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This patient education pageprovides general informationconcerning the radiologic sci-ences. The ASRT suggests thatyou consult your physician forspecific information concerningyour imaging exam and medi-cal condition. Health carepro-fessionals may reproduce thesepages for noncommercial educa-tional purposes. Reproductionfor other reasons is subject toASRT approval.

For more information,contact the American Societyof Radiologic Technologists,15000 Central Ave. SE,Albuquerque, NM87123-3909,or visit us online atWUJW. asrt.org.

PATIENT PAGE

Ultrasound During PregnancyUltrasound imaging, also known as

sonography, uses inaudible sound waves toproduce images of the different structuresin your body. During an ultrasound exami-nation, a small, hand-held device called atransducer is pressed against your skin. Itgenerates high-frequency sound waves thatpass through your body, sending back echoesas they bounce off organs, vessel walls andtissues. Special computer equipment thenconverts these echoes into an image.

Because ultrasound uses sound wavesinstead of radiation, it is a safe way to imagea pregnant woman and her unborn child.Obstetrical ultrasound is used to assess the

baby's well-beingand position,diagnose multiplegestations (twins,triplets, ete.) andestimate a deliverydate. If the babyis old enough andpositioned cor-rectly, its sex alsocan be determined.However, it'simportant for youto know that not allabnormalities canbe identified byultrasound.

RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY March/April 2008, Vol. 79/No. 4

Ultrasound image of an unborn child.

Patient PreparationYou should wear a comfortable two-piece

outfit on the day of your examination. Ifyou are in the early stages of pregnancy, youmight be asked to drink several glasses ofwater before the procedure because soundwaves travel more easily through the fluid inyour bladder. You also might be advised toavoid drinking carbonated beverages beforethe examination because the air bubblescan interfere with the image.

Before the exam begins, a sonographerwill explain the procedure to you, askquestions about your health, ask why yourphysician requested the exam and answerany questions you have. A sonographeris a skilled medical professional who hasreceived specialized education in the areasof anatomy, patient care, imaging tech-niques and ultrasound procedures.

During the ExaminationTotal examination time is usually around

30 minutes. You will be asked to lie on yourback or side on the examination table andexpose the lower part of your abdomen.Next, the sonographer will apply an odor-less, water-soluble gel to your skin on thearea being imaged. The gel makes it easierfor sound waves to travel through yourbody. The gel is sticky,but it wipes off easilyat the end of the exam.

After the gel is applied, the sonographerwill move the transducer over your abdo-men. As the transducer sends out soundwaves and receives echoes, they are relayedto a computer and displayed as a real-timepicture on a screen that looks like a televi-sion monitor. The sonographer can viewthe images during the procedure, and oftenyou will be able to see the images as well.Selected pictures can be saved on paper,film, videotape or in a computerized formatto be reviewed by your physician.

DUling the procedure, you will feelpressure from the transducer as it movesover your skin. At times, the sonographermay need to press your abdomen firmlyto get a better image of your baby. Insome instances, the pressure may feeluncomfortable, especially if your bladderis full, but the discomfort is temporary.The sonographer might ask you to changeyour position or hold your breath for afew seconds so that he or she can obtaincertain images.

When the exam is complete, your ultra-sound scans willbe given to a radiologist, aphysician who specializesin the diagnosticinterpretation of medical images. Other phy-sicianswho might interpret ultrasound examsinclude obstetricians and gynecologists.

Postexamination InformationAfter your ultrasound images have been

reviewed by a radiologist, your personalphysician will receive a report of the find-ings. Your physician then will advise you ofthe results and discuss what further proce-dures, if any, are needed.

There are no known side effects oraftereffects from ultrasound imaging, and itis not necessary to take any special precau-tions following your examination. •

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