdomen to help transmit sound waves effectively
• Move the transducer across your abdomen to obtain different views of your baby
• Take measurements of your baby to assess growth and development
• Check your baby’s heart rate and movement
• Examine the placenta and amniotic fluid
• Look for any structural abnormalities or concerns
• Answer questions you may have about your pregnancy

The entire ultrasound typically takes 20 to 30 minutes, though this can vary depending on the type of ultrasound being performed and how cooperative your baby is during the examination.

Understanding Your Ultrasound Results

Your ultrasound results will be normal or abnormal. A normal result means your pregnancy care provider didn’t find any problems and that your baby is growing and developing normally. This is the most common outcome and provides reassurance that your pregnancy is progressing well.

An abnormal result means your provider noticed something irregular. If they do, your provider will order additional ultrasounds or diagnostic tests to determine if something is wrong. It’s important to remember that an abnormal ultrasound finding doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a serious problem with your baby. Some findings may resolve on their own, while others may require further investigation or monitoring.

Incomplete Ultrasound Results

Occasionally, the ultrasound is incomplete if there’s difficulty seeing all the structures needed for that particular ultrasound. Your baby’s position or movement sometimes makes it difficult to see everything your provider needs to see. If this is the case, you’ll need a repeat ultrasound and they’ll try again. Factors such as maternal obesity, excess amniotic fluid, or simply your baby’s position can affect the quality of the ultrasound images.

High-Risk Pregnancies and Additional Ultrasounds

If you have a high-risk pregnancy, you may require more frequent ultrasounds than the standard two or three. High-risk pregnancies include situations such as:

• Maternal age (under 20 or over 35)
• Chronic health conditions (diabetes, hypertension, etc.)
• Previous pregnancy complications
• Multiple gestations (twins, triplets, etc.)
• Abnormal screening test results
• Medications that could affect fetal development
• Suspected fetal abnormalities

Your healthcare provider will discuss the frequency and timing of ultrasounds based on your specific risk factors and pregnancy circumstances.

Important Considerations and Recommendations

All ultrasounds during pregnancy are important. Your pregnancy care provider uses ultrasound to tell them important information about your pregnancy. Each ultrasound serves a specific purpose and contributes to your overall prenatal care plan.

It’s most common to have two ultrasounds — one in the first trimester and one in the second trimester. However, if there’s a potential complication or medical reason for more ultrasounds, your provider will order more as a precaution. Talk to your provider about the ultrasound schedule during pregnancy and what you can expect. This conversation will help you understand which ultrasounds are medically necessary for your pregnancy and what information each ultrasound will provide.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How many ultrasounds will I have during my pregnancy?

A: Most pregnancies include two to three ultrasounds: one in the first trimester (around 12 weeks), one anatomy scan in the second trimester (around 20 weeks), and possibly one in the third trimester if needed. However, the exact number depends on your individual health history and whether your pregnancy is considered high-risk.

Q: Is it safe to have ultrasounds during pregnancy?

A: Yes, ultrasounds are safe during pregnancy. Studies have shown no harmful side effects to you or your baby when performed by trained healthcare professionals using appropriate equipment. However, ultrasounds should only be performed when medically necessary.

Q: Can ultrasounds detect all birth defects?

A: While ultrasounds can detect many structural abnormalities and birth defects, they cannot detect all conditions. Some conditions may not be visible on ultrasound or may only become apparent after birth. Genetic screening tests combined with ultrasounds provide more comprehensive screening.

Q: What should I do if my ultrasound results are abnormal?

A: If your ultrasound shows abnormal results, your provider will discuss the findings with you and may recommend additional testing or more frequent monitoring. It’s important to have a detailed conversation with your healthcare provider about what the findings mean and what steps should be taken next.

Q: Can I find out the sex of my baby during the ultrasound?

A: During the 20-week anatomy ultrasound, your provider can often determine your baby’s biological sex if your baby is in a good position for viewing. Be sure to tell your technician in advance whether you want to know the sex of your baby.

Q: What if my baby is in a position where the ultrasound technician can’t see everything?

A: If your baby’s position or movement makes it difficult for the technician to see all the necessary structures, you will be asked to return for a follow-up ultrasound. Sometimes returning after a short break or trying different positions can help obtain better images.

Q: Should I get ultrasounds just to see my baby if there’s no medical reason?

A: Most major medical associations recommend that ultrasounds be performed only when medically necessary. If there’s no medical reason for an ultrasound, your insurance may not cover it, and your healthcare provider may not recommend it.

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Author

Sneha TeteBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

 

Sneha is a relationships and lifestyle writer with a strong foundation in applied linguistics and certified training in relationship coaching. She brings over five years of writing experience to renewcure,  crafting thoughtful, research-driven content that empowers readers to build healthier relationships, boost emotional well-being, and embrace holistic living.

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