How Ultrasound Imaging Works
Ultrasound, also called sonography, uses sound waves to develop images of what's going on inside the body.
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An instrument called a transducer emits high-frequency sound, inaudible to human ears, and then records the echoes as the sound waves bounce back to determine the size, shape, and consistency of soft tissues and organs.
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This information is relayed to produce images on a computer screen.
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Ultrasound technicians, or sonographers, have special training in how to perform the test.
Uses of Ultrasound Tests
Ultrasound imaging has many uses in medicine, from confirming and dating a pregnancy to diagnosing certain conditions and guiding doctors through precise medical procedures.
As an Obstetric patient, a sonogram can be performed in our office at the time of your regularly scheduled appointment so the doctors can go over the results with you immediately.
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Ultrasound images have many uses during pregnancy. Early on, they may be used to:
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determine due dates
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reveal the presence of twins or other multiples
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rule out ectopic pregnancies.
They also are valuable screening tools in helping to detect potential problems, including:
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Monitoring the growth of your baby
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Birth defects and placental issues
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Evaluating anatomical structures
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Breech positioning, and others
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Ultrasound For Gender Determination
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The Ultrasound to view all the skeletal and anatomical structure of your baby is usually done at 20 weeks.
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If the baby cooperates by being in the correct position to view the genitals, the gender of your baby can be seen.
