My name is Hannah Bajor the
Pregnancy Super Coach with over twenty years in the field
taking care of women before, during and after their pregnancy.
What exactly is an ultrasound? An ultrasound is
an image, a sound image, through your belly into the womb itself. So
it is like a camera that can just take a picture from the outside
and we can actually now look inside the womb and check every organ,
every bit of your baby from the water around the baby to even the
fingers and the toes just an amazing invention altogether.
So, you know, I would say to you never worry
about any ultrasounds that you have to get in pregnancy. There is no
research out there that shows that there can be any problem to the
baby. Most women are going to get an ultrasound somewhere about age
10 weeks pregnant and that is really to confirm your dates just to
make sure that your dates are right and if you have not been seen by
a provider at that point, then we are going to do another ultrasound
when you are about 16 weeks pregnant.
A 16 week pregnancy ultrasound is an important
one. So even if you have missed the first one that is okay and we
would like to do one about 16 weeks and the reason for that is we
are looking at the anatomy of the baby. The baby is big enough at
that point that the ultrasound technician can go in and look at the
hands, toes, fingers, heart, kidneys, and genital areas.
It is just amazing and that is to let us know
that the baby looks like that there is no problem with the growth at
that point in pregnancy. Now you might get another ultrasound later
on in your pregnancy and sometimes not. The number of pregnancy
ultrasounds you get may just depend on what category you are in your
pregnancy.
If your are high risk or low risk or if you have
more than one baby growing inside you or if something happens during
your pregnancy that we think you are growing too big or you are not
growing enough then we might order another ultrasound.
Other than that, I expect by the time you get to
your due date, it is not unusual that we do some ultrasounds
especially if you go past your due date. Pregnancy ultrasounds at
that point is to make sure that you have enough amniotic fluid that
is the water around the baby. Babys certainly needs water at all
times and if the water around the baby is a little on the low side
then there would be an indication that we might want to have you
delivered.
All in all, I feel personally that pregnancy
ultrasounds are totally safe. I think they are fascinating. A lot of
these sonogram offices offer these 3D images where you can actually
pay extra money and have a profound high-level ultrasound very close
up that is just like you can look into the womb. I would say to you
whenever you have an ultrasound take that opportunity so you can
actually look at the baby and connect and bond and be excited and
take the photographs home and do a nice album for yourself.
.jpg)
