Ultrasounds Specialist

What is an ultrasound?

An ultrasound is a safe, simple and painless office procedure that uses sound wave technology to create internal images of a woman’s lower abdomen and pelvis. It’s used both to monitor fetal development in pregnant women, as well as, diagnose many types of gynecologic problems including, unexplained bleeding, fibroids, ovarian cysts, polyps, and other conditions.

What does having a transabdominal ultrasound entail?

You’ll need to wear loose clothing or change into a hospital gown. Then, lying on an exam table a water-based gel is applied to the skin of your pelvic and/or abdominal region. Next, a hand-held device, known as a transducer, is gently glided across the area. The transducer sends sound waves through the abdomen which bounce back providing images on a monitor of the inside of the body. These images include the fetus, placenta, and amniotic fluid in pregnant women, along with the uterus, cervix, vagina, fallopian tubes and ovaries, tissues and muscles. These images can be recorded on a CD.

What is a transvaginal ultrasound?

Transvaginal ultrasound utilizes the same sound wave technology as a transabdominal ultrasound. Instead of moving a transducer across your abdomen though, the procedure is performed with a transducer probe (covered with a condom) inserted directly into the vagina.

Early in the pregnancy, better images may be produced via a transvaginal ultrasound.

When can I see what my baby looks like?

By the middle of the second trimester, or approximately halfway through the pregnancy, the ultrasound may produce a clearer picture of your baby’s face. 3D and 4D ultrasounds show a significant amount of detail. If you choose, you can also find out the baby’s sex at this point in the pregnancy. Dr. Patterson is very respectful of the parent’s decision to know or to keep the sex of the baby a surprise.