Ultrasound During Pregnancy

When you check in for prenatal care an ultrasound is performed to confirm the health of your pregnancy, the number of babies and your due date. If you are less than 14 weeks pregnant a vaginal ultrasound will help us get the best information. Women greater than 14 weeks will have an ultrasound through the abdomen.

If you choose to obtain the first trimester screening test for Down's syndrome, you will have another ultrasound between 12 and 13 weeks.

At 18-20 weeks another ultrasound is done to more thoroughly evaluate your pregnancy. This ultrasound will confirm you due date, locate the placenta, measure the fluid in the uterus and survey the baby. Most of the time the sonographer can determine the sex of the baby at this visit. An ultrasound, even when reassuring, cannot find all birth defects in babies.

Additional ultrasounds are performed in the last 20 weeks in your pregnancy when your doctor deems it to be medically necessary. For example, women with high blood pressure, diabetes and twins will have more ultrasound during their pregnancy.

Please feel free to bring friends and family to your ultrasound. The ultrasound room can comfortably hold at least 5 visitors. If you are obtaining an ultrasound at an alternate facility please ask in advance how many visitors you may bring. Please have children supervised so that you and your partner may enjoy this peek into the uterus without distraction.

Your belly button piercing must be removed before the ultrasound.

Unfortunately, your ultrasound cannot be filmed or recorded, but photos of your baby are usually available for you to take home.

Return to the top of page

What to Expect

Advice From Your Doctor

Safe Medications for
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Testing for Birth Defects

Ultrasound During Pregnacy

Miscarriage

Twins

Cord Blood Education

Labor Instructions

Pain in Labor

Cesarean Sections

Breastfeeding

Post-Partum

Birth Control

The Pediatrician

Due Date Calculator

Baby Names

Back to Top of Page