News that you are pregnant can be one of your happiest moments. To preserve that happiness, you may need pregnancy ultrasounds to monitor your baby’s development and detect complications early. The OC Fertility providers offer pregnancy ultrasound Newport Beach to monitor your pregnancy and prevent complications that may increase your risk of a miscarriage.

The appropriate time for going for a pregnancy ultrasound

Fetal ultrasound is an imaging procedure involving sound waves to provide images of your fetus. The pictures help your provider to monitor your baby’s development and diagnose potential pregnancy risks. The OC Fertility specialist offers the first ultrasound to their fertility patients during the first trimester to determine how long they are.

 If you have no complications, you would only need another ultrasound in your second trimester, when your baby’s organs are more visible. However, the providers at OC fertility recommend visiting the facility every two weeks to ensure your general health and that of your baby.

The purpose of an ultrasound

The first ultrasound evaluates the pregnancy’s location, size, and presence, estimates your gestational age and detects the number of fetuses. Your provider may also use the first-trimester ultrasound to screen for cervix or uterus abnormalities and genetic screening. The second and third-trimester screening assesses various features, including your baby’s anatomy. Factors such as obesity that may cause obstruction visualization of the fetus may alter the timing of your ultrasound. Medical experts only recommend fetal ultrasounds for medical reasons and not just to produce keepsake images and videos.

Different types of pregnancy ultrasounds

If the team needs detailed images of the fetus, they may use advanced ultrasound techniques to guarantee an accurate diagnosis. The different forms of pregnancy ultrasounds include:

  • Transvaginal ultrasound

A transvaginal ultrasound is recommended for early pregnancy stages to produce vivid images. Capturing a clear fetal image during the first trimester may be challenging due to its small size.

  • 3-D ultrasound

A 3-D ultrasound allows your provider to evaluate your fetus’s depth, width, and height. This ultrasound is effective in diagnosing pregnancy complications.

  • 4-D ultrasound

Also known as a dynamic 3-D ultrasound, a 4-D ultrasound produces live videos of your fetus, allowing your doctor to monitor the baby’s movements and features.

What to expect during an ultrasound

You may need to lie on an exam table during a fetal ultrasound. Your doctor applies a special gel to your abdomen, enhancing sound waves’ conduction and getting rid of the air between the transducer and your skin. The team glides the transducer over your abdomen and converts the reflected sound waves into images visible on a monitor.

Depending on the stage of development and position of the fetus, you may be able to make out the legs, arms, and face. Don’t be alarmed if you can’t see these because ultrasounds can be challenging to decipher. The team at OC Fertility is willing to explain what is on the monitor, helping you understand it better.

To get a pregnancy ultrasound, call the OC Fertility office or book your appointment online today.