What is an ultrasound?
Ultrasound basically uses sound waves produced by a probe to assess the baby's structure and patterns of blood flow.
Are ultrasounds dangerous for me or my baby?
Ultrasound scans to assess pregnancy have been widely used for over 30 years. Extensive medical research has shown no side effects or associations to conditions such as low birth weight, childhood cancers or leukaemias, hearing problems or dyslexia. Indeed women with identical twin pregnancies will ofetn have scans every 2 weeks of their pregnancy. However most experts do agree that scans should only be undertaken for limited periods of time and for specified indcations.
Will it hurt?
No abdominal scans should be entirely painless, all you may feel is a little pressure on your tummy where the scan probe is placed. With transvaginal scans you may experience a little discomfort as the probe is introduced into the vagina (less discomfort than when you have a cervical smear test). Once the probe is in place you should not feel any discomfort.
Do I need a full bladder?
After the first 2 months of pregnancy with modern scan equipment most abdominal scans give adequate views to assess the pregnancy without a full bladder (although some maternity units do still advise it!). Some early pregnancies howwever may be better assessed with either a full bladder or via a transvaginal scan.
What if there is a problem found during the scan?
This is where it makes a difference as to who is doing you scan (an ultrasonographer or a medically trained specialist). An ultrasonographer is usually trained to recognise normal and abnormal features on a scan and if a problem is found they they refer to a specialist for further advice and management. A medically trained specialist should normally be able to counsel and give advice regarding the implications of any abnormal scan findings and the options for further management.