Obstetrical / Pregnancy Ultrasound

Preparing for an Obstetrical Ultrasound

Prenatal ultrasounds conducted between 11 and 40 weeks do not require any preparation. Ultrasounds conducted prior to 11 weeks requires you drink between 250 ml – 750 ml of water one hour prior to your scheduled appointment, and do not urinate. This is essential, because it allows us to get a clear look at both the fetus and your reproductive organs. It is better to have full or semi-full bladder for these ultrasounds to evaluate baby’s cervical length.

What happens during an obstetrical ultrasound?

When you come in for your pregnancy ultrasound, a trained technologists will begin by applying a special gel to your abdomen. This gel is essential to help the sound waves travel smoothly. They will then use a handheld wand called a transducer over your abdomen, which sends high frequency sound waves into your body and back to the transducer. These sound waves are then turned into images that can be analyzed by a medical professional. Measurements may also be taken. For your comfort and convenience, images of your baby will be viewed on a monitor for you and your partner.

Early on in your pregnancy, you may also be given a transvaginal ultrasound, in order for the techs to get a clearer picture of the fetus. For this procedure, a small ultrasound probe will be inserted into the vagina to capture more detailed images.

Contact us today to book an appointment with the team or to learn more about prenatal ultrasounds at Lindsay Ultrasound & X-Ray Centre.

Obstetrical Ultrasounds

Conveniently located steps from Ross Memorial Hospital, Lindsay Ultrasound & X-Ray Centre is pleased to offer patients complete ultrasound services in a caring and friendly environment.

At Lindsay Ultrasound & X-Ray, we provide obstetrical ultrasounds in a comfortable, welcoming environment, to women is various stages of their pregnancies.

Types of Obstetrical Ultrasounds

Dating Ultrasound

Nuchal Transparency

Anatomy

Growth/BPP

Types of Obstetrical Ultrasounds

There are four main types of pregnancy ultrasounds typically requisitioned by obstetricians: Dating, Nuchal Translucency, Anatomy, Growth/BPP.

Dating Ultrasound

This early pregnancy ultrasound is the first look at the fetus and helps to pinpoint the due date in conjunction with the patient’s reported LMP.

Nuchal Transparency

This prenatal ultrasound (also referred to as the NT scan) is a non-invasive procedure performed between the 11 and 14th week, in order to assess your baby’s risk of having chromosomal abnormalities. It measures the translucent space in the tissue at the back of your baby’s neck.

Anatomy

The Anatomy scan is a second trimester fetal ultrasound, usually performed between weeks 18 – 22. This prenatal ultrasound is typically the one that new parents look most forward to. The baby is evaluated from head to bottom, and measured around his or her tummy and head. Additionally, your ultrasound technician will look at the four chambers of the baby’s heart, along with the kidneys, bladder, stomach, brain, spine, and sex organs. If you wish, you may also learn the baby’s sex during this ultrasound.

Growth/BPP

The growth scan and biophysical profile (BPP) is an obstetrical ultrasound that can be requisitioned by a doctor during a woman’s third trimester. It can be ordered when a mother is going passed her due date, or to assess the size of a baby who seems to be measuring significantly larger or smaller than expected. However, this pregnancy ultrasound it most often done as a precaution after problems in a previous pregnancy or because of high risk factors such as previous pregnancy loss in the second half of pregnancy, high blood pressure, diabetes, intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR).