Nurturing a baby in the womb can make you anxious unless you’re sure that everything is going smoothly. Ultrasounds are an important diagnostic tool that allows you and your doctor to see your baby while it’s growing inside the womb.
Ultrasound Lake Nona center comprises a team of experienced gynecologists offering traditional ultrasounds as well as 3D and 4D services to provide more details and real-time motions of the baby.
Introduction to an ultrasound
Ultrasound is a widely used imaging modality that helps to view the inside of your body. This is an essential test that aids in the diagnosis of several diseases, and injuries that help doctors to plan the further course of action.
There are three types of ultrasounds such as:
- 2D scan: This gives a flat, black-and-white image of the organs and structures scanned.
- 3D scan: This type of scan is used during pregnancy to provide detailed images of the uterus and the baby from different angles.
- 4D scan: This allows even more detailed images by creating real-time motion images of the baby.
An ultrasound machine consists of an electric probe that is used to scan the structures. This uses high-frequency sound waves that send waves to pass through several tissue layers and bounce back on reaching organs and other internal structures like blood vessels. A computer then converts the electrical signals into real-time images or videos which are displayed on a computer monitor attached to the machine.
Preparing for an ultrasound
Preparing yourself before an ultrasound is essential for optimal results and to prevent any errors or false positive reports.
Follow the given guidelines before the scan:
- You must come with a full bladder since it provides a clear view of the internal structures
- Wear loose and comfortable clothes
Ultrasound procedure
Ultrasounds are performed by specially trained specialists called radiologists or sonographers. This is an outpatient procedure that does not involve any anesthesia.
- You are made to lie comfortably on a flatbed
- Your doctor will apply a lubricating gel which aids in close contact between the probe and your skin surface
- The probe will glide smoothly over the gel and move around to scan the targeted area
- Multiple images will be recorded and displayed on the screen
A note on transvaginal scan
A transvaginal scan is an imaging procedure that allows doctors to view the inside of your cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.
It involves inserting a special transvaginal probe inside your uterus to get more precise and detailed images. This reduces the amount of tissue the sound waves need to pass through to reach your reproductive organs.
Summary
Ultrasounds are safe and provide accurate details of internal organs. It does not use radiation energy thus considered the safest procedure even during pregnancy.
