Pregnancy Ultrasound

What to know

Pregnancy ultrasounds may be performed by imaging the pelvic organs and the baby through the abdominal wall (a transabdominal approach) or by placing a specialised probe into the vaginal cavity to provide a more detailed assessment (a transvaginal scan). The type of examination you will need will depend on what your referring doctor has requested, and the nature of the clinical condition being investigated.

Do you require an interpreter?
Is the patient non-english speaking? If so, we can arrange for an interpreter to be present during the appointment. Please let us know as soon as possible so we can make the relevant arrangements.

Please drink 1-2 glasses commencing 1.5 hours prior to your appointment and do not go to the toilet
Continue to take your regular medication as normal
On arrival, you will be required to complete relevant paperwork, listing all previous ultrasound locations and dates for this pregnancy.

For most ultrasound procedures you will be required to change into a gown and lie on an examination couch
You will remain covered during your procedure except for the area being imaged
To obtain optimal images, a layer of gel will be applied to the area being imaged so that good contact is made between you and the ultrasound probe
The probe will be placed directly onto the gel and your skin for the duration of the examination
You may also be asked to hold your breath for a few seconds during the scan time
The scan is completely painless, although pressure may be applied to improve the image quality.  Please tell the sonographer should this become uncomfortable
In some instances, a transvaginal scan may be required. Transvaginal scans are frequently performed in the first trimester of pregnancy, in the late stages of pregnancy or at other times when a close-up view of the pelvic organs is required. The transvaginal scan is performed with an empty bladder, and as a result many patients find it more comfortable. The small, sterilised probe (about the same diameter as a thumb) is lubricated with gel before insertion into the vagina. A protective cover is placed over the transducer each time it is used, so there is no risk of infection. Transvaginal scans are only performed if requested or clinically indicated and always with the patient’s consent. Please discuss any issues you may have with the sonographer
Most ultrasound examinations will be completed within 30 minutes; however, some studies will require a longer appointment such as the anatomy scan, performed at 19 weeks
During some pregnancy ultrasounds, you may be requested to walk around the clinic. This is requested if the sonographer is unable to visualise all of the required anatomy of the baby, this is generally due to the way they are positioned
If the walk is unable to move the baby into a different position, you may be required to return on a different day
The images are then reviewed and reported by one of our specialist radiologists.

Ultrasound is a highly valuable diagnostic tool, and it is particularly useful during pregnancy because it is completely safe for you and your baby. Some of the useful indications for use during pregnancy include:

For dating purposes and to accurately determine your due date
To ascertain the number of babies present
To check for any bleeding early in the pregnancy
To check the position of the placenta
To assess the growth of the baby and its general well-being
To provide information about the anatomy of the baby and check for possible abnormalities*.

*Not all possible birth abnormalities are reliably diagnosed using ultrasound and all scan results should be interpreted within the limitations of the test.