What Does an Ultrasound Look Like?
Ultrasound scans are an important component of your prenatal care. You will typically have around two ultrasounds during pregnancy to help monitor your baby’s growth and development.
What is an Ultrasound?
An ultrasound is a medical imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of structures inside our body. It is non-invasive and painless.
During an ultrasound, a transducer (a small, hand-held device) is placed on the skin over the area that is being examined, such as your belly. The transducer produces high-frequency sound waves that bounce off internal structures and are reflected. The reflected sound waves are converted into electrical signals processed by a computer to create images that your radiologist interprets.
Different ultrasound technologies can produce different dimensional images. These include:
2D Ultrasound
- Traditional ultrasound technology
- Produces black-and-white images of the organ
- Can show basic anatomy
3D Ultrasound
- More advanced ultrasound technology
- Produces three-dimensional images
- It can show different aspects of the anatomy, such as thickness
The 2D type of ultrasound is most commonly used during pregnancy care.
Types of Ultrasound
There are usually two types of ultrasound in the context of women’s reproductive health:
- Transabdominal Ultrasound: Performed on the abdomen with a gel applied to the skin. The transducer is placed onto your belly and then moved around to view different structures and calculate dimensions like your baby’s weight, height, and amount of amniotic fluid.
- Transvaginal Ultrasound: This is a more invasive ultrasound that is performed using a probe inserted into the vagina. This ultrasound can be needed in early pregnancy or to investigate pelvic issues that won’t be quite visible through the abdominal ultrasound.
What Can You See in an Ultrasound Image?
In a pregnancy ultrasound, we can assess different features of your uterus and your baby depending on how far along you are. For instance:
- During early pregnancy, we can observe the gestational sac and the baby’s heartbeat. After the 12th week, you can also determine the reproductive organs.
- During the later stages, we can assess fetal development, organs, movements, and positioning (e.g. head down or breech).
Factors That Affect What You See in an Ultrasound
As helpful as an ultrasound is, it can be influenced by external factors such as:
- The timing of the ultrasound: Since the baby’s size is small during early pregnancy, an ultrasound can’t see all parts of the anatomy or structures. We can only get basic information, such as the baby’s heartbeat.
- Maternal Factors: Maternal body weight or stature can influence image clarity. For instance, higher body fat and short statures may result in less detailed images.
- The baby’s position: If the baby has their back against your belly or is in a breech position, it can be challenging to view their anatomy accurately.
If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call!