How Safe is Ultrasound?

Most pregnant women have at least one ultrasound during the course of the pregnancy. Ultrasounds are routine pregnancy tests, but they can also be a tool in monitoring high risk pregnancies.

How Ultrasound Works
Ultrasound is a medical test that uses high frequency sound waves to produce images of internal organs. Doctors view these images and look for abnormalities. In pregnancy, ultrasound is used to determine due date, size of baby, and overall health of the pregnancy.

Ultrasound Safety
Studies show that there are no risks to a fetus when undergoing ultrasound treatments. You and your baby will not be exposed to radiation. There is a risk of misdiagnosis when technicians are not properly trained or using bad equipment.

When is ultrasound performed?
The standard practice for most Obstetricians is to do an ultrasound at the very beginning of pregnancy. Most women will have another ultrasound around 18-20 weeks. Some women with high risk pregnancies may have ultrasounds more frequently.

Who performs the ultrasound
Your ultrasound will be done by a specially trained ultrasound technician. Most doctors office now have ultrasound technicians on staff, so the testing will be done in the doctor's office. Some doctors do not have this technology in house and you may need to go to an ultrasound clinic or hospital to have the procedure.

What you can learn from an ultrasound
An ultrasound at the beginning of the pregnancy will help determine whether or not you are expecting multiples, an accurate due date and location of the fetus. Later in pregnancy, usuallly around 20 weeks, an ultrasound will tell you if your baby has any abnormalities, the condition of the placenta, and you may have the option to learn the baby's gender.

What if the ultrasound shows a problem?
If the ultrasound technician sees a problem with the baby, she will alert the doctor. Your doctor will then speak with you regarding possible abnormalities. Further testing is usually done to rule out birth defects.

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